Biography
Rose is an orphan raised from childhood by Mrs. Maylie. Bill Sikes and Toby Crackit, two thieves, break into the Maylies' house, accompanied by Oliver. Oliver is shot by the Maylies' butler, Giles, and is abandoned during the flight by Toby and Bill. When Oliver staggers back to the house and collapses on the doorstep, Rose is moved to help him. Upon hearing Oliver's history, Mrs. Maylie, Rose, and their family friend, Dr. Losberne, nurse him back to health while covering up his role in the attempted burglary.
When Rose becomes very ill and nearly dies, she is visited by Harry Maylie, Mrs. Maylie's son. Upon her recovery, he asks her to marry him, but she refuses because of the uncertainty about her birth. Harry aspires to a political career, and Rose feels that if her history was known, his success would be jeopardized. She sends Harry away, but agrees that he might, within the year, ask her once again whether her refusal is firm.
During this separation, the Maylies visit London. Nancy, having eavesdropped on conversations between Fagin and Monks, discovers a scheme against Oliver. She reveals this plot to Rose, who works with Mr. Brownlow to save Oliver. The meeting of Nancy and Rose contrasts the fates of the two orphans. While Nancy acknowledges Rose's goodness and compassion, she will not abandon Bill Sikes and feels that redemption is out of reach. As Bill mistakenly kills Nancy for presumably informing on him, she clings to the handkerchief Rose had given her as a token of remembrance.
At the end of the story Mr. Brownlow reveals to Rose that she is the daughter of a retired naval officer who was a good friend of Oliver's father, and that her much older sister, Agnes Fleming, eventually became Oliver's mother. When Agnes revealed to her father that she was pregnant, he moved away with Agnes and Rose to hide the disgrace from friends and family. Shortly after Agnes's death, her father died too, leaving Rose orphaned in a strange town. Later, Mrs. Maylie saw her there in the poor care of some cottagers and took her in, raising her as her niece.
In order to win Rose's heart and overcome her objections to marriage, Harry gives up his political ambitions and becomes a person. Rose and Harry were then married and lived a happy quiet life in the country.
Read more about this topic: Rose Maylie
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