". . . You were present on the occasion of the destruction of these trinkets, and indeed are the more guilty of the two, in the eye of the law; for the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction."
"If the law supposes that," said Mr. Bumble, squeezing his hat emphatically in both hands, "the law is a ass–a idiot."

This quote from Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist reflects the often absurd nature of legal systems. Mr. Bumble's indignant outburst, "the law is a ass–a idiot," highlights the disconnect between the law and the realities of human behavior. In Dickens's time, the legal assumption that a wife acted solely under her husband's influence was both common and outdated. Bumble, who knows all too well that his wife does not obey him, exposes the folly of such assumptions. Through this moment, Dickens critiques the rigidity and sometimes irrationality of legal institutions, emphasizing how they can fail to recognize individual agency and responsibility. Furthermore, Bumble's expression of exasperation serves as a moment of comic relief, contrasting the serious circumstances surrounding Oliver's past and the injustices he has suffered. Dickens's use of humor underscores the profound impact of misguided authority on human lives.