Mr. Bumble

* Novel
* 1922
* 1933
* 1948
* 1968
* 1982
* 1985
* 1999
* 2005
* 2007

Oliver Twist (Masterpiece Theatre, 2007)

Gregor Fisher (2007)

Oliver Twist (opposer)

### Personalities

Pompous, cruel, stern, greedy, hypocritical, prideful, responsible, ruthless, timid, proud, foolish

### Appearance

Obese, wears beadle clothing, carries a cane

### Allies

The Workhouse Board
Mrs, Corney (formerly)

Noah Claypole

### Likes

Ruling the workhouse, mistreating the poor

### Dislikes

Oliver asking for more, Oliver’s disobedience

### Goal

To have Oliver work in the workhouse (succeeded, then failed)

To have Oliver apprenticed to Mr. Sowerberry (succeeded, then failed)

### Fate

Loses his position of the workhouse and ends up a pauper

> "*But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble's soul; his heart was waterproof.*"
> ― Chapter 37
>
>

Mr. Bumble is a minor character in Charles Dickens’s *Oliver Twist* and is the husband of Mrs. Corney.

Mr. Bumble is the beadle of the parish workhouse where Oliver was born and oversees the workhouse’s business. Later, he meets his downfall when his marriage turns estranged, and he is revealed to be an accomplice in Monks’ plan to ruin Oliver’s reputation.

## Description

Mr. Bumble is a parish beadle and possibly the first villain in Oliver Twist's life and the story. He had invented the boy's name himself but made Oliver's life at the workhouse just as miserable as everyone living in poverty. Dickens may have used the name "Bumble" to describe his pompous, bumbling lifestyle and how he thinks himself to be a respectful, admirable man, but he is actually a selfish and hypocritical man who makes a fool of himself for what he does to the workhouse orphans.

As a parish beadle, Mr. Bumble has the right and authority to view the impoverished paupers as bad people who can easily fall into a life of crime. He believes that Oliver will eventually become a criminal because he is too young and innocent to proclaim his innocence when he does bad things, including beating up a charity boy and attempting to ask for more gruel. Because of his behaviour towards the poor and Oliver, Dickens had even designed him to make readers loathe him for what he has done to everyone who can barely have enough to eat and is forced to live in a miserable workhouse to survive.

As time passes, Mr. Bumble loses his position, and his fate is somewhat ironic. After he marries Mrs. Corney, he resigns his position as beadle and most of his social stature, even though he is still the master of the workhouse. His marriage falls apart, and his wife even mistreats him, just like how he had treated Oliver and everyone at the workhouse. They also end up being accused of being part of Monks' conspiracy to have Oliver's reputation ruined by dishonourable acts so he can have his fortune. As such, Mr. and Mrs. Bumble become impoverished paupers in the same workhouse he used to run and are forced to live a life of poverty along with those he used to abuse.

## Storyline

### Oliver Twist at the Workhouse

A boy was born at the parish workhouse to an unknown woman who later died in childbirth.The parish beadle, Mr. Bumble, names him Oliver Twist and the boy was kept at the workhouse for the next 8-9 months after he was born.When the workhouse couldn’t find a woman to nurse him, they placed him in the care of Mrs. Mann’s baby farm. She was paid seven halfpence a week, which would be used to pay for food and clothing for the children in her care. But Mrs. Mann was a selfish, greedy woman who kept the money for herself, resulting in the children, including Oliver, starved and malnourished. Nobody hardly visits her to inspect her home’s living conditions.

On Oliver’s ninth birthday, Mr. Bumble arrives at the baby farm and tries to unlock the garden gate. Mrs. Mann looks out of the window and is surprised to see him. She rushes out to unlock it and claims she forgot to bolt it to keep the children out. Mr. Bumble finds it disrespectful for her to keep the parish officials waiting at the gate and asks if she knows she is being paid daily by the workhouse. She replies that she has reminded some of the children that he was coming today. He calms down and asks her to let him inside as he wants to talk some business with her.

Mrs. Mann leads Mr. Bumble into the parlour, placing his hat and cane on the table before him. He sits down, tired from his walk, and she serves some gin. She says she serves the children some gin when they’re unwell, and he drinks to her health. Afterwards, he informs her that Oliver is nine years old today, and the workhouse officials could never figure out who Oliver’s parents were. Mrs. Mann is curious how Oliver got his name, and she is surprised when Mr. Bumble reveals he named him. He explains that he names all the workhouse's children alphabetically. He previously named the first boy Swubble and gave Oliver his name. He plans to name the next boy Unwin and then Vilkins. He has planned all the names, and when he reaches the letter Z, he returns to the letter A again.

Mrs. Mann praises him for his creativity, and after Mr. Bumble finishes his gin, he informs her that Oliver is too old to stay with her, and the workhouse board has decided to put him to work. He has arrived to bring him back, and Mrs. Mann quickly returns with Oliver, now a frail, thin child locked in the cellar for being too hungry. After Mrs. Mann orders Oliver to bow to the beadle, Mr. Bumble asks if he will come with him.

