Oliver Twist, a serial novel written by the Father of Victorian Literature, Charles Dickens, remains a poignant critique of the harsh realities faced by the poor in 19tn century Victorian England. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly industrializing society, Dickens’s narrative unfolds around the life of the protagonist, Oliver Twist. Oliver was a young orphan born into destitution and raised in a workhouse, facing the harsh issues of starvation. The novel opens with Oliver’s birth in a grim workhouse where his mother dies shortly after delivering him. From his earliest days, Oliver confronts a world defined by systematic poverty and institutional cruelty, embodied by the callous bureaucracy of the Victorian Workhouse. Under the pressure of the overseer, Mrs. Mann—who greedily keeps most of the money of child’s upkeep, and the manager Mr. Bumble—who lords over the paupers and orphans at the workhouse, Oliver grows up almost starving to death. Dickens’s portrayal of Oliver’s bleak and oppressive struggles upbringing serves as a scathing critique of the injustices and dehumanizing conditions and the satires of child labour during that era.
In Victorian England, workhouses were grim institutions designed to provide a basic standard of living to the destitutes in exchange for labor. Established under the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, one that stated “all relief for the poor should be given in workhouses,” these institutions reflected society’s harsh attitudes towards the poor and welfare. Workhouses aimed not only to provide relief but it also deterred ‘pauperism’ by making conditions deliberately austere and unappealing. To achieve this latter goal, workhouse conditions were harsh and austere. Inmates were subjected to menial and often backbreaking labor, such as stone-breaking or chopping wood, as in the novel, a typical form of work—oakum picking. These hostile toils not only serve as means of sustaining the institution, but also a form of punishment and control. Dickens’s depiction in “Oliver Twist” vividly captures the humiliating “kind” acts and their effects through Oliver’s own experience and growth. Moreover, workhouse conditions were designed to instill a sense of shame and dependency in inmates, reinforcing a prevailing attitude towards poverty. In Victorian society the poor were stigmatized as lazy or undeserving, thus, workhouses served not only as welfare but also as instruments of social discipline—to “reform character” through hardship and deprivation.
Throughout Oliver Twist, Dickens contrasts Oliver’s innate innocence and moral integrity with the cruelty of those in power, such as Mr. Bumble, the pompous manager who oversees the workhouse. Through Oliver’s journey, Dickens sheds light on the pervasive hunger and deprivation within workhouses, critiquing the system, exposing the inherent contradictions and injustices of a society that purports to care for but fails to do so in practice. Dickens’s tangible portrait of the penury in 19th century England serves as a powerful indictment of the social structures that perpetuate poverty and suffering. His vivid depiction of Oliver’s struggles gives insights into the intolerable lives of the destitutes under the acts that are purposed for “better relief and employment of the poor.” The Victorian workhouses provide the poors some food and shelter, keeping them alive—at least they could live longer. As Dickes paints in his novel:
“So they established the rule that all poor people should have the alternative
(for they would compel nobody, not they) of being starved by a gradual process
in the house, or by a quick one out of it” (Dickens, 2).
He protested against the welfare policy and practice of the seemingly “charity” in England at that time. Dickens highlights the stark and merciless truth faced by the destitute in workhouses, where they were given the opportunity to choose between two options: to starve slowly as opposed to quick starvation on the streets. This jarring reality sheds light on the novel and compels readers to question the moral foundation of Victorian society.
Victorian Workhouses had a profound impact on society during the 19th century. These institutions were designed to provide accommodation for the impoverished, but they became notorious for their harsh conditions and punitive measures. Since then, workhouses symbolized the attitudes towards poverty, often separating families and subjecting inmates to grueling labor. The workhouse system reflected a rigid societal hierarchy, where the poor were stigmatized and treated as morally deficient. Charles Dickens famously critiqued these institutions in his novel Oliver Twist. For instance:
“Please, sir, I want some more” (Dickens, 2)
This renowned phrase said by Oliver to ask for more food perfectly illustrates the dreadful and merciless realities of a child’s life in a workhouse. Additionally:
“Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!”
There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.
…
“That boy will be hung,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. “I know
that boy will be hung” (Dickens, 2)
The consequence of demanding more food reflects more of the cruelties in Victorian society. Dickens’s powerful portrayal of characters like Oliver and other characters struggling within workhouses sparked a widespread public awareness and outrage. His critique not only influenced public opinion but also contributed to long-term reforms aimed at improving conditions of the underprivileged. As Victorian Society began to reassess its attitudes towards welfare, reforms aimed at improving workhouse conditions started to gain traction. By the late 19th century, evolving social policies and increasing public awareness contributed to the gradual decline of the workhouse system. Moreover, Dickens’s critique continues to resonate today, serving as a poignant reminder of the struggles against systematic inequality.
Workhouses in the Victorian Era represented a dark chapter in the history of poverty and social welfare. Charles Dickens’s novel, Oliver Twist continues to remain as a timeless indictment of these institutions and acts, challenging the prevailing attitudes towards the impoverished. Through the lens of his vivid characters and searing social critique, Dickens reveals the underlying inequalities of a society that claims to ‘look out for all its citizens.’ Oliver Twist not only stands as a literary masterpiece, but also a call to action. Through the life of Oliver, Dickens urges readers to confront the moral implications of societal neglect and institutionalized hardships. As the author paints the society where the destitute were more poor, and the wealthy wealthier, the harsh realities of a life of those underprivileged in the Victorian Era are vividly revealed. Furthermore, the stark contrast of the claims of the laws—how the institutions were meant to establish a better life for the poor—and the reality of the callous toils in workhouses exposes the hypocrisy of the system. By shining a light on the plight of the poor, Dickens inspires readers to strive for a more compassionate and equitable society. In fine, in the words of Oliver Twist himself, may we all dare to ask for more—more food, more compassion, more justice, and more humanity in our treatment of those in need.
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