Seventeen years old at the time of the novel's events, she is set up as a dramatic foil to Nancy who is around the same age and sees her own degradation in contrast to Rose.

[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 and Toby Crackit, two thieves, break into the Maylies' house, accompanied by Oliver, who they use to get access as he is small enough to climb through a window.

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.

In the 1999 miniseries of Oliver Twist, Rose is played by English actress Keira Knightley.