Tom Chitling and the gang

Tom Chitling is a minor but revealing member of Fagin's criminal gang, a slow-witted and gullible young man whose recent release from prison and subsequent interactions with the group illuminate the internal hierarchies, social dynamics, and moral degradation of the underworld in which he moves. His presence in the narrative serves as a counterpoint to the sharper, more ambitious criminals like the Artful Dodger, and his treatment by the others exposes the casual cruelty and self-serving nature that pervades Fagin's circle.

Identity and Introduction

Tom Chitling is introduced as a young man older than the Artful Dodger, having perhaps numbered eighteen winters, but he displays a marked deference towards the younger boy, suggesting a consciousness of his own inferiority in both genius and professional accomplishments. He has small twinkling eyes and a pock-marked face, and his wardrobe is in a state of disrepair, which he excuses by explaining that his 'time' was only out an hour before, and that he has not been able to attend to his private clothes after wearing the regimentals for six weeks. He complains bitterly about the new way of fumigating clothes in prison, which he considers infernal and unconstitutional, and he also objects to the regulation mode of cutting the hair, which he holds to be decidedly unlawful. He states that he has not touched a drop of anything for forty-two moral long hard-working days, and that he is as dry as a lime-basket.

Role and Status Within the Gang

Tom Chitling occupies a distinctly subordinate position within Fagin's gang, serving as a figure of fun and a source of easy profit for the more cunning members. He is immediately drawn into a card game with the Artful Dodger and Charley Bates, where he and his partner invariably lose, a circumstance that provides Charley with the highest amusement. The Dodger, who takes dummy against Master Bates and Mr. Chitling, wins everything, prompting Tom to ruefully observe that he never sees such a fellow as Jack, who wins even when they have good cards. Fagin, understanding the reason for Tom's consistent losses, encourages him to try again, but Tom refuses, declaring that the Dodger has such a run of luck that there is no standing against him. The Dodger and Charley mock him for his supposed romantic interest in Betsy, a girl in the gang, and Fagin encourages him to stick up to her, saying she is a fine girl and that doing as she bids him will make his fortune. Tom, in a moment of anger, reveals that he was imprisoned because of her advice, but he defends his loyalty by stating that he did not betray her, and that a word from him would have done it. Fagin praises his stout-heartedness, but Charley's laughter provokes Tom to such a degree that he rushes across the room and aims a blow at him, which accidentally lands on Fagin's chest, causing the old man to stagger.

Relationship with Fagin and the Gang's Culture

Tom Chitling's relationship with Fagin is one of dependency and manipulation, reflecting the gang's broader culture of exploitation and false camaraderie. After the card game, Fagin pats him on the shoulder and calls him a very clever fellow, winking to his other pupils, a gesture that underscores the insincerity of the praise. Tom, in turn, seeks validation from Fagin, asking whether Mr. Crackit is a heavy swell and whether it is a creditable thing to have his acquaintance. Fagin assures him that it is, and that the others are only jealous because Crackit won't give it to them. Tom triumphantly accepts this explanation, declaring that Crackit has cleaned him out, but that he can go and earn some more when he likes. Fagin then urges him to do so, telling him to make up his loss at once and not lose any more time. This exchange reveals how Fagin uses flattery and the promise of future gain to keep his followers in line, while simultaneously allowing them to be exploited by the more skilled members of the gang. Tom's gullibility and his desperate need for approval make him an easy target, and his presence in the narrative highlights the way in which the gang preys not only on the public but also on its own weaker members.