Rose Maylie
Encyclopedia
Rose Fleming Maylie is a character in Charles Dickens
's novel Oliver Twist
. She is Oliver's maternal aunt.
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 Monks and Fagin
, 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 parson
. Rose and Harry were then married and lived a happy quiet life in the country.
and the film thereof. She is also missing from the 1948
and 2005
film versions of the novel.
Often Rose's familial relationsips differ from those of the original novel,with Mr. Brownlow (with whom she had no connections of before bonding over their acquaintances with Oliver in the novel) occasionally appearing as her uncle or adopted guardian.
In the 1933 film she is played by Barbara Kent
.
In the 1997 Disney television film, she is played by Olivia Caffery.
In the 1999
miniseries of Oliver Twist, Rose is played by English actress Keira Knightley
.
In the 2007 miniseries, Rose is played by Scottish actress Morven Christie
.
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
's novel Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress is the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, published by Richard Bentley in 1838. The story is about an orphan Oliver Twist, who endures a miserable existence in a workhouse and then is placed with an undertaker. He escapes and travels to...
. She is Oliver's maternal aunt.
Biography
Rose is an orphan raised from young childhood by Mrs. Maylie. Bill SikesBill Sikes
William "Bill" Sikes is a fictional character in the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.He is one of Dickens's most vicious characters and a very strong force in the novel when it comes to having control over somebody or harming others. He is portrayed as a rough and barbaric man. He is a career...
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.
During this separation, the Maylies visit London. Nancy, having eavesdropped on conversations between Monks and Fagin
Fagin
Fagin is a fictional character who appears as an antagonist of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, referred to in the preface of the novel as a "receiver of stolen goods", but referred to more frequently within the actual story as the "merry old gentleman" or simply the "Jew".-Character:Born...
, 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 parson
Parson
In the pre-Reformation church, a parson was the priest of an independent parish church, that is, a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization...
. Rose and Harry were then married and lived a happy quiet life in the country.
Notable portrayals
Rose Maylie is completely omitted from the musical Oliver!Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
and the film thereof. She is also missing from the 1948
Oliver Twist (1948 film)
Oliver Twist is the second of David Lean's two film adaptations of Charles Dickens novels. Following the success of his 1946 version of Great Expectations, Lean re-assembled much of the same team for his adaptation of Dicken's 1838 novel, including producers Ronald Neame and Anthony...
and 2005
Oliver Twist (2005 film)
Oliver Twist is a 2005 British drama film directed by Roman Polanski. The screenplay by Ronald Harwood is based on the 1838 novel of the same title by Charles Dickens....
film versions of the novel.
Often Rose's familial relationsips differ from those of the original novel,with Mr. Brownlow (with whom she had no connections of before bonding over their acquaintances with Oliver in the novel) occasionally appearing as her uncle or adopted guardian.
In the 1933 film she is played by Barbara Kent
Barbara Kent
Barbara Kent was a Canadian-born U.S.-based silent film actress. Following the death of Miriam Seegar, she was the last North American actor still alive to have achieved substantial fame during the silent film era as an adult.-Career:Born as Barbara Cloutman in Gadsby, Alberta, to Jullion Curtis...
.
In the 1997 Disney television film, she is played by Olivia Caffery.
In the 1999
Oliver Twist (TV miniseries)
Oliver Twist is a 1999 television mini-series produced by ITV based on the book Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.-Plot:The first episode revolved around Oliver's parents as they struggled to fight their love for each other...
miniseries of Oliver Twist, Rose is played by English actress Keira Knightley
Keira Knightley
Keira Christina Knightley born 26 March 1985) is an English actress and model. She began acting as a child and came to international notice in 2002 after co-starring in the film Bend It Like Beckham...
.
In the 2007 miniseries, Rose is played by Scottish actress Morven Christie
Morven Christie
-Life and career:Morven Christie grew up in Glasgow and Aviemore. She studied acting at the Drama Centre London, under Reuven Adiv, an associate of Lee Strasberg. She graduated in 2003. Christie has worked on stage, film and television drama since...
.