Oliver glances at Mrs. Mann, who gives him an angry gesture to warn him not to reveal to Mr. Bumble about anything. Oliver asks if Mrs. Mann will also come with him, and Mr. Bumble replies no, but she can visit him sometimes. Oliver is sad that he is leaving her, and she comforts him by embracing him and giving him a piece of buttered bread and his brown cap. Mr. Bumble then leads him away from the baby farm, and they walk to the workhouse in town. Oliver repeatedly asks where they are going, and Mr. Bumble snaps that they are nearly there.

They arrive at the workhouse, and Mr. Bumble gives Oliver a tap with his cane to wake him up and to make him lively. They appear in the room where the workhouse board is. A group of fat gentlemen sit around a table, and the board leader, Mr. Limbkins, sits in a tall armchair at the front. Mr. Bumble orders Oliver to bow to the board, and Mr. Limbkins asks his name. Oliver introduces himself, and the man informs him he is a workhouse orphan, which causes Oliver to cry. Another gentleman tells Oliver he should be grateful for those who raised him like a Christian, and he should say his prayers every night. Because Oliver has never been taught about religion, Mr. Limbkins decides he should be taught a trade and assigns him to pick oakum early the next day.

After Oliver asks for more food, the workhouse board calls for Mr. Bumble. He hurries into the board room and tells Mr. Limbkins that Oliver has asked for more. Everyone is horrified as Mr. Bumble confirms the news to Mr. Limbkins. The man in the white waistcoat declares that the boy must be hung. Oliver is sent into confinement, and an advertisement is posted outside the workhouse gates, offering five pounds to anyone who will take Oliver away and teach him a trade.

The following week, Oliver is given several punishments, such as Mr. Bumble pouring cold water on him from the water pump, and Oliver is publicly and privately flogged.One day, a local chimney sweep named Mr. Gamfield views the advertisement at the workhouse gate and desperately needs money to pay his rent. The gentleman in the white waistcoat meets Mr. Gamfield, and he wants to have Oliver as his apprentice. The gentleman in the white waistcoat brings him to the board, where they consider chimney sweeping too dangerous for children, as several boys whom Mr. Gamfield had apprenticed had died under his supervision. After a brief conversation, they decide that Mr. Gamfield will have three pounds ten to take in Oliver as his apprentice.

After his arrangement, Mr. Bumble releases Oliver from confinement. He orders Oliver to wear a clean shirt and gives him a bowl of gruel. Oliver starts crying, and Mr. Bumble tells him to be grateful that he is going to be an apprentice to Mr. Gamfield, who will make him a man for only three pounds ten. Oliver still cries bitterly, and Mr. Bumble orders him to stop.

On their way to the magistrate, Mr. Bumble instructs Oliver to look happy and cheerful and is looking forward to his apprenticeship. Oliver promises to obey. When they arrive at the magistrate's office, Mr. Bumble keeps Oliver locked inside a small room until he comes back for him. After half an hour, Mr. Bumble returns and tells Oliver to come to see the judge and reminds him to be good. Oliver is taken into a large room where two judges sit behind a desk. One is dozing off, and the other is reading the newspaper. Mr. Limbkins and Mr. Gamfield are standing close by.

Mr. Bumble introduces Oliver to the judges, and he orders Oliver to bow to them. The other judge wakes up, and the first one asks if Oliver is good at chimney sweeping. Mr. Bumble replies that he is skilled at it while he pinches Oliver to assure him he won't say he isn't. The judge asks if Oliver will be a chimney sweep, and Mr. Bumble says if they offer him another trade tomorrow, he might run away. Mr. Gamfield assures the judge that the boy will be well-fed and treated properly. As the judge searches for the pen to sign the parchment and legalize Oliver's apprenticeship, Oliver falls to his knees and begs to be locked back in confinement rather than be Mr. Gamfield's apprentice. Mr. Bumble is shocked by Oliver's sudden change in his behaviour. After the other judge nods in agreement, the first judge refuses to sign the indentures and throws the parchment away. Mr. Limbkins hopes the workhouse authorities won't be held accountable for any improper conduct. The second judge says the magistrates won't be called upon to investigate and orders Mr. Bumble to take Oliver back to the workhouse and treat him better. Mr. Bumble is disappointed, and Mr. Gamfied wishes he could have Oliver. The next morning, another advertisement is posted outside the workhouse.

With Oliver back in confinement, the board discusses sending Oliver out to sea as a cabin boy.They know Oliver won’t survive for long out at sea, as he may be mistreated and killed, but they agree it is the best choice. Mr. Bumble sets out to find a captain looking for a cabin boy, and when he returns to the workhouse, he finds the local undertaker, Mr. Sowerberry, standing at the gates. Mr. Sowerberry says he was here to measure the bodies of two women who died at the workhouse, and Mr. Bumble assures him he will make a fortune.

