Chapter 2 Summary

The second chapter describes Oliver's upbringing to the age of nine. After his birth, he is sent to a branch workhouse that houses children. The children are half-starved and rarely bathed. Many die from malnutrition, illness and accidents. On Oliver's ninth birthday, Mr. Bumble, the beadle, comes to collect Oliver. He is taken to the regular workhouse, where he appears before the board, and is told that he will begin to earn a wage by picking oakum. Residents of the workhouse are fed a thin gruel made from ground corn and water three times a day, and are slowly starving to death. Oliver is housed with other boys his age, who decide that someone must ask for more food. The group is, of course, terrified to do so, but somehow Oliver is nominated. After eating his portion of gruel, he approaches the master...