What is an example of satire in oliver twist?

One prominent example of satire in Charles Dickens' *Oliver Twist* is the portrayal of the workhouse and its administrators. The workhouse, intended to alleviate poverty, is instead depicted as a cruel and dehumanizing institution. The administrators, like Mr. Bumble, are satirized as incompetent, self-serving, and callous individuals more concerned with maintaining their positions and following bureaucratic procedures than with genuinely caring for the poor children under their charge.

The satire lies in the stark contrast between the workhouse's supposed charitable purpose and its actual effect: starving children, harsh punishments, and a complete disregard for their well-being. This highlights the hypocrisy and failure of the societal structures meant to address poverty during the Victorian era. Dickens uses exaggerated characters and situations to expose the flaws and inhumanity of the system, provoking readers to question the morality and effectiveness of such institutions. The entire workhouse sequence is a sustained satirical attack on official indifference and the inadequacy of social welfare at the time.