““Who Is Fagin?”Who Is Fagin?”By: Steven MarcusBy: Steven Marcus

Brett McKey Andy Richmond

Cassidy Redding

Andrew Thompson Adam Wilhelm

Fagin is back in the newsFagin is back in the newsThe musical, The musical, OliverOliver, and , and

other productions have other productions have introduced many to Faginintroduced many to Fagin

One of Dickens’s most puzzling charactersOne of Dickens’s most puzzling characters

There is nothing particularly Jewish about There is nothing particularly Jewish about himhim

He does not even speak with an accent or He does not even speak with an accent or any type of dialectany type of dialect

Oliver was an orphan and a workhouse childOliver was an orphan and a workhouse child Fagin was a criminalFagin was a criminal These were alike, and almost identicalThese were alike, and almost identical In their society, the pauper and the criminal were In their society, the pauper and the criminal were

equalequal

We now know that Fagin got his name from a boy We now know that Fagin got his name from a boy who Dickens met during his childhoodwho Dickens met during his childhood

Charles Dickens LifeCharles Dickens Life Father: John DickensFather: John Dickens Charles the oldest son the second ChildCharles the oldest son the second Child Charles suffered from attacks of Violent spasmsCharles suffered from attacks of Violent spasms Family kept growingFamily kept growing Charles had been attending school at Catham till Charles had been attending school at Catham till

family moved to Londonfamily moved to London

The Secret of Dickens YouthThe Secret of Dickens Youth

February 1824, Dickens Goes to work and February 1824, Dickens Goes to work and his father is imprisoned for debthis father is imprisoned for debt

Charles left to live on his ownCharles left to live on his own The family reunited The family reunited Charles never could confront his childhoodCharles never could confront his childhood This dark episode influenced his view on This dark episode influenced his view on

his writings his writings

Charles Job at the WarehouseCharles Job at the Warehouse

Charles first job at the warehouse was:Charles first job at the warehouse was:1) 1) To cover the pots of paste-To cover the pots of paste-blacking blacking with two kinds of paperwith two kinds of paper2) 2) Tie them round with a stringTie them round with a string3) 3) Clip the paper close and neatClip the paper close and neat4) 4) And paste a printed label on each And paste a printed label on each potpot

Where did Fagin Come From?Where did Fagin Come From? An older boy named An older boy named

Bob Fagin showed Bob Fagin showed Charles the trick to Charles the trick to using string and tying using string and tying the knot.the knot.

Bob Fagin’s secrets of Bob Fagin’s secrets of wrapping and tying wrapping and tying parallel with the parallel with the character Fagin’s character Fagin’s secrets to successful secrets to successful pick-pocketing.pick-pocketing.

Both Fagin’s can be Both Fagin’s can be labeled as educators of labeled as educators of their individual trades.their individual trades.

Oliver is rewarded for Oliver is rewarded for for proficiency during for proficiency during Fagin’s pocket picking Fagin’s pocket picking game, just as Dickens game, just as Dickens was rewarded for was rewarded for learning the trade of learning the trade of using string and tying using string and tying knots. knots.

Bob vs. FaginBob vs. Fagin

Bob Fagin, as well as Bob Fagin, as well as many of the other many of the other boys, was an orphan.boys, was an orphan.

Bob was trying to Bob was trying to raise Dickens’ status, raise Dickens’ status, while the schemes of while the schemes of Fagin, in Fagin, in Oliver Oliver TwistTwist, were designed , were designed for the opposite for the opposite purpose.purpose.

Bob & Fagin Bob & Fagin =Complete opposites=Complete opposites

Bob Fagin’s Bob Fagin’s protectiveness of protectiveness of young Charles young Charles transformed into the transformed into the treacherous care that treacherous care that the character Fagin the character Fagin showed towards showed towards young Oliver.young Oliver.

Charles vs. OliverCharles vs. Oliver

The difference between The difference between the other boys of the the other boys of the warehouse and Charles warehouse and Charles was that Charles was that Charles maintained good conduct maintained good conduct and gentlemanly and gentlemanly manners. manners.

This corresponded to the This corresponded to the character, Oliver.character, Oliver.-Oliver= mannerly-Oliver= mannerly-Artful Dodger= rude-Artful Dodger= rude

At first Charles did not know At first Charles did not know how to interpret Bob. In the how to interpret Bob. In the same way, Oliver felt uneasy same way, Oliver felt uneasy about Fagin at first about Fagin at first introduction.introduction.

