# Bill Sikes — Oliver Twist character guide > Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sikes, Mr. Sikes, Mr. Bill Sikes, the brutal Sikes **First appearance:** 0012-xiii-some-new-acquaintances-are-introduced-to-the-intelligent-reader-connected-with-whom-various-pleasant-matters-are-related-appertaining-to-this-history ## Snapshot A housebreaker with a bull terrier and a short fuse, whose casual brutality makes even Fagin's den feel like a refuge by comparison. ## Who they are Sikes seizes Oliver by the collar and drags him through a dark passage into a burglary, treating the boy as equipment and the dog as a companion. He is jealous of his share, quick with his fists, and utterly without Fagin's calculating charm — violence is his only argument. His presence raises the stakes of Oliver's captivity: where Fagin wants to use the boy, Sikes is simply willing to spend him. ## Relationships ### [Fagin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/fagin) _professional_ They are criminal associates, with Sikes being a violent enforcer and Fagin a fence and recruiter. ### [Oliver Twist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/oliver_twist) _psychological_ Sikes terrorizes and physically abuses Oliver, using him as a tool for burglary. ### [Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/nancy) _romantic_ They are in a violent, abusive relationship; Sikes dominates and ultimately murders Nancy. ### [Oliver Twist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/oliver_twist) _psychological_ Sikes terrorizes and physically abuses Oliver, using him as a tool for burglary. ### [Fagin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/fagin) _professional_ They are criminal associates, with Sikes being a violent enforcer and Fagin a fence and recruiter. ### [Fagin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/fagin) _professional_ They are criminal associates, with Sikes being a violent enforcer and Fagin a fence and recruiter. ### [Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/nancy) _romantic_ They are in a violent, abusive relationship; Sikes dominates and ultimately murders Nancy. ### [Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/nancy) _romantic_ They are in a violent, abusive relationship; Sikes dominates and ultimately murders Nancy. ### [Oliver Twist](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/oliver_twist) _psychological_ Sikes terrorizes and physically abuses Oliver, using him as a tool for burglary. ## In the story ### [XIII: Some New Acquaintances Are Introduced to the Intelligent Reader, Connected with Whom Various Pleasant Matters Are Related, Appertaining to This History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xiii-some-new-acquaintances-are-introduced-to-the-intelligent-reader-connected-with-whom-various-pleasant-matters-are-related-appertaining-to-this-history) Sikes enters the scene, berates Fagin, and later pressures Nancy into undertaking the mission to find Oliver; he shows his violent nature by kicking his dog. ### [XV: Showing How Very Fond of Oliver Twist the Merry Old Jew and Miss Nancy Were](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xv-showing-how-very-fond-of-oliver-twist-the-merry-old-jew-and-miss-nancy-were) In a low public-house, Sikes violently quarrels with his dog Bull's-eye, then threatens Fagin, asserting dominance. Later, he seizes Oliver in the street, strikes him, and drags him away. ### [XVI: Relates What Became of Oliver Twist, After He Had Been Claimed by Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xvi-relates-what-became-of-oliver-twist-after-he-had-been-claimed-by-nancy) Sikes drags Oliver through the streets, threatens him with his dog, and later argues with Fagin over the stolen goods, showing his brutal and greedy nature. ### [XIX: In Which a Notable Plan Is Discussed and Determined On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xix-in-which-a-notable-plan-is-discussed-and-determined-on) Agrees to take Oliver on the job, brandishing a crowbar and threatening to kill the boy if he causes trouble. ### [XX: Wherein Oliver Is Delivered Over to Mr. William Sikes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xx-wherein-oliver-is-delivered-over-to-mr-william-sikes) Receives Oliver; loads a pistol and intimidates him. ### [XXI: The Expedition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xxi-the-expedition) Leads Oliver through London and the countryside, intimidating him and ensuring his compliance. ### [The Burglary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xxii-the-burglary) Leads the burglary, threatens Oliver with a pistol, drags him through the window after he is shot. ### [Chapter XXVI: In Which a Mysterious Character Appears Upon the Scene; and Many Things, Inseparable from This History, Are Done and Performed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xxvi-in-which-a-mysterious-character-appears-upon-the-scene-and-many-things-inseparable-from-this-history-are-done-and-performed) Sikes is absent but is the subject of Fagin's inquiries and threats regarding Oliver. ### [XXVIII: Looks After Oliver, and Proceeds with His Adventures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xxviii-looks-after-oliver-and-proceeds-with-his-adventures) Flees from the scene of the burglary, leaving Oliver behind after carrying him partway. ### [Chapter XXXIX: Introduces Some Respectable Characters with Whom the Reader Is Already Acquainted, and Shows How Monks and the Jew Laid Their Worthy Heads Together](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xxxix-introduces-some-respectable-characters-with-whom-the-reader-is-already-acquainted-and-shows-how-monks-and-the-jew-laid-their-worthy-heads-together) Recovering from illness in a mean apartment, weak and irritable, strikes Nancy and curses her. ### [A Strange Interview, Which Is a Sequel to the Last Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xl-a-strange-interview-which-is-a-sequel-to-the-last-chapter) Nancy fears Sikes would murder her if he knew of her meeting with Rose. ### [The Time Arrives for Nancy to Redeem Her Pledge to Rose Maylie. She Fails](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xliv-the-time-arrives-for-nancy-to-redeem-her-pledge-to-rose-maylie-she-fails) Shows suspicion and obstinacy toward Nancy's late-night departure, and is the target of Fagin's murderous scheme. ### [Fatal Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xlvii-fatal-consequences) Arrives at Fagin's lair, learns of Nancy's betrayal, and rushes home to confront and murder her. ### [XLVIII: The Flight of Sikes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/xlviii-the-flight-of-sikes) Overwhelmed by guilt and paranoia after murdering Nancy, Sikes flees London, wandering aimlessly and tormented by visions of his victim. ### [The Pursuit and Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/chapters/l-the-pursuit-and-escape) The murderer, hiding in Jacob's Island, is confronted by Charley Bates and later accidentally hangs himself while trying to escape the mob. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters/bill_sikes - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oliver_twist_se/characters