Fagin Toby Jug

This is one of my Roy Kirkham Toby Jugs - it represents Fagin from the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Fagin is the leader of a group of children who he corrupts by teaching them to make their living by taking part in criminal activities, like pickpocketing.

The children live in Fagin's house where he exchanges food and shelter for goods the children steal. Even though he lives on the income of these children, he does not care for their well-being. He is a self confessed miser and the villains in the novel, Bill Sikes and Nancy, are his old pupils.

Fagin is portrayed as a cruel man. He makes Charley Bates cry for mercy. He beats Jack Dawkins (the Artful Dodger) for not bringing Oliver back. In one instance, he also attempts to beat Oliver Twist. He lies to Sikes by telling him that Nancy had betrayed them. After hearing this, Sikes murders Nancy. In the end, Fagin is captured and hanged.