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Foil

Character Role Analysis

The Artful Dodger and Oliver Twist

The Artful Dodger shows what Oliver could potentially become, if Monks and Fagin are successful in corrupting him: old before his time, and a hardened criminal by age twelve. Even though the Dodger isn’t really a bad guy—he’s just there for comic relief, really, and wouldn’t actually hurt anyone—he represents a scary possible outcome for Oliver.