Editing Artful Dodger

{{Short description|Fictional character from the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist}}
{{About|the character from Oliver Twist}}
{{Infobox character
| name        = The Artful Dodger
| image       = clarke-dodger.jpg
| caption     = The Artful Dodger by [[Joseph Clayton Clark|"Kyd"]] c. 1890
| creator     = [[Charles Dickens]]
| portrayer   = [[Edouard Trebaol]] (1922)<br />[[Anthony Newley]] (1948)<br />[[Melvyn Hayes]] (1962)<br />[[Davy Jones (musician)|Davy Jones]] (1963)<br />[[Phil Collins]] (1964)<br /> [[Jack Wild]] (1968)<br />Martin Tempest (1982)<br />David Garlick (1985)<br />[[Elijah Wood]] (1997)<br />Alex Crowley (1999)<br />[[Harry Eden]] (2005)<br />[[Adam Arnold]] (2007)<br />Hayley Smith (2011)<br />Kielan Ellis (2014)<br />Kyle Coffman (2015)<br/> [[Wilson Radjou-Pujalte]] (2016)<br/>[[Rita Ora]] (2021)<br/>Billy Jenkins (2022)<br />Hayden Lawry (2023)<br/>[[Thomas Brodie-Sangster]] (2023)
| voice       = [[Billy Joel]]
| occupation  = [[Pickpocket]]
| full_name   = Jack Dawkins
| gender      = Male
| nationality = [[England|English]]
}}
'''Jack Dawkins''', better known as the '''Artful Dodger''', is a character in [[Charles Dickens]]'s 1838 [[novel]] ''[[Oliver Twist]]''.<ref>{{cite book
 |last=Strouf
 |first=Judie L. H.
 |author-link=
 |date=2005
 |title=The literature teacher's book of lists
 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FykPAAAACAAJ
 |location=
 |publisher=[[Jossey-Bass]]
 |page= 13
 |isbn=0787975508
}}</ref> The Dodger is a [[pickpocket]] and his nickname refers to his skill and cunning in that occupation. In the novel, he is the leader of the gang of child criminals on the streets of London trained and overseen by the elderly [[Fagin]]. The term has become an idiom describing a person who engages in skillful deception.

==Role in the novel==

In the novel, Jack becomes Oliver's closest friend (although he betrays Oliver when Oliver is caught) and he tries to make him a pickpocket, but he soon realises that Oliver will not succeed and feels sorry for him, saying "What a pity it is he isn't a prig!" He also has a close relationship with [[Charley Bates]]. 

The Artful Dodger is characterised as a child who acts like an adult. He is described as wearing adult clothes which are much too large for him. Like an adult, he seldom gives in to childish urges:
{{blockquote|The Artful, meantime, who was of a rather saturnine disposition, and seldom gave way to merriment when it interfered with business, rifled Oliver's pockets with steady assiduity.}}