Mr. Sowerberry says the board has paid him very little for the coffins as they have become narrower for the occupants who starved to death at the workhouse and hoped to have a profit. The wood materials are too expensive, and the iron handles are shipped all the way from Birmingham. Mr. Bumble then changes the subject and asks if anyone he knows needs an apprentice, pointing to the five pounds advertisement with his cane. Mr. Sowerberry admires Mr. Bumble’s button on his coat. Mr. Bumble says it is a seal for being a Good Samaritan after healing a sick man. The board awarded it to him on New Year’s Day, and he wore it in a meeting when the board was investigating the death of a tradesman who froze to death outside the workhouse after being locked out.

Mr. Sowerberry and Mr. Bumble criticize the juries for handling the situation, which makes Mr. Bumble furious. Then, he calms down and asks about Oliver. Mr. Sowerberry says he would like to take in Oliver as his apprentice so he’ll have enough money to pay for the board of his services. Mr. Bumble grabs Mr. Sowerberry’s arm, leads him into the building, and meets with the board. After a five-minute discussion, they agreed that Mr. Sowerberry could have Oliver for a short trial period. If everything goes well, Mr. Sowerberry can have him for as long as he wants. However, if Oliver complains about his apprenticeship, he will be sent to sea to drown.

After releasing him from confinement, Mr. Bumble leads Oliver to Mr. Sowerberry’s shop. On their way there, Mr. Bumble orders him to hold his head up and notices he is crying. He asks why he is upset, and Oliver replies that he is lonely and unloved and begs him not to be angry at him. Mr. Bumble urges him to behave. They arrive at Mr. Sowerberry’s shop, where he has just opened the store and finished writing in his logbook. Mr. Bumble introduces Oliver to Mr. Sowerberry, who calls for his wife, Mrs. Sowerberry. She appears from a small room behind the shop and is shocked to see how small Oliver is, even calling him a “bag o’bones”. Mr. Bumble assures her Oliver will grow bigger.

The next morning, Mr. Bumble arrives at Mr. Sowerberry’s, who has come to have a coffin prepared for the Bayton family.Mr. Sowerberry has never heard the name before, and Mr. Bumble replies that he has only heard about the name yesterday. A surgeon was sent to treat a sickly woman, but the woman’s husband said she refuses to take the medicine given to her, which angers Mr. Bumble. He declares that she must be buried immediately and then leaves. On the day of the funeral, Mr. Bumble treats the dead woman’s family with some bread and cheese and is at the family’s home with four men from the workhouse, who will be the pallbearers. Mr. Sowerberry and Oliver arrive, and the coffin is carried to the churchyard, with Mr. Bumble, Mr. Sowerberry, Oliver, and the family following behind. When they arrive at the churchyard, rain drizzles, and the priest runs late. Mr. Bumble and Mr. Sowerberry sit by a warm fire with the clerk and read the paper while the mourners wait outside in the rain.

Half an hour later, the priest arrives. Mr. Bumble and Mr. Sowerberry rush outside for the burial, and Mr. Bumble beats a boy to make him behave. After the priest reads a prayer for only a few minutes, the coffin is lowered into the ground, which is already full of coffins, so the dead woman’s coffin is buried within a few feet of the surface. Mr. Bumble then orders everyone to leave.

A month into Oliver’s apprenticeship, a charity boy named Noah Claypole rushes to the workhouse after Oliver fights him for insulting his dead mother and calls for Mr. Bumble.Mr. Bumble is so alarmed and curious that he runs outside without his cocked hat and asks what has happened, even assuming Oliver has run away. Noah replies that Oliver attacked and tried to kill him and the Sowerberry’s servant, Charlotte. Mr. Bumble can see how badly beaten up Noah is, and the gentleman in the white waistcoat appears. Mr. Bumble tells him Noah was nearly murdered by Oliver, with the gentleman in the white waistcoat repeating his prediction that Oliver will be hanged. Noah says that Oliver also tried to attack Mrs. Sowerberry, but Mr. Sowerberry wasn’t home then. The gentleman in the white waistcoat thanks Noah and urges Mr. Bumble to go to Mr. Sowerberry’s and confront Oliver about his violent behaviour.

Mr. Bumble and Noah return to the workhouse, where Oliver is locked in the cellar and continues to kick the door, begging to be released. In a firm tone, Mr. Bumble calls through the keyhole, asking Oliver if he recognizes his voice. He replies yes but no when asked if he’s afraid of him. Mrs. Sowerberry suggests that Oliver has turned mad, but Mr. Bumble says he has been overfed, and this wouldn’t have happened if he was only fed gruel. He tells her that Oliver should be kept in the cellar until he’s starving again, and after he’s released, he must be only fed gruel. He even says that Oliver has come from a bad family and that the workhouse nurses treated his sick mother before her death. Oliver kicks the door again, and then Mr. Sowerberry returns home. After being told what has happened, he unlocks the cellar door and drags Oliver out, who has torn clothes, a bruised face, and messy hair.

Oliver cries that Noah insulted his mother, but Mrs. Sowerberry says she deserved it. Oliver says it’s a lie, but Mr. Sowerberry beats him and locks him in his room. Early the next morning, Oliver escapes and travels to London.

