Influence Of Scrooge In A Christmas Carol
A Story Can Influence an Entire Society
Many reforms are suggested through the evolution of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The Victorian Society progresses through the same changes that Scrooge went through in the story. In this novella, Dickens uses Scrooge to critique Victorian Society by showing his greed and treatment of the poor. As a solution to these problems, he shows how the Christmas season can be viewed as a spirit of giving. In the beginning of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is consumed by his business, greediness, and money. Scrooge refuses to donate with poor reasoning: “I help to support the establishes I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there” (Dickens 4). Scrooge thinks that the poor should go work instead of depending on others. It is greedy of Scrooge to be well off and not care about others. Scrooge’s clerk at his business requested Christmas off, which Scrooge reluctantly gave him: “‘And yet,’ Said Scrooge, ‘you don’t think me ill-used, when I pay a day’s wages for no work’” (Dickens 4). He does not value Christmas, for he calls it a “poor excuse for …show more content…
They had few options for living, debtors prison or work in a workhouse. Many people would not help them and they were forced to go to these facilities: “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned---they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there” (Dickens 4). Scrooge refuses to donate to charity, even though he is quite wealthy. Wealthy people, with money to share, continue only keep themselves in mind. The poor do not have much place in society or in the wealthy’s mind: “‘If they would rather die,’ said Scrooge, ‘they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population’” (Dickens 5). Scrooge does not care about the lives of the poor, and believes they should work. Drawing attention to the treatment of the poor inspired many to begin acting upon
Many reforms are suggested through the evolution of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. The Victorian Society progresses through the same changes that Scrooge went through in the story. In this novella, Dickens uses Scrooge to critique Victorian Society by showing his greed and treatment of the poor. As a solution to these problems, he shows how the Christmas season can be viewed as a spirit of giving. In the beginning of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is consumed by his business, greediness, and money. Scrooge refuses to donate with poor reasoning: “I help to support the establishes I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there” (Dickens 4). Scrooge thinks that the poor should go work instead of depending on others. It is greedy of Scrooge to be well off and not care about others. Scrooge’s clerk at his business requested Christmas off, which Scrooge reluctantly gave him: “‘And yet,’ Said Scrooge, ‘you don’t think me ill-used, when I pay a day’s wages for no work’” (Dickens 4). He does not value Christmas, for he calls it a “poor excuse for …show more content…
They had few options for living, debtors prison or work in a workhouse. Many people would not help them and they were forced to go to these facilities: “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned---they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there” (Dickens 4). Scrooge refuses to donate to charity, even though he is quite wealthy. Wealthy people, with money to share, continue only keep themselves in mind. The poor do not have much place in society or in the wealthy’s mind: “‘If they would rather die,’ said Scrooge, ‘they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population’” (Dickens 5). Scrooge does not care about the lives of the poor, and believes they should work. Drawing attention to the treatment of the poor inspired many to begin acting upon