The Murder of Nancy, the Most Horrible Scene:
In Oliver Twist, the murder of Nancy is the most heart – rending and horrible scene. It is a living testimony of cruelty and inhumanity. It reminds the pathetic condition of our civilized society. Nancy is a drab working for the gang of Fagin. She loves Bill Sikes very sincerely. She is wholly devoted to him. She is full of sacrificing spirit for the sake of Sikes. Despite his cruelty and ill – treatment she endures misery and remains sincere to him. She is offered material reward as well as asylum anywhere she likes in England or other country, but she refuses to accept all the enticement given to her only for her sincere love to Bill Sikes.
Nancy’s Showing Humanity in Oliver’s Favour:
She discloses only as much as is barely necessary to rescue Oliver but she is careful not to implicate or harm Sikes or Fagin. Her intention is to atone for her earlier sin having captured Oliver for Fagin but she can never dream of betraying her group. But she has to die a very miserable and cruel death at the hands of her own lover Sikes in spite of her sincerity.
Nancy’s Showing Tender Feelings for Oliver:
She agrees to recapture, Oliver and bring him back to Fagin den, but when she witnesses the cruel and inhuman treatment meted out to him by all the members of the gang, she gets furious. Later when she overhears the conspiracy being hatched by Fagin and Monks, her womanly heart is filled with compassion. She is overflooded with human milk and decides to restore Oliver to the genteel world from where she had captured him
Noah’s Spying her and Reporting Fagin and Fagin’s Contriving a Plan:
Noah Claypole chases Nancy and reports Fagin her betrayal of the gang and the old Jew immediately starts planning how to get rid of her. His shrewd mind contrives a plan which aims at her death at the hands of Bill Sikes. When Sikes makes an appearance in his den, he cunningly provokes him against Nancy. When Fagin realizes that Sikes is fully incited, he makes Noah Claypole disclose what he has seen and heard on the London Bridge. All these incidents aggravate the wrath of Bill Sikes. He finally decides to get rid of Nancy by killing her.
Sikes’ Killing Nancy in a Furious Mood:
Bill Sikes is full of anger. So, he puts off the candle by throwing it into the fire – place. When it is dark, he seizes her by the neck. He drags her into the middle of the room. He places his hand over her mouth. She requests him to listen to her and begs him to spare her life, but Sikes is utterly unaffected. He strikes her twice with all the strength. Nancy staggers and then falls, nearly blinded with the blood that runs down from deep gash in her fore – head. She takes out from her bosom a white handkerchief. She breathes one last prayer mercy to her God and then collapses. Sikes again strikes her. He strikes her again and again, but he still feels that her eyes are open and staring at him. He lights a fire burns the club by which he had killed her. He washes himself and rubs his clothes.
The Stains of Blood Spreading Everywhere in the Room:
There are spots on the clothes of Sikes which cannot be removed. So, he cuts out those pieces and throws them into fire. The stains of blood can be found almost everywhere in the room. Even the feet of dog are smeared with blood. He washes the dog and runs away.
Sikes‘ Sin’s Chasing Him Everywhere:
After committing this heinous crime of killing an innocent woman, Sikes is overpowered with some unknown fear. While trying to escape, he does not know where his legs are carrying him. He feels that Nancy’s open eyes are following him. At this Sikes is filled with terror.
