Volume 4: Those That Will Not Work Summary and Analysis

Mayhew states that the necessity of finding food separates animals from plants. Humans also must work for a living. Someone who is physically or mentally unable to work must rely on others, or on charity. However, some people who are physically and mentally able to work choose not to do so. Mayhew sees this as a moral defect present in vagrants, vagabonds and criminals.

Most portions of this section were written by other authors, not Henry Mayhew. It is difficult or impossible to catalogue all the various ways to earn a living, although many have tried different methods. About 5.25 million men were employed in Great Britian, plus about 1 million domestic servants, 200,000 professors and artists and 200,000 civil servants. In addition, there were 200,000 paupers, prisoners and lunatics. Wives accounted for 3.5 million persons, while...