For the modern reader, the Artful Dodger is the precursor to the anti-hero we love today. Think of characters like Deadpool or even Captain Jack Sparrow; they operate outside the law, but they have a code of honor. The Dodger looks out for Oliver. He brings him to Fagin not to corrupt him, but to save him from starving on the streets. In his own twisted way, the Dodger is Oliver’s first friend.
The Dodger eventually expresses pity for Oliver, not because Oliver is poor, but because he "isn't a prig" (a thief), viewing Oliver's lack of criminal skill as a fundamental disadvantage for survival. The Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist | Significance & Analysis oliver twist artful dodger
As the leader of Fagin’s gang of juvenile delinquents, the Dodger is the ultimate "trickster". He is the one who discovers a starving Oliver on the road to London and "rescues" him, offering food and shelter. While this act is motivated by the desire to recruit a new member for Fagin's enterprise, it also showcases the Dodger’s role as a survivalist mentor. His relationship with Oliver is one of sharp contrasts: For the modern reader, the Artful Dodger is
He accepts his fate—transportation to Australia—with a stoic shrug. It is a heartbreaking moment for the reader. We know that the Dodger is a criminal, yet Dickens writes the scene with such humor and dignity that we cannot help but pity him. He is a victim of a society that offered him no other path. He brings him to Fagin not to corrupt
Jack Dawkins: The Legend of the Artful Dodger in Oliver Twist
He is, in his own words, a "skipper"—a pickpocket. But unlike the terrifying Bill Sikes or the grotesque Fagin, the Dodger makes crime look like a profession. He is the "Swell" of the slums. He takes pride in his work. He isn't starving; he’s thriving. In a world where Oliver represents the helpless victim of the Poor Law, the Dodger represents a chaotic, dangerous kind of freedom.