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Introduction
In several ways Oliver Twist is a kind of traditional novel. All the characters are easily divided into two groups good characters and evil characters. They are either the embodiment of innocence, virtue and kindness or devils of wickedness, callousness and treachery. Moreover, in the most traditional style rewards and punishments are given to them. The virtuous or good characters in spite of facing several misfortunes or miseries, ultimately they become victorious while miseries come to the evil characters. It may happen that bad characters can be presented happy, prosperous and wealthy for certain times, but finally they meet tragic ends. Reader feels happy and gratified when he sees good rewarded and sinner punished. He learns this moral lesson also that evil is self destructive.
William Sikes
In Oliver Twist one of the most villainous and abominable character is William Sikes. He is utterly callous and crooked. He is absolutely devoid of pity and faithfulness. Love is alien to him, he can be called a Satan in human body. The ghastly murder of Nancy, who has been too loyal and devoted to him makes him a perfect monster ever found in the domain of fiction but his end is very convincing. His associates disown him. Nancy's murder makes him entirely isolated and he wanders here and there in order to get shelter. He appears as a hunted animal chased by crowd. He finds himself trapped when the crowd is shrieking outside the room. He tries to escape through a rope but the apparition of Nancy and her accusing eyes disturbs his concentration and he loses his balance. He is estrangled by noose of the rope and crowd sees his dead body hanging outside the wall. His dog jumps to feels him but loses its balance and falls into a ditch and dies.
Fagin
Fagin's death also is no less tragic. The last day that Fagin spends behind the iron bars of prison and his ultimate doom is too terrible. Fagin has gone almost mad in the wait of the noose that will hang him to death. He is overwhelmed by the recognition that not even a single soul is feeling sympathy and comes to visit him in the jail but everyone is interested in seeing him dead. He is suffering from most miserable and oppressive isolation. Instead of facing death defiantly, he behaves like a man who has lost his senses. He appears humorous when he assumes that Oliver can help him out during such terrible crisis. He is deprived of all his dignity and courage as he is passing his time into the prison. He recalls the memories of those men whom he has seen dying on the scaffold. He becomes 'delirious' as he is awaiting his own execution. He beats his hands against the doors and walls, and screams for light but no light comes to him because who lives ever in darkness no light is left in their store. So tragically his death is portrayed in the novel.
Monks
In the rank of villains next is Monks. He is desperate and instigates Oliver because he wants to deprive him of his legal share in Edwin Leeford's property. Edwin Leeford was the father of boty Monks and Oliver. But Monks does not succeed in his villainous efforts to ruin Oliver. He is forced by Mr. Brownlow to share half of his father's property with Oliver. After surrendering to him he goes to some foreign place and there he lavishly spends all his money. Thenafter, he indulges in crime again and put behind the jail. One day he becomes the victim of severe chronic epileptic fits and dies.
Mr. and Mrs. Bumble
Mr. and Mrs. Bumble also lose their nobel jobs and dignified post and put to abject poverty. In the same workhouse where they had practiced their tyranny and exploitation get entry as the inmates. Noah
Claypole becomes the police informer. Thus except Charley Bates who leaves evil ways and starts working hard, all the chief members of Fagin's group are shifted very far from England and they meet their tragic end there. Thus it affirms the moral— 'Evil is self-destructive'.