Detail of a 17th century statue of the Greek god Morpheus, holding a bowl in his left hand, in the Palace of Versailles, France. The Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, passed shortly before Oliver Twist was serialised in 1837-39, took responsibility away from local parishes, which had sought to rehabilite the poor in their own homes and neighbourhoods, and vested it instead in Poor Law Unions, which were required to care for utterly hopeless cases while deterring as many people as possible from seeking help. The rationale given was economic and also moral — punishing shirkers and rewarding workers, as modern politicians would say — but it was highly dubious on both counts, and led to many shocking cases of neglect and waste. See A Woman’s Logic.
Part 1 of 2
A COUNCIL was held; lots were cast who should walk up to the master after supper that evening, and ask for more; and it fell to Oliver Twist.
The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook’s uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:
“Please, sir, I want some more.”
The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.
“What!” said the master at length, in a faint voice.
“Please, sir,” replied Oliver, “I want some more.”
Part Two
The former Watling Street Road Workhouse in Fulwood, Lancashire, now Preston Business Centre, University of Central Lancashire. The Workhouse was built in 1865-68, some thirty years after Dickens wrote his story. There were two views of the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, passed shortly before Oliver Twist was serialised in 1837-39. In Lancashire and many other northern areas, the Act met with strong resistance from those who had garnered praise for their discreet, cottage-like workhouses designed to help unfortunate neighbours to become self-sufficient. But supporters hailed the new policy as a much-needed deterrent, discouraging all but the most abject cases from being a burden on the rate-payer, and large, centralised, prison-like buildings reflected this vision.
THE master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle, pinioned him in his arms, and shrieked aloud for the beadle.
The Board were sitting in solemn conclave, when 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!”
There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every countenance.
“For more!” said Mr Limbkins. “Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?”*
“He did, sir,” replied Bumble.
“That boy will be hung,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. “I know that boy will be hung.”*
Nobody controverted the prophetic gentleman’s opinion. An animated discussion took place. Oliver was ordered into instant confinement; and a bill was next morning pasted on the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish.
* A now old-fashioned word for a restricted diet, a dietary regimen.
* We met the gentleman in the white waistcoat a few pages back, when Oliver first came to the workhouse. He pronounced Oliver ‘a fool’ even then; his opinion now took a turn for the worse. Properly speaking, when ‘hang’ means ‘execute by hanging’ the correct form is ‘will be hanged’ and not ‘will be hung’, but the mistake is a common one.
