Oliver Twist, Vol. 2 (of 3) by Charles Dickens, written in the early 19th century, continues to follow the life of the orphaned protagonist, Oliver Twist, as he struggles to survive in the dangerous underworld of Victorian London, filled with thieves and rogues. Key characters include the innocent Oliver, the cunning Fagin, and the menacing Bill Sikes, underscoring themes of crime, innocence, and survival that run throughout the story. At the start of this volume, Oliver remains under Fagin¡¯s control and is told he must go to Bill Sikes¡¯s home. Fagin warns him about Sikes¡¯s violent nature, stirring up Oliver¡¯s apprehension, but Oliver, despite his fear, reluctantly follows orders. Nancy, who escorts Oliver, shows concern for him, revealing her own inner conflict about the criminal world she inhabits. As the tension rises, the scene shifts to Sikes¡¯s house, where he prepares Oliver for a criminal act, highlighting the dark choices and intense circumstances that the characters face in their struggle for survival.
XX. WHEREIN OLIVER IS DELIVERED OVER TO MR. WILLIAM SIKES
XXI. THE EXPEDITION
XXII. THE BURGLARY
XXIII. WHICH CONTAINS THE SUBSTANCE OF A PLEASANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN MR. BUMBLE AND A LADY; AND SHOWS THAT EVEN A BEADLE MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE ON SOME POINTS
XXIV. TREATS ON A VERY POOR SUBJECT, BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY
XXV. WHEREIN THIS HISTORY REVERTS TO MR. FAGIN AND COMPANY
XXVI. IN WHICH A MYSTERIOUS CHARACTER APPEARS UPON THE SCENE; AND MANY THINGS, INSEPARABLE FROM THIS HISTORY, ARE DONE AND PERFORMED
XXVII. ATONES FOR THE UNPOLITENESS OF A FORMER CHAPTER; WHICH DESERTED A LADY, MOST UNCEREMONIOUSLY
XXVIII. LOOKS AFTER OLIVER, AND PROCEEDS WITH HIS ADVENTURES
XXIX. HAS AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE INMATES OF THE HOUSE, TO WHICH OLIVER RESORTED
XXX. RELATES WHAT OLIVER¡¯S NEW VISITORS THOUGHT OF HIM
XXXI. INVOLVES A CRITICAL POSITION
XXXII. OF THE HAPPY LIFE OLIVER BEGAN TO LEAD WITH HIS KIND FRIENDS
XXXIII. WHEREIN THE HAPPINESS OF OLIVER AND HIS FRIENDS, EXPERIENCES A SUDDEN CHECK
XXXIV. CONTAINS SOME INTRODUCTORY PARTICULARS RELATIVE TO A YOUNG GENTLEMAN WHO NOW ARRIVES UPON THE SCENE; AND A NEW ADVENTURE WHICH HAPPENED TO OLIVER
XXXV. CONTAINING THE UNSATISFACTORY RESULT OF OLIVER¡¯S ADVENTURE; AND A CONVERSATION OF SOME IMPORTANCE BETWEEN HARRY MAYLIE AND ROSE
XXXVI. IS A VERY SHORT ONE, AND MAY APPEAR OF NO GREAT IMPORTANCE IN ITS PLACE, BUT IT SHOULD BE READ NOTWITHSTANDING, AS A SEQUEL TO THE LAST, AND A KEY TO ONE THAT WILL FOLLOW WHEN ITS TIME ARRIVES
XXXVII. IN WHICH THE READER MAY PERCEIVE A CONTRAST, NOT UNCOMMON IN MATRIMONIAL CASES