How Does Dickens Present The Artful Dodger

In “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens, a young orphan named Oliver lives in London, and is sent to work at a workhouse where he learns to survive with the struggle of poverty, starvation, and unhealthy/unsafe conditions, similarly to the rest of the orphans at that workhouse. Dickens tries to show how society cares too much about social class and how that creates an impact of social injustice in the 1830’s. Characters like Mrs.Mann and the doctor who deliver Oliver, believe they take care of the children however, they truly don’t. Oliver then decides to run away from the workhouse and meets the Artful Dodger also known as Jack Dawkins. Dawkins, is a clever man due to his appearance, qualities and relationship with Oliver.
To begin with,
As a result, it also begins and strengthens his relationship with Oliver because on page 88 Oliver confesses to the nice looking stranger that he is starving and has no place to go. The Artful Dodger then uses his connections and tells Oliver he will introduce himself to somebody where he knows he can stay. Dodger also uses his social gang type of life to get Oliver to make new friends and join their hobby. Overall the purpose of the Dodger’s actions shows he is caring and that is proven in the beginning stages of Oliver and his relationship because not only does he try to help him find a place to stay but, he buys Oliver lunch too. Another quality that appears in Dodger is his criminal side because he uses criminal slang when trying to first communicate with Oliver. For example when he says (Oh, I see. Beak’s order, eh?)88.) & when he says (sivin days)88.) but it’s really seven days. It just shows that the Dodger is more about street life and the reader can infer that he did not get a proper academic education like the rest of the Orphans in the lower