130 pages 4 hours read

Charles Dickens

Oliver Twist

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1838

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

Chapters 36-40

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 36 Summary: “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”

Harry hurries to leave the cottage with Mr. Losberne. The doctor comments on how only the day before Harry determined that he would stay on at the cottage with his mother. Mr. Losberne wonders at Harry’s frequent change of heart, wanting to stay one moment and deciding to leave the next. The doctor asks if Harry’s uncle and the many other high-society acquaintances he has are responsible for his decision in leaving. Harry responds by saying that his presence is not necessary to them at the moment and the doctor replies, saying that Harry might be “into parliament at the election before Christmas” (413).

Harry looks like he wishes to contradict the doctor but instead he says nothing. Harry speaks to Oliver in private and asks Oliver to write him every fortnight to give him updates on Mrs. Maylie and Rose. Oliver is eager to have a reason to write and agrees to the request easily. Harry makes Oliver keep it a secret between them as he worries that it might make his mother anxious about writing him more often. Mr. Losberne and Harry thus depart the cottage.

Rose watches them leave. Though she says she is happy that Harry seems to have left in a good

blurred text

blurred text

Related Titles

By Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Barnaby Rudge

Charles Dickens

Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of Eighty

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Bleak House

Charles Dickens

Bleak House

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

David Copperfield

Charles Dickens

David Copperfield

Charles Dickens

Plot Summary

logo

Dombey and Son

Charles Dickens

Dombey and Son

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Great Expectations

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Hard Times

Charles Dickens

Hard Times

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Little Dorrit

Charles Dickens

Little Dorrit

Charles Dickens

Plot Summary

logo

Martin Chuzzlewit

Charles Dickens

Martin Chuzzlewit

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Nicholas Nickleby

Charles Dickens

Nicholas Nickleby

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Our Mutual Friend

Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

Pickwick Papers

Charles Dickens

Pickwick Papers

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Charles Dickens

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

The Old Curiosity Shop

Charles Dickens

The Old Curiosity Shop

Charles Dickens

Study Guide

logo

The Signal-Man

Charles Dickens

The Signal-Man

Charles Dickens