Child labor has been present in human society for a very tong time and has been displayed in various literary works including Oliver Twist. Child labor seems to be a main theme in Oliver Twist because Charles Dickens wrote the book as a response to the poor amendment law of 1834; which allowed cruelty to be ensued on children that were born into the lower class. British orphans around the age of seven were sent off to jobs all across the country to work up to 13 hours a day, only to be used as free labor. These kids didn’t have any other choice because their “payment” came in the form of food and housing. 

Oliver being powerless and he is always dependent on others, which shows Dickens' interest in the powerlessness of children in this era. For example, when Oliver does everything he can to survive but only manages as a result of Mr. Brownlow and his kindness. Oliver was only transported out of the hostile environment he was born into and taken to the comforts of the middle class; not because of his actions, but because he found people that were willing to help him get away from his prison that was child labor. 

However, this a fictional story and the reality is that this was not usually the case for children of that time. During the time of the industrial revolution, 40% of Britain’s population were kids and the first wave of factory labor consisted of orphans.

Work Cited

English Essay on the Theme of Child Labour in Oliver Twist. 27 Oct. 2016, www.mimersbrunn.se/article?id=59915.