Both Charles and Oliver Both Charles and Oliver were regarded as gentleman.were regarded as gentleman.

Two doors:Two doors:1) Keeps Charles’ father’s 1) Keeps Charles’ father’s imprisonment a secret from imprisonment a secret from Bob Fagin.Bob Fagin.2) Becomes the knock on the 2) Becomes the knock on the door which leads Oliver to door which leads Oliver to his family.his family.

Section IIISection III Charles continued at the factory even after Charles continued at the factory even after

his father had been released.his father had been released. This affected him and made him somewhat This affected him and made him somewhat

resentful. resentful. This affected and stuck with Charles for the This affected and stuck with Charles for the

rest of his life. rest of his life.

Charles and BobCharles and Bob Charles and Bob worked great together.Charles and Bob worked great together.

They had great dexterity at tying up the potsThey had great dexterity at tying up the pots

Crowds of people would form at the windows to Crowds of people would form at the windows to

watch them.watch them.

Charles never told Bob that his father was in Charles never told Bob that his father was in prison.prison.

Pride in dexterity.Pride in dexterity.

Pleasure in skillful Pleasure in skillful performance in front performance in front of an audience. of an audience.

Shame of the work.Shame of the work.

Anxiety and Anxiety and humiliation over being humiliation over being seen.seen.

One day John Dickens came to see Charles at the factory.

Over-determinedOver-determined Dickens’ memory of this event is known as Dickens’ memory of this event is known as

“over-determined”“over-determined” ““A multiplicity of meanings and motives A multiplicity of meanings and motives

converge upon an event, charging its converge upon an event, charging its separate elements with significances which separate elements with significances which refer elsewhere and to other things.refer elsewhere and to other things.

In In Oliver TwistOliver Twist Dickens speaks as an Dickens speaks as an impersonal narrator twice in this respect.impersonal narrator twice in this respect.

Both are connected with sleep.Both are connected with sleep.

First occurs at the thieves den with Fagin.First occurs at the thieves den with Fagin.

Second occurs at Mr. Brownlow’s house.Second occurs at Mr. Brownlow’s house.

““Hypnagogic”Hypnagogic”

““A condition that occurs between sleep and A condition that occurs between sleep and waking when conscious mind and its waking when conscious mind and its censors relax and unconscious processes censors relax and unconscious processes and impulses become more than usually and impulses become more than usually accessible.accessible.

Primal ScenePrimal Scene

The two examples that are given are The two examples that are given are elements of what Freud called the “primal elements of what Freud called the “primal scene,” which can either come from a scene,” which can either come from a memory or a fantasy. memory or a fantasy.

The symbolism with the jewel box and the The symbolism with the jewel box and the knife are self-explanatory; for the window knife are self-explanatory; for the window and the book it comes from the scene at the and the book it comes from the scene at the window at the blacking factory and beyond window at the blacking factory and beyond that to Dickens himself reading on his bed that to Dickens himself reading on his bed as a child. as a child.

The country scenes in The country scenes in Oliver Twist Oliver Twist are are created out from the “Eden of infancy” created out from the “Eden of infancy” from which we create our ideas of from which we create our ideas of happiness and are said to be a foretaste of happiness and are said to be a foretaste of heaven. heaven.

However, Dickens’ doubts that this is However, Dickens’ doubts that this is anything he has ever experienced himself. anything he has ever experienced himself.

Fagin vs. John DickensFagin vs. John Dickens

Friendship to Fagin Friendship to Fagin contained the threat of contained the threat of exposure.exposure.

John’s freedom was a John’s freedom was a fraud and an outrage fraud and an outrage because Charles because Charles “slaved.”“slaved.”

The anger towards and his view of his father is revealed in the character of Fagin . Fagin is a terrible, frightening old Jew. Jews are viewed as the devil in popular mythology and the murder of good Christian boys. This corresponds itself to the image of the terrible father of infancy and of our primal fantasies.

