f the circumstances that the children are in. Insight on the abuse of children is also shown through the matron of the workhouse, Mrs. Corney. As ordinary masters of the Lee 3workhouse will conduct themselves, Dickens shows how insignificant the paupers are thought of to be through Mrs. Corney as she thanks God that she has a warm home to go to and wishes the starving paupers to be put out of their misery. Mrs. Corney’s duty as the matron of a workhouse is to provide assistance to the poor but instead of doing her actual task, she sits in front of the fireplace not wanting to suffer like the poor. It is ironic how Mrs. Corney takes great care of her cats, like they are human but treats the paupers like animals. Because Mrs. Corney and Mr. Bumble are stock characters, they are used to mock the workhouse system while revealing the horrors of child abuse in workhouses. Dickens also shows biting satire of the actual workhouse and the duties that are preformed in it to further impart his message to end child abuse in workhouses. Mr. Bumble’s workhouse has young boys picking rope hemp for many excruciating hours until their fingers bleed, which is not uncommon. After a long day’s work, one is to expect a hearty meal to replenish energy but food is scarce to those living in the workhouses and only small portions of watery gruel are given to the growing boys. Meals are made insufficient to repel the paupers from wanting public assistance and Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney take great advantage of their power of being able to “aid” the paupers. On a generous day, Mrs. Corney gives away twenty quartern loaves and a cheese and a half to the entire workhouse expecting the paupers to be ecstatic. Because a bit of bread is given to starving children, the masters want to be put upon a pedestal but neither of them is willing to spare few cents to fill the paupers sufficiently, even though they live comfortably. N...
