The Fagin: Difference between revisions

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[[File:TheFagin_2422.jpg|link=Oliver (Theatre)|~~right~~|''I am reviewing, the situation...'']]

[[File:TheFagin_2422.jpg|link=Oliver! (Theatre)|frame|''I am reviewing, the situation...'']]

A crook who takes in children, usually [[Street Urchin|orphans]] and has them steal for him, usually through pickpocketing, the [[Short Con]] or both. Like the original Dickens character, this trope is subject to two distinct interpretations. Sometimes, the character will be a [[Lovable Rogue]] and will be presented as essentially giving the children the best life possible. On the other hand, other versions of this are [[Evil Mentor|cruel exploiters]] and function similarly to the [[Orphanage of Fear]]. Less sympathetic examples may qualify as a [[Babysitter From Hell]].

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Sometimes, just sometimes, [[The Fagin]] may actually ''love'' the children who works for him like a father, and there are few things scarier than a ''[[Papa Wolf]] Fagin'', who is ''not'' above using his extensive underworld connections to absolutely torture to death those who harm his children.

Expect to find [[The Artful Dodger]] among his crew. If the Fagin's charges grow up successfully, they will likely become [[Satisfied Street Rat|Satisfied Street Rats]]. Related to the [[Thieves Guild]]. The children involved automatically qualify as a [[Tyke Bomb]].

Expect to find [[The Artful Dodger]] among his crew. If the Fagin's charges grow up successfully, they will likely become [[Satisfied Street Rat|Satisfied Street Rats]]. Related to the [[Thieves' Guild]]. The children involved automatically qualify as a [[Tyke Bomb]].

The trope is named after Fagin, a character from [[Charles Dickens (Creator)|Charles Dickens]]' ''[[Oliver Twist]]'' who is so associated with this trope that his name is actually next to it in the dictionary. He even fufills both interpretations, depending on the media he's in.

== Comic Books ==

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== Literature ==

* The original is Fagin of ''[[Oliver Twist]]''. Because of the [[Unfortunate Implications]] of the anti-Semitism in his portrayal, he's often been adapted (e.g., in ''[[Oliver (Theatre)|Oliver]]'') into a more benevolent/morally gray character than he was in the novel. A number of critics looking at the original Fagin have noted that he has more than a whiff of the pedophile about him.

* The original is Fagin of ''[[Oliver Twist]]''. Because of the [[Unfortunate Implications]] of the anti-Semitism in his portrayal, he's often been adapted (e.g., in ''[[Oliver! (Theatre)|Oliver]]'') into a more benevolent/morally gray character than he was in the novel. A number of critics looking at the original Fagin have noted that he has more than a whiff of the pedophile about him.

* In ''[[Gentleman Bastard|The Lies of Locke Lamora]]'', Locke encounters both versions as a child. The first criminal who took him in, the Thiefmaker, was more of the evil version, but he ends up selling Locke to Father Chains, who is very clearly inspired by the positive takes on Fagin.

* In the [[Heralds of Valdemar]] novel ''Take a Thief'', Skif falls in with a group of young thieves led by an adult man (Bazie), who is unfortunately crippled; he gives them food, shelter and lessons (both educational and in how to be a good thief) in exchange for helping him out with his daily life and stealing for him.

* ''[[The Thief Lord]]'' centers around, well, the Thief Lord and his gang of orphans and runaways. Subverted in that the Thief Lord turns out to be a kid himself, and {{spoiler|not actually an orphan/runaway, but a rich kid stealing petty items from his dad's house}}.

* Referenced in the ''[[Temps (Literature)|Temps]]'' short story "Sortilege and Serendipity" by Brian Stableford when the hapless hero, whose job is testing Talented kids, is [[Mistaken Identity|mistaken for]] the super criminal known as the Taxman, and finds himself spinning a yarn about being a Fagin-figure using his work to recruit powered youngsters into his gang. He briefly wonders why he's never actually done this, before remembering that all the kids he works with are [[Bratty Half Pint|mouthy pains-in-the-neck]] with [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart Anyway|useless powers]].

* Referenced in the ''[[Temps (Literature)|Temps]]'' short story "Sortilege and Serendipity" by Brian Stableford when the hapless hero, whose job is testing Talented kids, is [[Mistaken Identity|mistaken for]] the super criminal known as the Taxman, and finds himself spinning a yarn about being a Fagin-figure using his work to recruit powered youngsters into his gang. He briefly wonders why he's never actually done this, before remembering that all the kids he works with are [[Bratty Half-Pint|mouthy pains-in-the-neck]] with [[What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?|useless powers]].

* Subverted in one ''[[Batman]]'' short story: Batman ''thinks'' the Penguin is kidnapping kids from troubled backgrounds to lead them into a life of crime. He's actually giving them a decent education and a pleasant childhood so they can grow up to be outstanding members of society ... who owe him a huge favor.

* Sergeant Rumpkin in ''[[Beyond the Western Sea]]'' falls somewhere between the two versions. It's ambiguous how much he cares for the boys independent of the money they bring him; however, the worst thing we see him do is chide Toggs and {{spoiler|made vague threats about Fred, who betrays the gang.}}

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== Real Life ==

* Fagin was partly based on [~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Ikey_Solomon~~ Isaac Solomon], who was at least rumored to be a "kidsman" (apparently, that's the "technical" term for this type of criminal), although he was mostly a very successful fence. He also made a pretty impressive escape from Newgate Prison and British authorities.

* Fagin was partly based on [[wikipedia:Ikey Solomon|Isaac Solomon]], who was at least rumored to be a "kidsman" (apparently, that's the "technical" term for this type of criminal), although he was mostly a very successful fence. He also made a pretty impressive escape from Newgate Prison and British authorities.

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[[Category:Criminals]]

[[Category:The Fagin]]

[[Category:Trope]]