Section III Continued:Section III Continued:The Additional scenes of the The Additional scenes of the

Over-determined and Over-determined and screenscreen memories memories

Sikes’ murder of NancySikes’ murder of Nancy Fagin’s trial: Fagin as the object of scrutinyFagin’s trial: Fagin as the object of scrutiny Fagin and Sikes, John Dickens, Oliver, and Fagin and Sikes, John Dickens, Oliver, and

Charles DickensCharles Dickens Dickens return to OliverDickens return to Oliver

Sikes’ Murder of NancySikes’ Murder of Nancy

The small child’s view of sexual The small child’s view of sexual intercourseintercourse– Viewed as an act of murderViewed as an act of murder

– The male killing the femaleThe male killing the female

Sikes’ Murder of Nancy Contd.Sikes’ Murder of Nancy Contd.

ContrastContrast

Fagin and jewels Fagin and jewels scenescene– Lack if symbolic Lack if symbolic

representation of representation of the other partner in the other partner in intercourseintercourse

Sikes Nancy sceneSikes Nancy scene

– Both partners Both partners represented represented symbolicallysymbolically

Sikes’ Murder of Nancy Contd.Sikes’ Murder of Nancy Contd.ComparisonComparison

Fagin and jewels Fagin and jewels scenescene– Oliver watches FaginOliver watches Fagin– Fagin recognizes Fagin recognizes

Oliver is watchingOliver is watching

Sikes Nancy sceneSikes Nancy scene

– After Sikes kills Nancy After Sikes kills Nancy he sees eyeshe sees eyes

– The eyes are watching The eyes are watching himhim

– Sikes is watched by the Sikes is watched by the London mobLondon mob

Fagin’s trial: Fagin as the Fagin’s trial: Fagin as the object of scrutinyobject of scrutiny

Fagin under the eyesFagin under the eyes Fagin and Sikes, John Dickens, Oliver, and Fagin and Sikes, John Dickens, Oliver, and

Charles DickensCharles Dickens

Fagin under the eyesFagin under the eyes

People were looking at Fagin just as they People were looking at Fagin just as they were looking at were looking at – SikesSikes– OliverOliver– Bob FaginBob Fagin– DickensDickens

During the trial Fagin was under the During the trial Fagin was under the scrutiny instead of Oliver as was in the scrutiny instead of Oliver as was in the beginning of the bookbeginning of the book

Fagin and Sikes, John Dickens, Oliver, Fagin and Sikes, John Dickens, Oliver, and Charles Dickensand Charles Dickens

OliverFagin and Sikes John Dickens

Charles Dickens

Charming Innocent Charming Identity and pride

John Dickens

Watching and being Watched

Threat to Oliver's/Dicken's Pride

Over-Determined Summary

•Over-Determined - A multiplicity of meanings and motives Over-Determined - A multiplicity of meanings and motives converge upon an event, charging its separate elements with converge upon an event, charging its separate elements with

significances which refer elsewhere and to other things.significances which refer elsewhere and to other things.

•““His father was alive in him, as was Fagin, and in creating His father was alive in him, as was Fagin, and in creating Fagin, Dickens affirmed that fact as much as he negated it.Fagin, Dickens affirmed that fact as much as he negated it.

Dickens Return to OliverDickens Return to Oliver While writing While writing Oliver TwistOliver Twist, Dickens was , Dickens was

afflicted with his boyhood illness again.afflicted with his boyhood illness again. This was particularly evident while he was This was particularly evident while he was

writing the last portion of the book.writing the last portion of the book. Dickens understood this as “the penalty for Dickens understood this as “the penalty for

sticking so close to Oliversticking so close to Oliver These happened again, with worse severity These happened again, with worse severity

every time after he acted out these last every time after he acted out these last scenes.scenes.

Dickens’ Father is represented in Fagin (and Dickens’ Father is represented in Fagin (and Sikes).Sikes).

ConclusionConclusion Fagin was manifested by Dickens’ Fagin was manifested by Dickens’

experiencesexperiences The fact that Fagin was a Jew didn’t mean The fact that Fagin was a Jew didn’t mean

anythinganything Fagin relates to OliverFagin relates to Oliver Fagin’s evilness yet winsomeness is Fagin’s evilness yet winsomeness is

perhaps associated with Dickens’ innocence perhaps associated with Dickens’ innocence yet cunningness.yet cunningness.

““Oliver twist could never have imagined Oliver twist could never have imagined Fagin, and Dickens could neither have Fagin, and Dickens could neither have imagined nor created him had Fagin not imagined nor created him had Fagin not been part of himself.”been part of himself.”