Essay on The Abuse of the Poor in Oliver Twist by Charles...

The Abuse of the Poor in Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Charles Dickens shows notable amounts of originality and morality in his novels, making him one of the most well-known novelists of the Victorian Era and preserving him through his great novels and short stories. One of the reasons his work has been so popular is because his novels reflect the issues of the Victorian era, such as the great disregard of many Victorians to the situation of the poor. The reformation of the Poor Law in 1834 brings even more unavoidable problems to the poor. The Poor Law of 1834 allowed the poor to receive public assistance only through established workhouses, causing those in debt to be sent to prison. Workhouses were in existence before 1834, but†¦show more content†¦Dickens uses satire in Oliver Twist to protest what the English believe are charitable solutions to the increasing poverty rates, extensive child labor in workhouses. Dickens witnesses an injustice happening in Englands workhouses and works to make societys views of the abuse of c hildren change, but by this time, the horrors of the workhouse were so established in the English scene that they were destined to become part of the British social legend Those in favor of the workhouse supported it because it efficiently sealed off the poor, decreased population growth by separating husbands and wives, and shamed the needy(Epstein 94) Because of the Poor Law of 1834, the young children suffered more than the able bodied benefitted, so through Dickens career, he becomes preoccupied with the use and abuse of the Poor Laws. Through satire, Dickens explores the relationships between the paupers and the masters of the workhouse. Satire is used to portray the cruelty, sufferings, and injustice in the workhouses especially through Mr. Bumble, Mrs. Corney, and Oliver, characters that play a significant role in the message of child abuse in the workhouses. Through these characters and their actions, Dickens is able to reveal how ordinary workhouse masters treat their p aupers. Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney are stereotypes of the heartless employers who overuse their power on the workhouse children. Mr. Bumble is the corruptShow MoreRelatedEssay on Oliver Twist901 Words   |  4 PagesOliver Twist A Criticism of Society or a Biography With all of the symbolism and moral issues represented in Oliver Twist, all seem to come from real events from the life of its author, Charles Dickens. The novel’s protagonist, Oliver, is a good person at heart surrounded by the filth of the London streets, filth that Dickens himself was forced to deal with in his everyday life. 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