Question
Excerpt from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The room in which the boys were fed, was a large stone hall, with a copper at one end: out of which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at meal-times. Of this festive composition each boy had one porringer, and no more — except on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides. The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again; and when they had performed this operation (which never took very long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they would sit staring at the copper, with such eager eyes, as if they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was composed; employing themselves, meanwhile, in sucking their fingers most assiduously, with the view of catching up any stray splashes of gruel that might have been cast thereon. Boys have generally excellent appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months: at last they got so voracious and wild with hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, and hadn’t been used to that sort of thing (or his father had kept a small cookshop), hinted darkly to his companions, that unless he had another basin of gruel per diem, he was afraid he might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next to him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He had a wild hungry eye; and they implicitly believed him. 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 neighbors 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.”
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. In other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist was offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice to any trade, business, or calling.
“I never was more convinced of anything in my life,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning: “I never was more convinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be hung.”
8. The phrase "the boy will be hung" is repeated throughout the passage.
How does this overreaction serve to characterize the English position on the welfare of orphans in the passage?
Use details from the passage to help explain your answer.
The room in which the boys were fed, was a large stone hall, with a copper at one end: out of which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at meal-times. Of this festive composition each boy had one porringer, and no more — except on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides. The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again; and when they had performed this operation (which never took very long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they would sit staring at the copper, with such eager eyes, as if they could have devoured the very bricks of which it was composed; employing themselves, meanwhile, in sucking their fingers most assiduously, with the view of catching up any stray splashes of gruel that might have been cast thereon. Boys have generally excellent appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months: at last they got so voracious and wild with hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, and hadn’t been used to that sort of thing (or his father had kept a small cookshop), hinted darkly to his companions, that unless he had another basin of gruel per diem, he was afraid he might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next to him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He had a wild hungry eye; and they implicitly believed him. 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 neighbors 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.”
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. In other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist was offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice to any trade, business, or calling.
“I never was more convinced of anything in my life,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning: “I never was more convinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be hung.”
8. The phrase "the boy will be hung" is repeated throughout the passage.
How does this overreaction serve to characterize the English position on the welfare of orphans in the passage?
Use details from the passage to help explain your answer.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The repeated phrase "the boy will be hung" exemplifies the severe and often inhumane attitude toward orphans and the poor in Victorian England, as depicted in Charles Dickens's "Oliver Twist." This overreaction serves to dramatize the extreme punishments meted out to children for trivial infractions and reflects a broader societal indifference to their welfare.
Firstly, the context of the passage illustrates a dehumanizing environment for the boys in the workhouse. They are fed meager portions of gruel, subjected to an oppressive atmosphere where their basic needs are neglected. The phrase "suffered the tortures of slow starvation" highlights the extent of their deprivation and the harsh reality faced by orphans. The boys' eagerness towards the gruel, with "eager eyes" and "sucking their fingers," portrays their desperate hunger and longing for sustenance, which further emphasizes their vulnerability.
Oliver’s request for "some more" is met not with understanding or compassion but with shock and violent reaction from the master and the board members, who view his request as an audacious challenge to authority rather than the plea of a starving child. The fact that Mr. Bumble "rushed into the room in great excitement" and the board’s "solemn conclave" underline the absurdity of the situation—Oliver's hunger is seen as a criminal act, deserving of immediate punishment rather than recognition of his dire need for food.
The prophetic gentleman’s statement that "that boy will be hung" epitomizes the society's tendency to criminalize the poor, suggesting that the mere act of asking for more food is tantamount to crime in the eyes of those in power. This reflects a significant failure of the welfare system, where the well-being of orphans is not prioritized; instead, they are treated with suspicion and disdain. The subsequent decision to offer a reward for Oliver’s capture further emphasizes the commodification of children in the workhouse system, reducing them to mere financial liabilities rather than nurturing them as young, vulnerable human beings.
Ultimately, the overreaction to Oliver’s innocent request underscores the failure of society to address the needs of orphans, illustrating a systemic cruelty and neglect inherent in the English welfare system of the time. Dickens uses this incident not only to critique societal attitudes towards orphans but also to advocate for empathy and reform in how vulnerable individuals are treated.
Firstly, the context of the passage illustrates a dehumanizing environment for the boys in the workhouse. They are fed meager portions of gruel, subjected to an oppressive atmosphere where their basic needs are neglected. The phrase "suffered the tortures of slow starvation" highlights the extent of their deprivation and the harsh reality faced by orphans. The boys' eagerness towards the gruel, with "eager eyes" and "sucking their fingers," portrays their desperate hunger and longing for sustenance, which further emphasizes their vulnerability.
Oliver’s request for "some more" is met not with understanding or compassion but with shock and violent reaction from the master and the board members, who view his request as an audacious challenge to authority rather than the plea of a starving child. The fact that Mr. Bumble "rushed into the room in great excitement" and the board’s "solemn conclave" underline the absurdity of the situation—Oliver's hunger is seen as a criminal act, deserving of immediate punishment rather than recognition of his dire need for food.
The prophetic gentleman’s statement that "that boy will be hung" epitomizes the society's tendency to criminalize the poor, suggesting that the mere act of asking for more food is tantamount to crime in the eyes of those in power. This reflects a significant failure of the welfare system, where the well-being of orphans is not prioritized; instead, they are treated with suspicion and disdain. The subsequent decision to offer a reward for Oliver’s capture further emphasizes the commodification of children in the workhouse system, reducing them to mere financial liabilities rather than nurturing them as young, vulnerable human beings.
Ultimately, the overreaction to Oliver’s innocent request underscores the failure of society to address the needs of orphans, illustrating a systemic cruelty and neglect inherent in the English welfare system of the time. Dickens uses this incident not only to critique societal attitudes towards orphans but also to advocate for empathy and reform in how vulnerable individuals are treated.