The world is always in need of criticism and in London during the 1800’s this criticism came in the form of the novel “Oliver Twist”. Charles Dickens wrote this novel to point out the problems with the established poor laws, as well as the unofficial caste system present in British society. Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist, opened the eyes of his fellow Victorians, but mostly those who were not living in the big cities.
Dickens criticism of the poor laws began in the very first chapter. Oliver’s mother forced herself to the poorhouse to give birth to Oliver, and then passed away. She was treated with disdain and indifference, even after she passed away. The nurse and doctor do not offer a prayer or any remorse at Agnes’ death; quite the contrary, “The medical gentleman walked away to dinner; and the nurse, having once more applied herself to the green bottle, sat down on a low chair before the fire…” (Chapter One). This shows the reader the disdainful attitude of those running the poor houses towards their clients. Before Oliver’s review for apprenticeship, the board members speak plainly about Oliver’s lack of worth saying, “I know that boy will be hung,” (Chapter Two). Later on in the novel, Oliver attends a funeral for a poor woman and the eulogy is short and the entire funeral is like a comical performance rather than a solemn farewell. Furthermore, the workhouses that were provided for the poor were not aimed at getting the poor to rise in social status, but rather to keep them where they were and put them out of the way of the middle and upper class. The poor had the choice of either starving quickly on the streets, or starving slowly in the work houses. These establishments separated the families as well; children in one house, men in another, and women in still another. This was done in an attempt to separate the poor from each other. The people of the time believed that poor families would only encourage the behaviors that caused them to be poor in their children. Furthermore, the poor houses were supposedly meant to rescue or shield the poor from the filth of the streets. However, the workhouses were usually in the same condition as the streets or worse. This is shown in the descriptions of the various workhouses throughout the novel. The work houses are similar to an enslavement of the poor. They are given the bare minimum and are forced to work with the most effort they can muster. They also must not complain about their situation or they are punished or experience some other misfortune at the hands of the work house officials. Such is the case for a man whom Oliver and Mr. Sowerberry visit. The man was trying to beg to earn money for his wife when the authorities sent him to prison. Children were apprenticed to dangerous trades and often died through their trades. The tradesmen didn’t often treat the poor boys with much difference than the work house did. The boys were simply free labor to them.
Oliver Twist not only criticizes the treatment of the poor, but also draws attention to the rigid caste system unofficially established in England. The poor are regarded with disdain throughout the novel, which is a clear indication of the separation between the lower and upper classes. However, there are more specific examples where Dickens shows how the caste system is alive in England. When Nancy disguised herself to recapture Oliver, she dawned the appearance of a middle class woman. Usually, Nancy would have been ignored at the police station, but when she is in her disguise she quickly learns the information she needs from the officer. Had Nancy not been in her disguise, there would have been no help there for her. Dickens uses clothing later on to emphasize the apparent pointless struggle of the lower class to rise up. This occurs when Oliver is recaptured by Fagin’s gang and is forced to wear his old clothes of a pauper again. This represents the lower class’s oppression and inability to move up in the classes and stay up. When Oliver first meets Noah Claypole there is another instance where caste is shown, however this is a sub-cast within the lower class. Noah asserts himself above Oliver because Oliver doesn’t have parents and Noah does. This shows how those without parents or anything to tie their identity to were considered the lowest of all. During Dickens’ times, there was heavy emphasis on who you were related to as well as your occupation. The poor had neither great jobs nor powerful family names. They had no way to move up in the system. Their actions were constantly looked down upon. Thievery and dirtiness was expected of them and other stereotypes also existed. The poor were getting poorer and the rich were getting richer.
All the messages that were within Oliver Twist didn’t fall on deaf ears; that is, they didn’t fall deaf on certain ears. Those that lived in the country and weren’t often exposed to the paupers of the big cities and the poor houses didn’t realize the atrocities that went on within these establishments. Their exposure to the lives of the poor surely had an effect on them. The same goes for individuals in the city who were not affiliated with the work houses or other occupations that dealt with apprentices from the workhouses. They may have had some idea of what went on within the poor houses, but certainly they did not realize the extent of which the poor were being abused. As for those who did work with the work houses or in them, they already knew what went on and therefore were not phased by Dickens’ novel. They had already hardened their hearts to the poor. The message concerning England’s caste system was most likely heard universally, because most people do not realize when they undermine a group of people because it had become a learned behavior. It is similar to racist or sexist comments that individuals today make without thinking about it. The people of England didn’t recognize that they had established such a rigid caste system for the poor. Dickens was surely successful with this message.
Dickens’ novel did bring change in England. The poor laws were reformed and there was an increase in the quality of life for paupers across the country. Although the effect was not instantaneous, the changes couldn’t have take place as easily or even at all without the help of Dickens and his novel, Olive Twist.
