The Victorian workhouse, a system of workhouses that dominated England and Wales during the 19th century, was an institution where those who weren’t able to sufficiently provide for themselves financially were offered living accommodations and employment. This workhouse system in many ways reflected the societal attitude towards poverty, those of a lower class class, and charity at the time. Throughout the beginning of the novel Oliver Twist, written by Charles Dickens, we are able to see and learn more about Oliver’s experiences at the workhouse and what it was like for him as a young adult at the time.
The Victorian workhouse was established following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, which aimed to reverse the economic trend at the time by discouraging the provision of relief to anyone who refused to enter a workhouse. However, as good as it may sound, in reality, Poor Law Authorities just wanted to make profit by taking advantage of the free manual labor of the inmates. However as the 19th century went on, the workhouses eventually became refuges for the elderly, poor, and sick, rather than what they claimed to be, a place where poor able bodied people seeked housing and employment. The Victorian workhouses was also in many ways similar to internment camps for there were separate wards for men and women and the age you are. Once entering the workhouse, people are also typically stripped of their personal belongings and were given uniforms to wear. These workhouses were viewed as a test of poverty rather than a source of accommodation and employment method for the poor , leading to the establishment of a large number of workhouses for that purpose. (Wikipedia)
The Victorian workhouse was remembered for its harsh conditions and cruel treatment of inmates. Through Oliver’s eyes, we can see that the Victorian workhouses were not pleasant as it was often cramped with people and had unsanitary conditions, with many dying from diseases. The workhouse diet was also meager, consisting of thin gruel and stale bread as describe in the novel. The novel states, “With this view, they contracted with the water-works to lay on an unlimited supply of water; and with a corn-factory to supply periodically small quantities of oatmeal; and issued three meals of thin gruel a day, with an onion twice a week, and half a roll of Sundays.” (Dickens) The harsh conditions of the Victorian workhouses in many ways greatly impacted the children that were admitted at the time. The children were often hungry and lacked education. Each child was given a single portion of food and no more and no less was given. (Dickens) Education was also provided but often unsuccessful due to the lack of teachers. All in all, the conditions of the workhouses were terrible to both the young and the old and impacted different people in different ways. (Wikipedia)
Mr. Bumble, the manager of London's workhouse and Oliver’s “caretaker”, is a prime example of the irony depicted of Victorian workhouses in the novel. On the surface, Mr. Bumble appears to be a symbol of authority and respectability and appears to be responsible and caring. However, his icruelty towards the workhouse inmates, particularly the children revealed a contrast between what he seems to be and his true nature. When Oliver asks Mr. Bumble for more food, he [Mr. Bumble] goes to Mr. Limbkins and “tattletales” on Oliver. As stated in the book, “... Mr. Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said, ‘Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!’” (Dickens) His [Mr. Bumble] existence demonstrates hypocrisy of the Victorian social classes, where those in positions of power often mistreat those with less power and fortune. Furthermore, Mr. Bumble's character allows readers to reflect on the workhouse system, which promised to provide shelter and support to the poor, but instead created greater poverty and suffering to those who originally just seeked for help. (Dickens)
Through Dicken’s novel of a young boy named Oliver Twist, we are able to learn and explore the many parts of the society at the time, one of which being the Victorian workhouses. Dicken’s novel in many ways greatly captures the reality of the Victorian workhouses, showcasing the cruelty and mistreatment of the poor. Established following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the Victorian workhouses claimed to provide accommodation and employment to the poor but in reality allowed those of higher social classes to mistreat the poor as demonstrated through Mr. Bumble’s actions. So, without further ado, let’s join Oliver on his journey through the workhouse situation and learn more about the history within.
Works Cited
Dickens, Charles. “Oliver Twist”. England. Richard Bentley. 1838. Accessed 21 June 2024
Wikipedia Contributors. “Workhouse.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 5 June 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Workhouse#Early_Victorian_workhouses. Accessed 21 June 2024.
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