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In Dickens political diatribe, “A Christmas Carol” which captures the zeitgeist Victorian England and their treatment of the poor in 1843. Dickens skillfully presents Scrooge as an allegory to teach middle class Victorian readers the importance of benevolence and charity, in response to the prevalent harsh attitudes towards the poor. Dickens also characterises several attitudes towards poverty through the characterisation of Scrooge.
Dickens skillfully uses language to describe Scrooge’s attitudes towards the poor as apathetic in the extract from Stave 1 of “A Christmas Carol”. Very quickly we get the impression that Scrooge is biased and prejudiced towards the poor. Crucial in creating this impression is the image, “decrease the surplus population” Here the adjective “surplus” provides significant insight into Scrooge’s hatred for the poor as by using business terminology it implies that Scrooge is dehumanising the poor. Also important is Dickens' criticism of Victorian employers’ view of the working class only as a source of profit. As a result, before we learn why Scrooge is like this, Dickens has introduced not only his attitude but, significantly, his wider message of raising awareness of the cycle of poverty and revealing the harsh realities of living as part of the lower classes. Contextually, Scrooge’s view of decreasing the surplus population was a contemporary idea introduced by the economist Thomas Malthus. Malthus argued that increases in population would overtake the development of sufficient land for crops and diminish the ability of the world to feed for itself.
Dickens masterfully uses language to establish the living state of the Cratchits in Stave Three. Very quickly, we get the impression that the Cratchits are hardworking and are grateful for what they have- even though it may not be a lot. Crucial in creating this impression is the description, “dressed out but poorly in a twice turned gown but brave in ribbons.” Here the description of Mrs Crachit being “poorly dressed” suggests a lack of funds. Also important is the adjective, “brave” which suggests Dicken;s approval of Mrs Cratchit's attempt to present herself well. As a result, without knowing too much about the Cratchits and why they are poor, Dickens has introduced not only the family but, significantly, his wider message of criticising the common Victorian viewpoint of the poor as feckless and idle through Bob Crachit and his family. Contextually, the Cratchits may be mirroring Dickens' own childhood of experiencing poverty as a child. Dickens’ family was middle-class, but he knew what it was like to be poor as when he was twelve, his father was imprisoned for debt. The family was very poor so he had to work in a factory. His experience of poverty made him critical of the way Victorian society treated its poorest people.
Dicken mirrors Scrooge’s attitudes towards the poor and how it changes in Stave 5 with Scrooge being Tiny Tim’s godfather at the denouement of the novella. Dickens characterises Tiny Tim as grateful to God. With Tiny Tim rejoicing his happiness through, “God bless us, everyone!” By having a poverty stricken child, Tiny Tim, saying this Dickens reminds the reader the poor is pious and god- fearing. Additionally the noun “everyone” is a reminder that God does not differentiate between the rich and poor. Contextually, Dickens criticises the poor law and victorian view as criminal, amoral, lazy and protilgate. He promotes the idea that the poor deserve help and dignity.
Dickens' vision is to promote charity and he believes the rich should do more to help the poor. In Stave one Marley's ghost warns Scrooge that he must pay more attention to those around him. He can't walk among ‘crowds of fellow beings’ with his ‘eyes turned down’ like Marley did. In Stave one, Scrooge is presented as a wealthy man who ignores the poverty around him, including that of his employee, Bob Cratchit, which mirrors the views of many wealthy people in Victorian Britain.
By the end of the novel, Scrooge has learnt his lesson and changed his attitude towards charity – he gives a large sum of money to the charity collectors.
Scrooge also learns to generously reward other people's work – he gives Bob Cratchit a pay rise and pays a boy a large fee to run and fetch the prize turkey from the shop. Dickens uses Scrooge's actions to suggest that if people are paid fairly there will be less need for charity.