Themes & patterns

Barnaby's simple-minded innocence contrasts sharply with the corruption of the mob, the hangman, and the manipulative characters who exploit him, highlighting how societal chaos preys on the vulnerable.

The Gordon Riots are depicted as a destructive, irrational force that turns ordinary people into murderers and arsonists, showing how collective hysteria overrides reason and morality.

The widow's devotion to Barnaby is a central thread, as she endures poverty, terror, and manipulation to protect her son, while other father figures fail or exploit their children.

The murderer's hidden crime haunts him throughout, and the narrative suggests that guilt inevitably leads to punishment, whether through madness, execution, or lifelong torment.

The novel critiques the vast gap between rich and poor, showing how the wealthy manipulate the poor for their own ends, and how the justice system punishes the powerless while sparing the privileged.

Barnaby's 'madness' is portrayed as a form of heightened sensitivity and moral clarity, while supposedly sane characters are shown to be cruel, selfish, or deluded, questioning what true sanity means.

Physical imprisonment in jails and the psychological imprisonment of guilt, fear, and social constraints are explored, with the riots representing a desperate, failed attempt to break free.

Characters like the blind man Stagg and Hugh exploit Barnaby's innocence and the mob's anger for personal gain, showing how cunning individuals prey on the desperate and the naive.

Barnaby's love of the natural world and animals contrasts with the corruption of urban life and political intrigue, suggesting that true goodness lies in simplicity and connection to nature.

The novel repeatedly confronts death—through executions, riots, and the hangman's trade—examining how society both sensationalizes and sanitizes violence, and how individuals face their own mortality.