### Mr. Bumble in London

Early the next morning, sometime after Oliver fled to London, Mr. Bumble leaves the workhouse and walks to Mrs. Mann’s baby farm.He ignores the locals who want to talk to them but briefly waves at them. Mrs. Mann greets him, unlocks the garden gate, and invites him inside, although she isn’t impressed to see him. He tells her he is going to London to deal with legal action about a settlement since the workhouse board assigned him to the task before the Clerkenwell Sessions take over. Mrs. Mann is awestruck and has thought that paupers are usually transported by carts. He says that the paupers only ride the carts when they are sick, and it’s cheaper than burying them after they die. He even laughs at the idea that the paupers will die during their journey to spite the workhouse. Afterwards, he brings out some money from his pocketbook and requests a receipt.

Mrs. Mann thanks him for the payment, and Mr. Bumble asks about the children she raises. Mrs. Mann explains that two children died last week, and Dick is sick. Mr. Bumble orders her to bring Dick, and he is brought to him after his face is forcefully washed in the pump. Dick is pale and thin, and his clothes hang loosely on his body. He trembles when he sees Mr. Bumble and asks him and Mrs. Mann to remind his close friend Oliver that he has sat alone thinking about him and cries when he thinks about Oliver being on his own. He also wants Oliver to know that he’ll be glad to die young, as he will join his younger sister in Heaven as children. Mr. Bumble is shocked and blames Oliver for demoralizing the children, and he must report this to the board. Mrs. Mann asks anxiously if she will also take the blame, and Mr. Bumble says the board will understand that and orders her to take Dick away and lock him up in the coal cellar.

Early the next morning, Mr. Bumble travels to London with the two paupers, who constantly complain about the cold. That night, Mr. Bumble stays in a house where the coach stops and eats his dinner of steak, oyster sauce, and porter. He reads the paper when he reads the first paragraph, which immediately catches his eye. The paragraph says that a boy named Oliver Twist has disappeared from his home in Pentonville and has not been heard from since. The person who comes forward with any information about Oliver will be rewarded with five guineas. After reading more about Oliver, he finds Mr. Brownlow’s address, a wealthy gentleman who lives in Pentonville and whom Oliver was living at the time of his disappearance. He reads the advertisement carefully a few times and then leaves for Pentonville without finishing his glass of gin.

At Mr. Brownlow’s house, Mr. Bumble asks for Mr. Brownlow, as he has information about Oliver. The housekeeper, Mrs. Bedwin, hears Mr. Bumble mention Oliver and quickly ushers him into the house, anxious to hear what has happened to the boy. Mr. Bumble is brought into the study, where Mr. Brownlow and his friend Mr. Grimwig are having tea. They immediately recognize that Mr. Bumble is a beadle, and Mr. Brownlow invites him to sit down. The gentlemen ask him about Oliver, but Mr. Bumble shakes his head that he doesn’t know where he is. After he takes off his hat and unbuttons his coat, Mr. Bumble explains Oliver’s background and that Oliver has been a bad, naughty boy since his birth, such as attacking a charity boy and running away from his master’s house. He even shows them papers proving he knows Oliver and his background. Mr. Brownlow sorrowfully agrees that what he has read is true, and Mr. Bumble receives the five guineas before he leaves.

### Mr. Bumble and Mrs. Corney

One cold winter night, Mr. Bumble visits Mrs. Corney in her room, the matron at the workhouse where Oliver was born.He sits with her while she drinks her tea and brings up how the paupers are ungrateful for the food they receive. He talks about how a poor man refused some bread and cheese offered to him, wanted coal to make fire instead, and would constantly ask for more. He explains another story: a man came to an overseer’s house to ask to be relieved. The overseer was hosting a dinner party, and when he saw the man, he offered him a pound of potatoes and some oatmeal. The man refused the food and would rather starve to death on the street, which he did.

Mrs. Corney asks if out-of-door relief isn’t the best thing to do, and Mr. Bumble replies that out-of-door relief is the only way to offer the paupers what they don’t want so they will stop coming back for more. While some of these stories are reported in the newspapers, Mr. Bumble assures Mrs. Corney that there are secrets between them that must not be exposed. He pulls out two port wine bottles that the board ordered from the infirmary, puts on his hat, and prepares to go. Mrs. Corney tells him it is a cold night to walk home, and he contemplates staying for tea with her. He immediately changes his mind and draws a chair to her. She serves the tea, and Mr. Bumble eats his toast and drinks tea in silence. He spots a cat and kittens sitting by the fire, and Mrs. Corney says they are frolicsome, cheerful, and fond of their home. He says that any cat or kitten that lives with her or isn’t fond of their home is considered an “ass,” and he would drown them. She calls him cruel and hard-hearted, and he moves his chair closer and kisses her.

