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Which groups of people appeared in William Wordsworth’s poems about social hardship?

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William Wordsworth’s poetry frequently centered on the lives of common people, particularly those experiencing social hardship or living on the margins of society. In his work, he sought to represent the experiences and vernacular of working-class individuals rather than the conventions of the upper classes.1

The groups of people who appeared in his poems regarding social hardship include:

Abandoned mothers and children2
Beggars and vagrants12
Prisoners and convicts (including those associated with Botany Bay)1
Individuals with intellectual disabilities1
Laborers, farmers, shepherds, and hunters1
Victims of war2
Gipsies and idle apprentices1

Wordsworth’s focus on these "humble figures" was a deliberate departure from traditional poetic subjects like kings, queens, or knights. While his personal interaction with the poor was often limited to observation, his writing during his early, difficult years in London reflected a profound sympathy for those suffering from the social problems of the time.12