What are the motifs in London Labour and the London Poor by Henry Mayhew?

A recurring idea is poverty. London street-people were of interest perhaps primarily because they were extremely poor. The poverty of those interviewed for the book is astounding to a modern reader. Many had no shoes, or were dressed only in rags. Even those who had clothing were wearing torn or shapeless items thrown away by the more wealthy. Many workers reported literally going for days without food. Workhouses that supplied 6 ounces of bread and an ounce of cheese for dinner were considered generous. Residents actually committed crimes to get regular meals and a bed, in jail.