Question

What two traits 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.”
1.a lack of regard for life among the working class
2.parish officials' ignorance of the risks apprentices faced
3. the employment of children for hazardous tasks
4.the reluctance of young, able-bodied boys to work
5. the use of parish orphans for raising money for the parish

Answer 1

The above excerpt from Charles Dickens’ novel “Oliver Twist” point out the following two traits of British society during the industrial revolution.

1.a lack of regard for life among the working class

3. the employment of children for hazardous tasks

Dickens novels reflect the ills of Victorian society which emerged as the byproduct of the Industrial Revolution. The drawbacks of the modern society and Industrialization were great in number. The society got divided based on class and status. The rich became richer and the poor became poorer. Child labor was encouraged especially in the factories to overcome poverty. People became self-centered and uncaring. Urbanization gave birth to an increase in the slum in the cities. Individualism increased which favored self-increment and not on the betterment of the society. Children were not allowed to imagine and live in the world of fancy. They were taught to live with logic and reason. This period saw the downfall of humanity in the history of mankind.