Mrs. Corney is shocked that Mr. Bumble kissed her and threatens to scream, but he says nothing and puts his arm around her waist. At that moment, there is a knock on the door, and an old female pauper comes in. She informs Mrs. Corney that Old Sally is dying and wants to see her before she dies. Feeling annoyed, Mrs. Corney tells Mr. Bumble to wait until she returns. After she leaves, Mr. Bumble opens the closet, where he counts the teaspoons, weighs the sugar tongs and inspects a silver milk pot. He also walks around repeatedly, examining Mrs. Corney’s furniture.

While Mrs. Corney is visiting Old Sally on her deathbed, Mr. Bumble still paces around Mrs. Corney’s room, inspecting, weighing and counting her trinkets. He thinks she should be back soon but doesn’t hear footsteps approaching. After listening to the keyhole for anyone coming, he opens the drawers and discovers a small, locked box that makes a coin jingling sound when he shakes it. Afterwards, he stands by the fire with determination when Mrs. Corney bursts inside breathless and collapses into a chair. He asks her what is wrong, but she refuses to talk about it, so he offers her peppermint to calm down. She likes the peppermint and wants him to try some but laments that she is a foolish, weak “creetur.” He attempts to flirt with her again by admitting he’s too weak and assuring her the workhouse board will offer her free coal, candles and rent. Mrs. Corney sinks into his arms, and he says that Mr. Slout, the master of the workhouse, is dying and there will be a new job position available. Mr. Bumble hopes he’ll take the job and asks Mrs. Corney if she’ll marry him. After she accepts his proposal, she informs him of Old Sally’s death, and he’ll go to Mr. Sowerberry on the way home and ask him to bring a coffin tomorrow. He asks what has upset her earlier, and she replies he will know soon after they’re married.

After making a jealous rant about the paupers in the parish, Mr. Bumble prepares to leave. He considers if he should bully some male paupers while looking forward to his job position as master of the workhouse. When he arrives at the undertaker shop, the Sowerberrys have gone out to dinner, but the shop isn’t closed. He taps at the counter several times to attract attention until he sees a lighted window in the parlour at the back of the shop. When he looks inside, he sees supper laid out on the table. Noah is drunk, slumped in a chair, and eats many oysters that Charlotte shells from a barrel. As Noah offers to kiss Charlotte, Mr. Bumble bursts into the room. Charlotte screams and hides her face in her apron as Mr. Bumble confronts Noah for trying to kiss her. Noah insists he didn’t mean to, and Charlotte constantly wants to kiss him. Mr. Bumble orders Charlotte to go downstairs and then orders Noah to close the shop. He also asks him to inform his master when he gets home to prepare a coffin for Old Sally tomorrow morning. After he lectures Noah about kissing, he leaves.

### Unhappy Marriage/ Meeting with Monks

Mr. Bumble sits in the parlour, feeling moody. He is no longer the parish beadle, as he has become the master of the workhouse and has been married to Mrs. Corney for two months. He sighs and scowls unhappily as he mutters that he bought himself too cheap while looking over the marriage dowry and the items he received after marrying. Mrs. Bumble doesn’t overhear him but guesses the meaning, which makes her furious. She demands if he is going to sit around all day, and he replies he will sit where he is if he’s proper. Mrs. Bumble yells at him, and he tells her that her late husband should have taught her to be more obedient. She collapses into a chair and bursts into tears.

Mr. Bumble is satisfied with his wife’s crying and urges her to cry harder before putting on his hat and heading to the door. Mrs. Corney then slaps him, scratches his face and pulls his hair. She throws him onto a chair and dares him to mock her again. Unable to deal with his wife’s anger, he flees in defeat. He shows sympathy for men who leave their wives and walks into a room where some female paupers are washing some linen sheets. He bursts angrily inside when he sees his wife with the paupers, and they start arguing again. The paupers start laughing as Mr. Bumble skulks away, muttering his regret for giving up his beadle position and marrying Mrs. Corney before wandering the street.

It starts to rain heavily, and when Mr. Bumble passes a pub, he looks inside the window and sees that the bar is empty, except for a tall, dark man wearing a cloak and sitting alone at a table. Mr. Bumble is interested in him, so he goes inside, orders a drink, and goes into the bar where the tall man is, who notices him and asks if he has seen him from the window. Mr. Bumble insists he has done no harm. The tall man says he has recognized him before, and Mr. Bumble replies that he used to be the beadle of the parish workhouse, and the stranger says he knows him all too well. After asking the landlord to refill their glasses, the stranger shuts the door and window, says he has come here to ask him for important information, and offers Mr. Bumble large amounts of coins. After Mr. Bumble pockets the money, the stranger asks if he remembers what happened at the workhouse 12 years ago during a wintry night. Mr. Bumble replies that it was long ago, but he still remembers it. The stranger then says in one specific room, a boy was born. Mr. Bumble says that dozens of boys were born in that room at the workhouse.