{{blockquote|
He was a snub-nosed, flat-browed, common-faced boy enough; and as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see; but he had about him all the airs and manners of a man. He was short of his age: with rather bow-legs, and little, sharp, ugly eyes. His hat was stuck on the top of his head so lightly, that it threatened to fall off every moment—and would have done so, very often, if the wearer had not had a knack of every now and then giving his head a sudden twitch, which brought it back to its old place again. He wore a man's coat, which reached nearly to his heels. He had turned the cuffs back, half-way up his arm, to get his hands out of the sleeves: apparently with the ultimate view of thrusting them into the pockets of his corduroy trousers; for there he kept them. He was, altogether, as roistering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four feet six, or something less, in the blushers.
}}
[[File:Oliver Twist, (1875?) "Hullo, My covey! What's the row?" (3983518702).jpg|thumb|[[James Mahony]]'s 1871 engraving of the Artful Dodger (left) introducing himself to Oliver as "Jack Dawkins," known as "the artful Dodger". Dodger uses [[Cockney]] slang which is juxtaposed with Oliver's 'proper' English.]]
[[File:Dodger introduces Oliver to Fagin by Cruikshank (detail).jpg|thumb|[[George Cruikshank]]'s original engraving in 1838 of the Artful Dodger (centre), introducing Oliver (right) to Fagin (left). It can be argued that Cruikshank originated the Dodger's trademark top hat -- Dickens never specifically describes the hat.]]
Ultimately the Dodger is caught with a stolen silver [[snuff box]] and presumably [[penal transportation|transported]] from England to a [[convicts in Australia|penal colony in Australia]] (only alluded to in the novel). The absurdity of the master pickpocket being caught over something so small is remarked upon in the book:
{{blockquote|'They've found the gentleman as owns the box; two or three more's a coming to identify him; and the Artful's booked for a passage out', replied Master Bates. 'I must have a full suit of mourning, Fagin, and a hatband, to wist him in, afore he sets out upon his travels. To think of Jack Dawkins—lummy Jack—the Dodger—the Artful Dodger—going abroad for a common twopenny-halfpenny sneeze-box! I never thought he'd a done it under a gold watch, chain, and seals, at the lowest. Oh, why didn't he rob some rich old gentleman of all his valuables, and go out as a gentleman, and not like a common prig, without no honour nor glory!
}}
The Dodger chooses to consider himself a "victim of society", roaring in the courtroom, "I am an Englishman, ain't I? Where are my priwileges?"<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/resources/english/etext-project/charles_dickens/olivr10/chapter43.html |author=Charles Dickens |title=Oliver Twist |quote=Project Gutenberg |publisher=Nalanda Digital Library |chapter=XLIII |access-date=20 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322131244/http://www.nalanda.nitc.ac.in/resources/english/etext-project/charles_dickens/olivr10/chapter43.html |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The jailer tells him "You'll get your privileges soon enough", while the judge has little patience for the Dodger's posturing and orders him out of the courtroom immediately after the jury convicts him of the theft. Dickens describes him this way:

{{blockquote|With these last words, the Dodger suffered himself to be led off by the collar, threatening, till he got into the yard, to make a parliamentary business of it, and then grinning in the officer's face, with great glee and self-approval.
}}

Dickens had first used a similar term to "Artful Dodger" in his previous novel, ''[[The Pickwick Papers]]''. At the close of Chapter 16, [[Sam Weller (character)|Sam Weller]] refers to the recent schemes of Mr Jingle: "Reg'lar do, sir; artful dodge."<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/posthumouspaper22dickgoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/posthumouspaper22dickgoog/page/n289 214]|title=The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club|last=Dickens|first=Charles|date=1838-01-01|publisher=Carey, Lea and Blanchard|language=en}}</ref>

The Artful Dodger, though a pickpocket, is not a heartless character. He has a great respect for Fagin – "There ain't no teacher like Fagin!" (chapter 3) – to whom he delivers all of the pickpocketing spoils without question.

== Actors who have played the role ==
[[File:Serie. Jack Wild (Dodger in film Oliver) tijdens persconferentie in bioscoop D, Bestanddeelnr 921-8847 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Jack Wild]] as Dodger in the musical ''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'' (1968). He earned nominations for a [[BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles|BAFTA]], a [[Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor|Golden Globe]], and an [[Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role]].]]

The role of the Artful Dodger has been played by several notable performers in adaptations of the novel. 

=== Stage ===
The role of the Artful Doger was amplified in the [[Musical theatre|musical]] ''[[Oliver!]]''. The part was first played by Martin Horsey, and later by [[Tony Robinson]], [[Davy Jones (musician)|Davy Jones]], [[Leonard Whiting]], [[Steve Marriott]], and [[Phil Collins]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Not Dead Yet|first=Phil|last=Collins|author-link=Phil Collins|publisher=Century Books|page=[https://archive.org/details/notdeadyetautobi0000coll/page/34 34]|date=2016|isbn=978-1780895123|url=https://archive.org/details/notdeadyetautobi0000coll/page/34}}</ref> Others to have played the role in amateur productions include [[Adam Levine]], [[Ben Elton]], [[Robbie Williams]], [[Joe Jonas]], Claire Josefson, and Hayley Smith.<ref>{{cite news |title=Brian Rawlins part 1: The Artful Dodger |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01sgc7c |access-date=29 November 2021 |agency=BBC}}</ref><ref>[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503444&objectid=11004700 "Robbie Williams: The ego has flown"]. ''NZ Herald''. Retrieved 14 June 2018</ref>

