Oliver Twist

What does Charles Dickens point out about British society during the Industrial Revolution in this excerpt from Oliver Twist?

“It's a nasty trade,” said Mr. Limbkins, when Gamfield had again stated his wish.

“Young boys have been smothered in chimneys before now,” said another gentleman.

“That's acause they damped the straw afore they lit it in the chimbley to make 'em come down again,” said Gamfield; “that's all smoke, and no blaze; vereas smoke ain't o' no use at all in making a boy come down, for it only sinds him to sleep, and that's wot he likes. Boys is wery obstinit, and wery lazy, Gen'l'men, and there's nothink like a good hot blaze to make 'em come down vith a run. It's humane too, gen'l'men, acause, even if they've stuck in the chimbley, roasting their feet makes 'em struggle to hextricate theirselves

    • a lack of regard among the working class

    • parish officials' ignorance of the risks apprentices faced
    • the employment of children for hazardous tasks
    • the reluctance of young, able-bodied boys to work
  • the use of parish orphans for raising money for the parish
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the employment of children for hazardous tasks