But the stranger explains about a pale, young boy born in the workhouse and then apprenticed to the local undertaker before running away to London. Mr. Bumble says the boy is Oliver Twist, but the stranger changes the subject by talking about an old woman who nursed Oliver’s dying mother and asks where she is now. Mr. Bumble replies that she died last winter. The stranger is lost in thought, but Mr. Bumble is fully aware of the night Old Sally died and that she had secretly passed on some information about Oliver’s mother to Mrs. Corney, who was alone with her on her deathbed. Mr. Bumble then informs the stranger that he knows a woman who has been with the old woman shortly before her death, and she may provide more information. The stranger asks how he can meet her, and Mr. Bumble replies he will bring her to him tomorrow. The stranger then suggests they meet at 9 o’clock the next evening and gives him the address of their meeting on a sheet of paper. The stranger then gets up, pays for his drink, and leaves. After glancing at the address, Mr. Bumble catches up with the stranger and asks his name. The stranger abruptly replies that he is called “Monks” before walking away.

On a rainy summer evening, the Bumbles arrive at a run-down neighbourhood by the river. They are wearing old, worn-out coats, and Mr. Bumble will occasionally stop to ensure his wife is catching up with him. They arrive at an old building that has fallen into disrepair, and a portion of it sinks into the river. Mr. Bumble reads the paper to figure out if they are at the right place when a voice calls to them from a second-storey window. The voice says he will be right with them before disappearing. Mr. Bumble nods to Mrs. Corney that it’s the man they’re meeting, and she warns her husband to be careful what he says, or they will be betrayed. Mr. Bumble hesitates when the door opens, and Monks impatiently invites them in.

The Bumbles are hesitant, but they enter the building. Monks asks why they are standing outside in the rain after shutting the door. Mr. Bumble replies that they were “cooling off”. Monks turns to Mrs. Corney and asks if she’s the woman who was at Old Sally’s deathbed and heard her confession. Mr. Bumble replies yes, and she asks if he doesn’t think women can keep secrets. Monks assures her that they will only keep one until it’s revealed, and that’s the loss of their good name. He beckons the couple to follow him as they ascend a ladder to the second floor, and a crack of thunder shakes the building. Monks becomes distorted and excuses to the Bumbles that the thunder sometimes causes him to have epileptic fits.

They arrive in a room with a low ceiling, and Monks closes a window that causes a rope and pulley to lower a lantern that shows a table with three chairs. They sit down, and Monks asks Mrs. Corney what she told her the night she died when she interrupts him and asks how much their conversation is worth to him. He replies that he doesn’t know until he hears it. She demands 25 pounds in gold if she will tell him everything, and he isn’t willing to pay that much for information he doesn’t know is useful. She says he can easily take it away from her if the gold isn’t good since she’s a woman alone and unprotected in a shabby building. Mr. Bumble nervously stumbles that he will protect her, but she orders him to be quiet.

Monks reaches into his side pocket, takes out 25 gold coins and passes them to Mrs. Corney. When the thunder fades and Monks leaning closer to listen to her, Mrs. Corney explains that she was alone with Old Sally on her deathbed, who confessed that she once nursed a young woman who gave birth to a boy years ago in the same bed Old Sally lay dying in. After the mother died, Old Sally robbed something from her, despite the mother begging the old woman to keep it for the sake of her child. However, Old Sally died before she told her what she did with the mother’s trinket. It wasn’t until Mrs. Corney discovered a crumpled piece of paper that was a pawnbroker's duplicate in the dead old woman’s hand. She thinks that Old Sally had apparently sold the trinket to the pawnbroker but had saved some money to pay the pawnbroker’s interest each year, allowing Mrs. Corney to redeem her pledge.

Mrs. Bumble then tosses a small bag onto the table, and Monks opens it. Inside is a small, golden locket containing two locks of hair and a wedding ring. The name “Agnes” is engraved on the locket, along with a date a year before Oliver was born, but has no surname. Mr. Bumble is relieved the story is over and wipes sweat from his face. After a short silence, Mrs. Corney tells Monks she doesn’t know the story behind the locket but has some questions to ask him. She asks if this is what Monks wants from her and replies yes. She then asks if it will be used against her, but he says no. He orders his visitors to stand back as he pushes the table aside and opens a trap door on the floor that leads to the rushing water below. He asks where a body will turn up if it is dropped below, and Mr. Bumble replies it would be 12 miles away and torn to shreds.

Monks takes out the bag containing the locket, ties it to a weight and drops it into the water. He shuts the trap door and declares their visit is over. He orders the couple to swear into secrecy, and when Mr. Bumble promises they will, Monks orders the couple to leave as soon as possible. As he takes the lantern, Mr. Bumble is relieved to leave, and he and Mrs. Corney descend the ladder. As they land on the lower floor, Mr. Bumble checks for any trap doors on the floor before he and Mrs. Corney leave through the door that Monks had opened for them.

### Downfall

Sometime later, in the town of Oliver’s birth, the Bumbles are brought to the hotel where Mr. Brownlow, Oliver and his friends are staying so they could solve the mystery of Oliver’s identity, and Monks is with them to confess everything. The couple are ushered into the room where everyone is sitting, and Mr. Bumble pretends not to be surprised when he sees Oliver again. Mrs. Bumble orders him to be quiet, and he protests that the same orphan who he raised ended up with some wealthy people, and he “loved” him like he was the boy’s grandfather. He informs Oliver that the gentleman in the white waistcoat died last week and greets Mr. Brownlow politely.

