Please, Sir, I Want Some More...

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Please, sir, I want some more


Enactment of the line, "Please sir, I want some more." from the Broadway musical  "Oliver!"

Think some of of you may have found this solitary line quite unusual. I had been working on the "Saturday Art" post, where I was this time giving how a piece of celebrated literature is the result of an author's artistry with words. The particular reference is to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. 

Oliver Twist's famous request for more food, “Please, sir, I want some more.", is one of the most iconic moments in Charles Dickens' novel. This scene occurs early in the book when Oliver, an orphan in a workhouse, dares to ask for an extra portion of porridge, shocking the authorities. From a literary perspective, Dickens uses this moment to highlight the cruelty and neglect of the Victorian-era workhouse system, which was meant to provide for the poor but instead subjected them to near-starvation. Oliver's simple request makes a social critique exposing the inhumane treatment of children and the hypocrisy of those in power.

Writing the line to Kevin occurred when he was one who could satisfy our literary hunger by asking, "Please, sir, I want some more."...more literary food.

As a literary archetype, Oliver embodies the innocent orphan, a child whose virtue is tested by a cruel world. Like many of Dickens’ child protagonists, he is a passive character, meaning much of the story happens to him rather than being driven by his own actions. His purity and suffering act as a moral contrast to the corruption around him.

As a literary tool, Dickens makes excellent use of irony, with the reaction to Oliver’s request. It is disproportionate, officials are horrified, as if he has committed a crime. This irony underscores the absurdity of the system: those meant to provide care are outraged by the most basic need for sustenance.

In his narrative style, Dickens uses sentimentality and satire. He blends sentimentality (evoking sympathy for Oliver) with satire (mocking the workhouse system). The scene’s melodramatic tone makes the suffering vivid, while the over-the-top reaction of the workhouse authorities adds dark humour. From a broader literary perspective, it is also a blend of realism and satire, using a child’s suffering to expose deep societal flaws.

In terms of characterization, this moment establishes Oliver as an innocent yet courageous character. Despite his meekness, he possesses a quiet strength and a desire for survival that will shape his journey throughout the novel. It also showcases Dickens’ signature use of exaggerated characters (the self-righteous workhouse authorities), dramatic storytelling, and social commentary. It captures his ability to turn an ordinary event into a powerful critique of systemic injustice.

Dickens has raised his novel to an art by handling multiple themes, such as poverty and oppression, where even the act of asking for more food becomes a punishable offense, illustrating the dehumanization of the poor. There is the theme of innocence and corruption where Oliver’s pure-hearted request contrasts with the callousness of the adults in power. Also the theme of social class struggle comes through with the rigid structure of Victorian society where even the most basic needs of the lower class were treated as excessive demands.

While Oliver begins as a poor workhouse child, he is later revealed to be part of a wealthy, respectable family. His journey from poverty to inheritance serves as Dickens’ way of critiquing the rigid class system of his time.

Oliver Twist is one of the few literary works that had a real impact on public awareness and, to some extent, contributed to reforms in the treatment of orphans and the poor in 19th-century Britain. When it was published (1837–1839), the New Poor Law of 1834 had recently been introduced. This law forced the poor, including orphans, into workhouses where conditions were intentionally harsh to discourage dependency on public assistance. Dickens' novel exposed the cruelty and hypocrisy of this system, shocking middle-class readers who had little knowledge of what life in a workhouse was actually like. Dickens' portrayal of the workhouse, especially through Oliver’s plea for more food, helped fuel public criticism of the Poor Law. Many readers sympathized with Oliver’s suffering, which in turn created pressure for change. His novel played a key role in shifting public perception and creating momentum for reform.

Apart from the social impact, there was the cultural impact as well, with the phrase "Please, sir, I want some more." becoming a universal symbol of injustice and deprivation. Many comedic and satirical adaptations have parodied the moment, showing its lasting place in popular culture. Even today, Oliver’s plea for more food remains a symbol of child poverty and injustice, influencing discussions on welfare, child labour, and orphan care worldwide.

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