Although Dickens has the greatest scorn for the privileged orders whom he holds responsible for the oppression and exploitation of those less fortunate, he is aware of vileness on all levels of society. Noah Claypole, who considers himself rightfully appointed to be Oliver's superior, assumes as part of his birthright the privilege of maltreating the smaller boy without provocation: "It shows us what a beautiful thing human nature may be made to be; and how impartially the same amiable qualities are developed in the finest lord and the dirtiest charity-boy."
Let's look closely at the key words in this quotation. Notice that "human nature may be made to be" and "qualities are developed." Dickens doesn't retreat from his position that the blemishes of human nature are products of environment.
The wordy and pompous Bumble manages to incorporate his "porochial" absurdity into almost every conversation. His addiction to words beyond his command is a source of humor in the form of malapropism. While commenting on the "sickening" pride of the dying Mrs. Bates, Bumble says that her attitude was "antimonial." The term, of course, is the adjective derived from the metal "antimony." What Bumble had dimly in mind was "antinomial," which means inconsistency or contradiction.
A more somber vein is introduced as Bumble dwells on the ingratitude of the destitute family implied in their declining to accept medicine sent in a blacking bottle. It becomes easy here to detect a note of bitterness going back to Dickens's childhood hatred of blacking (shoe-polish) bottles.
