Editing Oliver! (section)

==Principal characters==
* '''[[Oliver Twist (character)|Oliver Twist]]''', the main character of the story. He is a lonely orphan boy born in the workhouse who asks for more gruel.
* '''[[Fagin]]''', a conniving career criminal, takes in homeless boys and teaches them to pick pockets for him.
* '''[[Nancy (Oliver Twist)|Nancy]]''', Bill Sikes's partner. She takes a liking to Oliver and treats him and the pickpockets like her own children, but is eventually murdered for the steps she takes on Oliver's behalf.
* '''[[Bill Sikes]]''', Nancy's brutal and abusive partner, a burglar and her eventual murderer. One of Fagin's former successful pickpockets.
* '''[[Mr. Brownlow]]''', Oliver's grandfather, a kind man of wealth and breeding.
* '''[[Mr. Bumble]]''', the pompous [[beadle]] of the workhouse in which Oliver was born.
* '''[[The Artful Dodger]]''', the cleverest of Fagin's pickpockets, he introduces Fagin to Oliver. He is shown to be very close with Nancy.
* '''Bet''', Nancy's best friend. She is sometimes depicted as her sister.
*'''[[Charley Bates]]''', Dodger's friend and thief who is part of Fagin's gang. In the end of the book, he decides to change his morals and stop thieving.
* '''[[Mr. Sowerberry|Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry]]''', the insensitive couple who take in Oliver and use him in their funeral business.
* '''Widow Corney''', the matron of the workhouse where Oliver was born, later marries Mr. Bumble.
* '''Charlotte Sowerberry''', the rude and often flirtatious daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sowerberry. She enjoys a flirtatious relationship with Noah Claypole.
* '''[[Noah Claypole]]''', The Sowerberrys' apprentice, he bullies Oliver about his mother and enjoys a flirtatious relationship with Charlotte.
* '''Dr. Grimwig''', foppish doctor and friend of Mr. Brownlow. He assesses Oliver's condition at the beginning of Act II, deeming him fit to go outside.
* '''Mrs. Bedwin''', house-servant to Mr. Brownlow and caretaker of Oliver.
* '''[[Old Sally]]''', nurse at Oliver's birth. Old Sally steals Agnes's (Oliver's mother's) gold locket which is the only clue to Oliver's identity. Before she dies, she gives the locket to Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney.