130 pages • 4 hours read
Charles DickensOliver Twist
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1838A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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
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