Artful Dodger | |
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Real Name |
Jack Dawkins |
First Appearance |
Oliver Twist (1838) |
Original Publisher |
Serial: Bentley's Miscellany; Book: Richard Bentley |
Created by |
Charles Dickens |
Origin[]
Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist. The Dodger is a pick pocketer and his nickname refers to his skill and cunning in that occupation. In the novel, he is the leader of the gang of child criminals on the streets of London trained and overseen by the elderly Fagin. The term has become an idiom describing a person who engages in skillful deception.
In the novel, Jack becomes Oliver's closest friend (although he betrays Oliver when Oliver is caught) and he tries to make him a pick pocketer, but he soon realizes that Oliver will not succeed and feels sorry for him, saying "What a pity it is he isn't a prig!" He also has a close relationship with Charley Bates.
The Artful Dodger is characterized as a child who acts like an adult. He is described as wearing adult clothes which are much too large for him. Like an adult, he seldom gives in to childish urges.
Ultimately the Dodger is caught with a stolen silver snuff box and presumably transported from England to a penal colony in Australia (only alluded to in the novel).
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Oliver Twist from before January 1, 1929 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Oliver Twist (1838)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Oliver Twist (1909)
- Oliver Twist (1912)
- Oliver Twist (1912)
- Oliver Twist (1916)
- Oliver Twist (1919)
- Oliver Twist (1922)
Public Domain Stage Appearances[]
- Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress (1838)
Public Domain Comic Appearances[]
- Star Comics #1: 2 Page Sketches From Dickens feature on Oliver Twist.