pathos explains the situation of the workhouse in a more intimate, emotional manner because the feelings that Oliver shows can be pitied. Dickens’ message of child abuse in the workhouses is greatly shown through pathos because there is a connection of sympathy to Oliver. For this reason Dickens is able to get across his views on the mistreatment of children in the workhouses.Apprenticeships are supposedly good opportunities to learn a trade while escaping the horrors of the workhouse life but it is another scenario of child abuse. Through stock characters such as Mr. Gamfield, an employer who exploits those under his care, and Oliver, Dickens Lee 5portrays the harm of being under the care and custody of a stranger. Mr. Gamfield, a chimneysweep, is a nasty, cold-hearted man who has killed many of his apprentices by them being smothered in the chimney. This cruel man wants to obtain Oliver as his new apprentice and through the brief relationship between these two stock characters, Dickens is able to show some of the lowly things that employers are willing to stoop to for money. The parish board members know that Oliver will be most likely sent to his death if he leaves with the chimneysweep because Mr. Gamfield has already lost four apprentices. Rather than keeping another troublesome boy in the parish, they give Mr. Gamfield a lesser amount of money to take Oliver into his care. Mr. Gamfield searches for apprentices out of workhouses because he knows that he will not have to spend much money caring for their necessities such as food. Because of the actions of Mr. Gamfield towards Oliver, Dickens shows the inhumane treatments that Oliver may have had to face. These stock characters gives understanding to the terrible consequences of being under the care of a ruthless employer and through the characters, Dickens is able to satirize the actions of employers preying on children to be apprenticed to them. In the apprentice...