Sometime later, in the town of Oliver’s birth, the Bumbles are brought to the hotel where Mr. Brownlow, Oliver and his friends are staying so they can solve the mystery of Oliver’s identity, and Monks is with them to confess everything. The couple are ushered into the room where everyone is sitting, and Mr. Bumble pretends not to be surprised when he sees Oliver again. Mrs. Corney orders him to be quiet, and he protests that the same orphan he raised ended up with some wealthy people, and he “loved” him like he was the boy’s grandfather. He informs Oliver that the gentleman in the white waistcoat died last week and greets Mr. Brownlow politely.

Mr. Brownlow points the Bumbles to Monks and asks if they know him. They claim they don’t know him and deny selling him a locket and ring. Mr. Brownlow’s friend, Mr. Grimwig, brings in the same pauper women who looked after Old Sally and heard her confess to Mrs. Corney about stealing Oliver’s mother’s locket before witnessing her taking the locket and ring from the pawnbroker. Mr. Grimwig asks if he should bring in the pawnbroker, and Mrs. Bumble initially denies this until she finally admits that she sold them. Mr. Brownlow then tells the Bumbles that he will ensure they won’t be in the position of authority again and orders them to leave. Mr. Bumble hopes he won’t be removed from office, and Mr. Brownlow assures him it will happen and he can make up for it. Mr. Bumble blames his wife for causing all of this, and Mr. Brownlow reminds him that he witnessed Monks dispose of the trinkets and points out that under the eyes of the law, his wife always acts under his direction. Mr. Bumble calls the law an “idiot,” an “ass,” and a bachelor before he and his wife are dismissed.

Afterwards, Mr. and Mrs. Corney are removed from their positions by the law and are forced to live as paupers in the same workhouse they used to manage.

## Personality/Appearance

Mr. Bumble is a pompous, arrogant parish beadle who boasts about his power of the workhouse. He takes pride in his achievements and is even given a reward for being a Good Samaritan and helping those in need at the workhouse. But despite his seemingly respected appearance, he is a cruel, selfish man who abuses the children of the workhouse, mostly to Oliver Twist. He doesn’t care about the needs of anyone but himself, and insists that the children and paupers should be grateful that they have a place to live in the workhouse and are fed daily meals, despite the workhouse conditions being poor and the only food served is plain gruel that doesn’t satisfy the children’s hunger. Therefore, when Oliver sums up courage to ask for more gruel, Mr. Bumble and the workhouse board are so shocked that they decide that a decent punishment for the boy is to sell him to an apprentice and teach him a trade. Deep down, they hope that Oliver will die quickly from being overworked by a cruel apprentice. He doesn’t sympathize with Oliver’s feelings and also doesn’t know why he is upset, such as when he takes him away from the workhouse to be apprenticed with Mr. Sowerberry. Even when he does express empathy to Oliver, he only does so to assure Oliver that he will be alright in any position he’s being placed into. His only concern is his job duties and getting paid for it.

Because he believes that Oliver is a bad, ungrateful child, Mr. Bumble takes drastic measures to spread his seemingly bad reputation when he visits Mr. Brownlow after the gentleman reports Oliver missing and offers a decent reward for those who come forward with information about Oliver. Mr. Bumble proceeds to describe to Mr. Brownlow that Oliver is “low and vicious” for attacking the charity boy Noah Claypole, and even shows his identification papers to prove his statement. As a middle class beadle, he expresses his greed by ruining Oliver’s good prospects and desperately wanting to collect his reward.

When he marries the workhouse matron, Mrs. Corney, Mr. Bumble loses his position as beadle of the workhouse and becomes the workhouse's master. However, he proves to be a terrible husband as he becomes lazy and clearly misses his bachelorhood when he rules the workhouse with an iron fist and his place in the higher social class as the parish beadle. While he becomes an accomplice to Monks, he hardly does any actions in the scene where they dispose of the locket of Oliver's deceased mother, and his wife explains everything that she has heard. After he faces his downfall when his actions with Monks are exposed, he calls the law "idiotic" and blames his wife for causing them to lose their positions and be stripped into poverty.

## Relationships

### Oliver Twist

An impoverished orphan who was born in the workhouse, and Mr. Bumble gave him his name. As the workhouse beadle, Mr. Bumble abuses Oliver and constantly makes him obedient to his rules and commands. His hatred towards the boy only worsens when Oliver asks for seconds, and he is confident that Oliver will be taught a trade and behave. But when Oliver refuses to have Mr. Gamfield as his apprentice and gets into a fight with Noah Claypole, Mr. Bumble believes that he is a wicked, naughty child. When he visits Mr. Brownlow with information about Oliver, he explains his bad reputation that makes Mr. Brownlow think he doesn't appear to be charming and innocent.