=== Television ===
For [[Oliver Twist (1962 TV serial)|the 1962 BBC TV serial]], [[Melvyn Hayes]] portrayed the character in a manner that reviewers described as faithful to the book's original depiction.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} 

In the 1980 [[Associated Television|ATV]] series ''The Further Adventures of Oliver Twist'', the Dodger was played by John Fowler.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Further Adventures of Oliver Twist |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397791/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt |access-date=22 May 2023 |website=IMDB.com}}</ref> In this sequel to ''Oliver Twist'', Oliver, who has been sent to a Northern boarding school by [[Mr. Brownlow]], finds that through Oliver's uncle Harry Maylie's intercession the Dodger escaped [[Penal transportation|transportation to Australia]] and was instead enrolled in the school. The two friends re-unite, and when Oliver flees the school the Dodger follows him back to London after learning of a plot against him. Oliver is made to believe, by [[Noah Claypole]], Noah's girlfriend Charlotte, and Mrs Carraway (Mr Brownlow's corrupt new housekeeper), that Mr. Brownlow is ill to the point of death. After Dodger rescues Oliver from imprisonment in the Brownlow cellar and the two are accused by Mrs. Carraway and Claypole of theft, he and Oliver are forced to take to the streets to uncover the truth, encountering [[Mr. Bumble]], the villainous [[Monks (Oliver Twist)|Monks]] and their old mentor [[Fagin]] (who had escaped execution) along the way;<ref>{{cite news |title=Further Adventures of Oliver Twist Old Acquaintance (1980) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7d45055b |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928050004/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7d45055b |archive-date=September 28, 2021 |access-date=28 November 2021 |agency=BFI}}</ref> at the series' conclusion, Mr. Brownlow also adopts Dodger as his son along with Oliver.

[[Elijah Wood]] also portrayed the character in the [[Oliver Twist (1997 film)|1997 television film]], which aired as part of [[Walt Disney anthology television series#1990s and 2000s|The Wonderful World of Disney]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. 

In the [[BBC]] adaptation of ''[[Oliver Twist (2007 miniseries)|Oliver Twist]]'' in 2007, he was played by Adam Arnold.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Serena |date=15 December 2007 |title=An Oliver for Our Times |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3669961/An-Oliver-for-our-times.html |access-date=2 September 2017 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]}}</ref> 

In the 2023 8-part [[Hulu]] miniseries ''[[The_Artful_Dodger_(2023_TV_series)|The Artful Dodger]]'', [[Thomas Brodie-Sangster]] plays Jack Dawkins&mdash;a semi-reformed Artful Dodger in his adulthood&mdash;who goes on to become a decorated Navy officer and skilled surgeon, yet remains unable and unwilling to fully escape a life of crime. The series takes place in 1850s Australia, over a decade after the events depicted in [[Charles Dickens|Dickens]]' [[Oliver Twist]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=John |title='The Artful Dodger' Review: Hulu Gives Dickens a Twist |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/television/the-artful-dodger-review-hulu-oliver-twist-jack-dawkins-charles-dickens-thomas-brodie-sangster-david-thewlis-e62cc3cc |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=The Artful Dodger |date=2023-11-29 |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20285780/ |type=Crime, Drama, History |access-date=2023-12-07 |others=Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, Maia Mitchell |publisher=Beach Road Pictures, Curio Pictures, Sony Pictures Television}}</ref>

=== Film ===
[[Anthony Newley]] played the character in a [[Oliver Twist (1948 film)|1948 film]] adaptation of the story. 

In the 1968 film ''[[Oliver! (film)|Oliver!]]'', [[Jack Wild]] played the role and was nominated for an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor#Winners and nominees|Best Supporting Actor]].<ref>{{cite news |date=3 March 2007 |title=Obituaries&nbsp;— Jack Wild |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,60-2066814,00.html |access-date=1 June 2007 |work=The Times |location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> 

The Artful Dodger was played by [[Harry Eden]] in [[Roman Polanski]]'s big-budget [[Oliver Twist (2005 film)|2005 film version]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Polanski takes on Oliver Twist |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4294348.stm |access-date=29 November 2021 |agency=BBC}}</ref> 

