An unknown girl dies in childbirth at a county workhouse, giving birth to a son. Who is she? What will become of her child?

The child was given the name Oliver. Already the workhouse guardians are having problems with him for not following their strict orders. No-one dares to ask for more gruel, and so Oliver is placed in the charge of Mr. Sowerberry, the undertaker, as an apprentice. But Oliver rebels against his harsh treatment at Mr. Sowerberry's and runs away to London.

Oliver runs into the Artful Dodger, who persuades him to join Fagan's criminal gang. Shortly thereafter, Oliver gets arrested for a crime committed by the Artful Dodger.

Mr. Brownlow gets Oliver freed, but Fagin kidnaps him again.

Oliver refuses to become a pickpocket, so Fagin forces him to join Bill Sikes in a burglary.

The burglary did not go off as planned. To avoid prosecution, Bill Sikes flees from the scene, leaving Oliver behind, who was badly wounded. Fagin is worried he's lost his investment, and Monks checks in on Fagin regarding Oliver's whereabouts, who's in a bad state, but finds refuge at the Maylie household.

Befriended and taken in by Mrs. Maylie and her adopted daughter Rose, Oliver has landed on his feet again. Dr. Losberne nurses Oliver back to health and attempts to return him to Mr. Brownlow, whom they discover has moved to the West Indies. The Maylies, with Oliver, move to the Berkshire countryside, which Dodger learns of from enquires and reports to Fagin. Monks is present and recognises the name Maylie; he travels to find Oliver with unexpected results.

Harry Maylie has arrived, but Mrs. Maylie refuses to permit his marriage to Rose. Meanwhile, the mysterious Monks is seeking secret information from the Bumbles, concerning Oliver's true identity.

Monks has destroyed the last clue to Oliver's identity, but Nancy warned Rose of the danger.

Mr. Brownlow, now reunited with Oliver, has joined with the Maylies to defeat Monks' conspiracy.

Sikes kills Nancy for her attempt to save Oliver. Now that the police are closing in on the accused murderer, Fagin decides to disband his criminal gang.

With Fagin arrested, the police, along with Harry Maylie, close in on where some of the gang have holed up. Cries of help are heard from Charlie when Sikes attacks him, causing the police to break in, though Sikes doesn't intend to be taken alive. Oliver returns to the workhouse under the safeguard of the Maylies and Mr. Brownlow, where the true identity and agenda of Monks are exposed, the Bumbles are held to account, and the true identities of both Oliver and Rose are revealed. And after Monks' attempt to destroy all trace of Oliver's true identity, will Fagin finally come good?