The film focuses on a young male protagonist within a rigid, patriarchal Victorian framework. It lacks explicit depictions of non-cisnormative identities or narratives that critique heteronormativity.

The narrative adheres to traditional gender hierarchies but disrupts them through Nancy. She demonstrates significant agency and moral complexity, navigating the criminal underworld with autonomy.

The London underworld presents a heterogeneous ensemble, avoiding the homogeneity of typical period dramas. The casting reflects a diverse socioeconomic spectrum among the impoverished classes.

The film offers a cynical critique of Western institutions, framing the workhouse and state authority as oppressive. It highlights the exploitation of the poor by the wealthy.

The film depicts the physical frailty caused by malnutrition and poverty. However, it lacks characters with specific, identifiable disabilities portrayed with central agency.