# Rose Maylie > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rose_Maylie > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rose_Maylie.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Maylie > Source revision: 1312298260 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Fictional character in Oliver Twist Fictional character Rose Fleming Maylie Rose and Oliver visit the memorial to Oliver's mother Created by Charles Dickens Portrayed by Lettice Fairfax (1905) Esther Ralston (1922) Barbara Kent (1933) Eleanor David (1982) Gay Cameron (1962) Lysette Anthony (1985) Olivia Caffery (1997) Keira Knightley (1999) Morven Christie (2007) In-universe information Gender Female Family Agnes Fleming (sister, deceased) Mrs Maylie (adoptive mother) Oliver Twist (nephew) Captain Fleming (father, deceased) Spouse Harry Maylie **Rose Fleming Maylie** is a fictional character in [Charles Dickens](/source/Charles_Dickens)' 1838 novel *[Oliver Twist](/source/Oliver_Twist)* who is eventually discovered to be the [title character](/source/Oliver_Twist_(character))'s maternal aunt. Though she plays a significant role in the novel, she is often omitted from dramatisations of the story. ## Role Rose Maylie and Oliver Rose is portrayed as pure, innocent, and beautiful. Seventeen years old at the time of the novel's events, she is set up as a dramatic [foil](/source/Foil_(literature)) to [Nancy](/source/Nancy_(Oliver_Twist)) who is around the same age and sees her own degradation in contrast to Rose.[1] Rose is an orphan whose original surname was Fleming. She is raised from childhood by Mrs. Maylie, who adopted her from a poor family who were looking after her. She refers to Rose as her niece.[2] Rose is haunted by the thought that she may be illegitimate and so she rejects the suit of Mrs. Maylie's son Harry for fear that marriage to her may harm his career in the church. [Bill Sikes](/source/Bill_Sikes) and Toby Crackit, two thieves, break into the Maylies' house, accompanied by Oliver, whom they use to get access as he is small enough to climb through a window. Oliver is shot and wounded by Giles, the butler of the Maylies. When the wounded Oliver returns later, Rose takes pity on him and, along with Mrs. Maylie, takes him to their country home to live with them. During this time, Rose becomes seriously ill and is apparently on the verge of death. Her illness affects everyone around her, including Oliver and Harry. She eventually recovers. Later, Rose learns about Oliver's plight from Nancy. She offers to help Nancy escape from Sikes, but Nancy refuses to leave him. Rose teams up with [Mr Brownlow](/source/Mr_Brownlow) to rescue Oliver. It is later revealed that she is Oliver's aunt.[3] Her sister Agnes Fleming was Oliver's mother. Like Oliver, she was a victim of [Monks](/source/Monks_(Oliver_Twist))' plotting. After this revelation, Harry Maylie again proposes to her, stressing that he had given up his career prospects to be with her alone. She finally accepts his proposal, and the couple are married. ## Notable portrayals Rose Maylie is completely omitted from the musical *[Oliver!](/source/Oliver!)* and the film thereof. She is also missing from the [1948](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1948_film)) and [2005](/source/Oliver_Twist_(2005_film)) film versions of the novel. Often Rose's familial relationships differ from those of the original novel, with Mr. Brownlow (with whom she had no connection before bonding over their acquaintances with Oliver in the novel) occasionally appearing as her uncle or adopted guardian. In the stage performance at His Majesty’s Theatre, London in 1905, Rose was portrayed by [Lettice Fairfax](/source/Lettice_Fairfax). In the [1922 film](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1922_film)), she is portrayed by [Esther Ralston](/source/Esther_Ralston). In the [1933 film](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1933_film)), she is played by [Barbara Kent](/source/Barbara_Kent). In the [1962 miniseries](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1962_TV_serial)), she is played by Gay Cameron.[4] In the [1982 television film](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1982_TV_film)), she is played by [Eleanor David](/source/Eleanor_David). In the [1985 miniseries](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1985_TV_serial)), she is played by [Lysette Anthony](/source/Lysette_Anthony) who also plays her sister Agnes. In the [1997 Disney television film](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1997_film)), she is played by Olivia Caffrey. Her relationship with Oliver is different from most versions. In this version, she is Oliver's first cousin once removed. In the [1999 miniseries](/source/Oliver_Twist_(1999_miniseries)) of *Oliver Twist*, Rose is played by English actress [Keira Knightley](/source/Keira_Knightley). In the [2007 miniseries](/source/Oliver_Twist_(2007_TV_serial)), Rose is played by Scottish actress [Morven Christie](/source/Morven_Christie). ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-brom_1-0)** Bromburg, M. & Morris, V., *Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist*, Barron's Educational Series, 1 Jan 1985, p.15. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Hayward, Arthur, "Maylie", *The Dickens Encyclopaedia: Routledge Library Editions: Charles Dickens, Volume 8*, Routledge, 17 Jun 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Rodney Dale, *The Dickens Dictionary*, Wordsworth Editions, 2004, p.61. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Oliver Twist (TV Mini Series 1962– ) - IMDb"](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227939/fullcredits?ref_=tt_cl_sm#cast). *[IMDb](/source/IMDb)*. v t e Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist Characters Oliver Twist Bill Sikes Fagin Mr Brownlow Nancy Rose Maylie Monks The Artful Dodger Charley Bates Mr Sowerberry Mr. Bumble Film adaptations 1909 1912 (American) 1912 (British) 1916 1922 1933 1948 Oliver! (1968) 1974 Las Aventuras de Oliver Twist (1987) 2005 Film retellings Manik (1961) Chitti Tammudu (1962) Oliver & Company (1988) Twisted (1996) Twist (2003) Boy Called Twist (2004) Twist (2021) TV adaptations 1962 TV serial 1982 American–British TV film 1982 Australian TV film 1985 TV serial Saban's Adventures of Oliver Twist (1996 TV series) 1997 TV film 1999 TV series 2007 TV series Stage adaptations Oliver Twist (1905) Oliver! (1960) Songs "As Long as He Needs Me" "Consider Yourself" "Food, Glorious Food" "I'd Do Anything" "Oliver!" "Oom-Pah-Pah" "Where Is Love?" "You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two" "Be Back Soon" "Reviewing the Situation" Related Oliver! (1962 original Broadway cast recording) Oliver! (soundtrack to the 1968 film) Oliver & Company (soundtrack to Oliver & Company) Escape of the Artful Dodger (2001 TV series retelling) Fagin the Jew (2003 graphic novel) Oliver and the Artful Dodger (1972 TV film) I'd Do Anything (2008 TV series) Dodger (2022 TV series) The Artful Dodger (2023 TV series) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rose Maylie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Maylie) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Maylie?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.