Fagin

Fagin is a fictional character created by Charles Dickens, appearing in Oliver Twist, first published in serial form between 1837 and 1839. He is portrayed as an elderly London criminal who leads a gang of child thieves, training them to pick pockets and avoid detection. The character serves as the principal adult organizer behind the boys’ criminal activities, with the Artful Dodger (Jack Dawkins) among his most prominent pupils.

In the novel, Fagin is depicted as a sly, manipulative figure who relies on disguise, secrecy, and rhetoric to maintain control over the boys and to shield himself from law enforcement. He collects a portion of the proceeds from their theft and uses a network of informants and threats to preserve his operation. Dickens presents him as both a schemer and a product of a ruthless urban underworld, whose influence over the children is a central hazard to the protagonists.

Fagin’s portrayal has been the subject of substantial critical attention and controversy. The depiction has been criticized for reinforcing antisemitic stereotypes by casting a Jewish character primarily as a criminal mastermind. Later scholarship and various adaptations have offered more nuanced interpretations, with some reimaginings emphasizing the social conditions that produce such exploitation and others altering or reframing the character.

Legacy and influence extend into popular culture, where Fagin's name has become a shorthand for a conniving elder criminal who exploits others. The character remains a focal point in discussions of Dickensian representation, adapted across stage, film, and television, including popular musical adaptations.