Oliver Twist - Chapter 2

Question

Charles Dickens


Oliver Twist is one of Charles Dickens’ most famous characters. Oliver is born a sickly infant in an English workhouse in 1830. Soon after, his mother dies, and Oliver is sent to live at a branch-workhouse for juvenile offenders. Here, children are allowed to go hungry and even die while the overseer pockets the money for their upkeep.

1 The room in which the boys were fed was a large stone hall with a fireplace at one end. Out of this the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, spooned the gruel at meal-times. Each boy had one serving, and no more—except on festive occasions, and then he had two servings and a quarter of bread besides.

2 The bowls never wanted washing—the boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again. When they had finished this, (which never took very long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they would sit staring at the fireplace with such eager eyes as if they could eat the very bricks of which it was made. Meanwhile, they sucked their fingers, with the view of catching up any stray splashes of gruel that might have been left there. Boys have generally huge appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months; at last they got so wild with hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, and hadn’t been used to that sort of thing, (for his father had kept a small cook’s shop), hinted darkly to his companions. Unless he had another bowl of gruel, he was afraid he should some night eat the boy who slept next to him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. 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.

3 The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master in his cook’s uniform sat at the fireplace; his poor assistants ranged themselves behind him. The gruel was served, and a long grace was said over the short servings. The gruel disappeared, and the boys whispered to each other and winked at Oliver. His neighbors sat next to him then began to nudge him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger. He rose from the table, and advancing, bowl and spoon in hand, spoke to the master, somewhat alarmed at his own daring.

4 “Please, sir, I want some more.”

5 The master was a fat, healthy man, but he turned very pale; he gazed in astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds and then clung for support to the fireplace. The assistants were frozen with wonder, and the boys with fear.

6 “What!” said the master at length, in a faint voice.

7 “Please, sir,” replied Oliver, “I want some more.”

8 The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle, held him tight in his arms, and shrieked aloud for the Headmaster.

9 “Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir; Oliver Twist has asked for more.” There was a general start. Horror was seen on every face.

10 “For more!” said Mr. Limbkins. “Calm yourself and answer me slowly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper given by the cook?”

11 “He did, sir,” replied the master.

12 “That boy might as well be dead,” said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. “I know that boy will be punished.”

13 A discussion took place. Oliver was ordered to his room to stay; a bill was next morning posted on the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the church. 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.

14 As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white waistcoated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar the interest of this narrative (supposing it to possess any at all), if I ventured to hint just yet whether the life of Oliver Twist had this abrupt termination or not.

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. Richard Bentley. 1839. London. In the public domain. Adapted by Educational Leadership

Answer 1

In Chapter 2 of "Oliver Twist," Charles Dickens portrays the grim realities faced by children in a workhouse during the early 1830s in England. The chapter opens by describing the miserable conditions of the dining hall where the boys are fed. The boys receive meager portions of gruel, and even during festive occasions, the extra servings are pitifully small. The boys, driven by hunger, engage in desperate rituals, polishing their bowls with spoons and eyeing the fireplace longingly, symbolizing their level of deprivation.

This level of hunger drives one boy to suggest that unless he gets more to eat, he might resort to terrifying measures. The suggestion is an eerie reflection on the dire conditions they face. As the narrative progresses, Oliver, having lost all sense of fear due to his desperation, bravely steps forward and requests more food. His request shocks the master and creates a wave of horror among both the staff and his peers.

By the end of the chapter, Oliver's audacity results in dire consequences. He is punished and effectively offered as an apprentice, illustrating how society treats its most vulnerable. Dickens uses this episode to critique the inhumane treatment of children in the workhouse system and highlights the stark contrast between the needs of the children and the cold bureaucratic indifference of the authorities. The chapter sets up a poignant commentary on social injustice, which remains relevant today.