Analyzing Representation of Poverty and Child Labor in Charles Dickens’s Novels: Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and Hard Times This article examines Dickens’s depiction of the social, moral and psychological consequences of deprivation on children, contrasting the contexts of urban poverty, family neglect, and industrial exploitation. Dickens has portrayed the duality of vulnerability and resiliency among children and has endorsed the influence of social institutions, mentorship, and the act of compassion on child development as a factor in both The London Chronicles and A Tale of Two Cities. Through Dickens’s three novels, the evolution of social critique that moves away from the individualized trap of social sympathy and focuses more on the structural and systematic struggle of Dickens’s characters, highlighting the works enduring relevance towards raising awareness and social responsibility around child welfare and protection.