In the 2021 film [[Twist (2021 film)|''Twist'']], [[Rita Ora]] played the role.<ref>{{cite news |title='Twist': Michael Caine, Lena Headey, Rita Ora & Raff Law Lead Cast In Sky Movie Update Of Charles Dickens Classic |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/twist-michael-caine-lena-headey-rita-ora-raff-law-sky-movie-charles-dickens-1202761507/ |access-date=27 November 2020 |work=Deadline}}</ref>

== Cultural influences ==
Argentine football player and [[1986 FIFA World Cup]] winning captain [[Diego Maradona]] was frequently referred to as the Artful Dodger due to his cunning personality and ability to get away with fouls, such as disguising the illegal use of his hand, as he infamously did when scoring with the "[[The hand of God|Hand of God]]".<ref>[http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/sport/6353/world-cup-legends-2-diego-maradona/ "World Cup Legends #1: Diego Maradona"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203100233/http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/sport/6353/world-cup-legends-2-diego-maradona/ |date=2015-02-03 }}. ''Esquire''. Retrieved 3 February 2015</ref><ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/3459830/Diego-Maradona-writes-another-chapter-in-a-turbulent-life-Football.html "Argentina coach Diego Maradona writes another chapter in a turbulent life"]. ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 3 February 2015</ref><ref>Taylor, Chris (9 November 2005). [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/nov/06/sport.argentina "A Big Hand"]. ''The Guardian''. Retrieved 3 February 2015</ref>

[[Condredge Holloway]], the quarterback for the [[Tennessee Volunteers football|University of Tennessee Volunteers]] (1972–74), was known as "The Artful Dodger" for his scrambling prowess and elusive manner. Holloway was the first African-American starting quarterback in the history of Southeastern Conference football, went on to star in the [[Canadian Football League]] from 1975 through 1987, and was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1999.<ref>Fuchs, Cynthia. [http://www.popmatters.com/review/137361-year-of-the-quarterback-the-color-orange-the-condredge-holloway-stor/ "The Color Orange: The Condredge Holloway Story."] ''www.popmatters.com'', February 21, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2015.</ref>

==Modern interpretations==
In [[Walt Disney]]'s [[1988 in film|1988]] [[animated feature]] [[film]] version of ''Oliver Twist'', ''[[Oliver and Company]]'', the character of the Artful Dodger was changed to a streetwise [[Mixed-breed dog|mutt]] simply named Dodger. The voice was provided by musician [[Billy Joel]].

In [[Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist]], Artful Dodger is voiced by [[Brianne Siddall]] and resembles a rabbit.

In 1996, [[Jean Loup Wolfman]] played the role in an adaptation by [[Seth Michael Donsky]] entitled ''[[Twisted (1996 film)|Twisted]]''. The film is set in a contemporary New York City underground populated by drag queens, drug abusers and hustlers. The Artful Dodger is a [[homosexuality|gay]] [[rent boy]] and [[male prostitution|hustler]] called Arthur, better known among his clientele as "Fine Art".<ref>{{cite web|author=Twisted |url=http://movies.tvguide.com/twisted/132976 |title=Twisted Movie Trailer, Reviews and More &#124; TVGuide.com |website=Movies.tvguide.com |access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref> He befriends the Oliver Twist character called Lee (played by Keivyn McNeill Grayes), the latter a black adolescent runaway.

In the first edition of [[Alan Moore]] and [[Kevin O'Neill (comics)|Kevin O'Neill]]'s comic series ''[[League of Extraordinary Gentlemen]]'', set in 1898 London, the Dodger briefly appears as an elderly man running his own gang of boy thieves, hinting that he is still following in Fagin's footsteps.<ref>{{cite news |title=The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Alan Moore Series |url=https://www.cbr.com/league-extraordinary-gentlemen-trivia-facts-alan-moore-series/ |access-date=29 November 2021 |agency=CBR}}</ref>

In 2001, the Artful Dodger was the subject of an Australian children's show called ''[[Escape of the Artful Dodger]]''. The show followed the Artful Dodger's adventures in the Australian penal colony in New South Wales, as well as his eventual redemption. Oliver Twist and Fagin also appeared.<ref>{{cite news |title=Escape of the Artful Dodger (2001) |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/escape-of-the-artful-dodger-2001/16078/ |access-date=29 November 2021 |agency=Screen Australia}}</ref>