### Mrs. Corney

The matron of the workhouse. He flirts with her and discusses how the impoverished peasants are often ungrateful for what they have. Mrs. Corney doesn’t seem comfortable with his flirtatious nature to her, to the point when she threatens to scream when he kisses her. She reluctantly agrees to marry him, but their marriage becomes estranged. She is annoyed by her husband’s laziness and beats him when he mocks her. Later, the couple conspires with Monks to dispose of a golden locket that belonged to Oliver’s deceased mother, Agnes Fleming. This results in the Bumbles being punished for their involvement and stripped of their positions. Mr. Bumble blames his wife for their downfall.

### Mrs. Mann

The owner of the baby farm where Oliver was raised after his birth at the workhouse. The workhouse offers her some money she is supposed to use to pay for the children’s necessities in her care. Mr. Bumble or the authorities don’t suspect that she’s actually keeping the money for herself, resulting in the children starving and neglected. He expects her always to respect him as the parish beadle and considers it disrespectful when he is kept waiting outside the baby farm for a long time. Deep down, Mrs. Mann feels anxious when Mr. Bumble visits her and may suspect her selfish nature, especially when she warns Oliver not to reveal anything to Mr. Bumble.

### Mr. Brownlow

While in London, Mr. Bumble finds an advertisement for anyone to provide some information about Oliver, who has been missing. He meets Mr. Brownlow in his home, claims he knows the boy, and even shows him documents as proof. He then says that Oliver is a bad, naughty child who fought a charity boy and then ran away, making Mr. Brownlow think he isn’t a good, innocent child. Later, Mr. Brownlow confronts Mr. Bumble when he’s brought in for questioning in his involvement with Monks, and when the workhouse paupers reveal the truth, Mr. Brownlow assures him that he won’t stay in power because of his greed and hypocrisy.

### Monks

A mysterious man whom Mr. Bumble meets in a pub. Monks seems interested in Oliver, and when he meets Mr. Bumble, he urges him to provide him with some information regarding a stolen trinket that belonged to Oliver’s mother. Mr. Bumble and his wife become Monks’ co-conspirators, as Mrs. Corney explains what she has heard from Old Sally and then presents the trinket, a golden locket that Monks disposes of. When the Bumbles are brought to Mr. Brownlow and see Monks, they deny knowing him until two paupers reveal everything that Old Sally and Mrs. Corney have heard, resulting in the downfall of Monks and the Bumbles.

### Noah Claypole

A charity boy. Noah brings him to Mr. Sowerberry’s house after Oliver attacks him, and later on, he lectures him about trying to kiss the Sowerberry’s servant, Charlotte.

## Quotes/Relatable Quotes

> "*I, Mrs. Mann. We name our fondlings in alphabetical order. The last was a S,--Swubble, I named him. This was a T,--Twist, I named HIM. The next one comes will be Unwin, and the next Vilkins. I have got names ready made to the end of the alphabet, and all the way through it again, when we come to Z.*"
> ― Chapter 2
>
>

Mr. Bumble describes how he gave Oliver his name.

> "*Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!*"
> ― Chapter 2
>
>

Mr. Bumble breaks the news that Oliver asked for seconds to Mr. Limbkins.

> "*What have paupers to do with soul or spirit? It’s quite enough that we let ‘em have live bodies. If you had kept the boy on gruel, ma’am, this would never have happened.*"
> ― Chapter 7
>
>

Mr. Bumble blames Mrs. Sowerberry for feeding Oliver enough food to give him strength and energy to attack Noah Claypole.

> "*But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble's soul; his heart was waterproof.*"
> ― Chapter 37
>
>

The narrator describes how Mr. Bumble shows callousness and lack of emotion to the impoverished paupers or his wife.

> "*It opens the lungs, washes the countenance, exercises the eyes, and softens down the temper, said Mr. Bumble. So cry away.*"
> ― Chapter 37
>
>

Mr. Bumble explains that crying allows one to let out their emotions and tears.

> "*If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass — a idiot. If that's the eye of the law, the law is a bachelor; and the worst I wish the law is, that his eye may be opened by experience — by experience.”*"
> ― Chapter 51
>
>

Mr. Bumble mocks the law after he faces his downfall from his involvement with Monks since he no longer works on behalf of the law.

> "*Mr. and Mrs. Bumble, deprived of their situations, were gradually reduced to great indigence and misery, and finally became paupers in that very same workhouse in which they had once lorded it over others.*"
> ― Chapter 53
>
>

The narrator explains that Mr. and Mr. Bumble lose their positions and live as paupers in the same workhouse they used to dominate over.

## References

1. ↑ Chapter 1
2. ↑ Chapter 2
3. ↑ Chapter 3
4. ↑ Chapter 4
5. ↑ Chapter 5
6. ↑ Chapter 7
7. ↑ Chapter 17
8. ↑ Chapter 23
9. ↑ Chapter 27
10. ↑ Chapter 37
11. ↑ Chapter 38
12. ↑ Chapter 51
13. ↑ Chapter 51
14. ↑ Chapter 53