In the 2003 film [[Twist (2003 film)|''Twist'']], the Artful Dodger is called Dodge and is played by [[Nick Stahl]]. The film is told from his point of view, in which he is a drug addict influenced by Fagin.<ref>{{cite news |title=Twist Is-They Turn Tricks |url=https://observer.com/2004/05/twist-isthey-turn-tricks/ |access-date=29 November 2021 |work=The Observer}}</ref>

In the 2010 ''[[Doctor Who]]'' audio drama ''Legend of the Cybermen'', the Artful Dodger is one of the characters seen in the land of fiction. He was voiced by Steven Kynman.

In [[Tony Lee]]'s 2011 novel ''Dodge & Twist'', set twelve years after the events of Oliver Twist, Dodger has returned to England a changed man from his time in Australia, and is planning a heist. However he cannot escape the 'ghost' of Fagin, who still guides his actions, even past the grave.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dodge-Twist-Sequel-Oliver-ebook/dp/B005MYA7WA|title=Dodge & Twist: A Sequel To Oliver Twist|last=results|first=search|date=2011-09-13|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|edition=1st|language=en}}</ref>

In [[Terry Pratchett]]'s 2012 novel ''[[Dodger (novel)|Dodger]]'', the title character bears certain similarities to the Dickens character. The sampler of the book also includes him meeting an astute gentleman who concerns himself with the well-being of the poor called Charlie Dickens.<ref>[http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13516846-dodger " Dodger (Dodger #1)by Terry Pratchett "]. [[Goodreads]]. Retrieved October 9, 2016.</ref>

A 2014 novel by [[Peter David]], ''Artful'', features the Artful Dodger as the main character, and depicts his life following the events of ''Oliver Twist'', which includes confrontations with vampires, one of whom is revealed to be Fagin.<ref>Richards, Dave (March 26, 2014). [http://www.cbr.com/david-introduces-a-dangerous-dynamic-in-all-new-x-factor/ "David Introduces a Dangerous Dynamic in 'All-New X-Factor'"]. [[CBR.com]].</ref> The storyline of that novel was continued in a comic book series of the same name.<ref>Johnston, Rich (July 7, 2016). [http://www.bleedingcool.com/2016/07/07/action-labs-sdcc-2016-exclusives-including-launch-of-peter-davids-artful-1/ "Action Lab Launches Peter David's Artful At San Diego – And Other Exclusives"]. [[Bleeding Cool]].</ref>

In the late 2015 BBC series ''[[Dickensian (TV series)|Dickensian]]'', the Artful Dodger is portrayed by [[Wilson Radjou-Pujalte]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/dickensian-media-pack.pdf|title=Dickensian Press Pack |date=11 December 2015|work=BBC Media Centre}}</ref>

In the 2021 film [[Twist (2021 film)|''Twist'']], the Artful Dodger is gender-flipped into a woman and played by [[Rita Ora]].

In the 2022 [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] series, ''[[Dodger (TV series)|Dodger]]'', the Artful Dodger is portrayed by Billy Jenkins.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dodger: Meet the cast and creators of CBBC's Victorian adventure|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/bbc.com/mediacentre/mediapacks/dodger/|access-date=2022-02-15|website=www.bbc.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>

In the 2023 miniseries ''[[The Artful Dodger (2023 TV series)|The Artful Dodger]]'', which is set in 1850s Australia, the titular character is portrayed by [[Thomas Brodie-Sangster]].

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20161001170634/http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0012210/ Artful Dodger] on [[IMDb]]

{{Oliver Twist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Artful Dodger}}
[[Category:Oliver Twist characters]]
[[Category:Literary archetypes]]
[[Category:Fictional orphans]]
[[Category:Fictional British criminals]]
[[Category:Child characters in musical theatre]]
[[Category:Literary characters introduced in 1838]]
[[Category:Child characters in film]]
[[Category:Child characters in literature]]
[[Category:Child characters in television]]
[[Category:Fictional thieves]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from the 19th century]]
[[Category:Fictional people from London]]
[[Category:Male characters in film]]
[[Category:Male characters in literature]]
[[Category:Male characters in television]]