Religion
Religion was the foundation of morality in the Victorian era – 7 deadly sins
(greed, wrath and pride) to be avoided. Christians believed that God
provides individuals with redemption when sin has been confessed
- Scrooge embodies some of the 7 deadly sins (also known as the
cardinal sins): greed (want for money), wrath (anger at the world) and
pride (ego)
- Scrooge granted redemption through the ghosts
Charles Dickens
Dickens grew up in poverty and worked in the workhouses. The novella
was written in response to the report of children’s employment
commission which covered the dehumanising and exploitative
conditions children were subject to in the Victorian era
- The struggles of the Cratchits is presented in a compassionate way
- Tiny Tim’s death links to the exploitation of children during the era
Industrial Revolution
Change from farming to factories, marked as the ‘progressive era’ due to
the advancements in technology
- Dickens scathing of Britain being the pinnacle (peak) of excellence and
progression when it neglects and exploits the lower classes
- Uses character of Scrooge to critique how ‘progressive’ Victorian
society is
1834 poor law
Introduced the workhouses, poor sent there in exchange for food and
shelter. They were hubs of squalor which exploited the poor. 10% people
admitted to them would die
- Dickens shows ignorance of those who enforced laws like this one
through Scrooge
- Cratchits and children of ignorance + want provide a small insight into
how the poor were exploited + dehumanised by laws like this
, Thomas Malthus
British economist who believed poverty was inevitable due to the
population increase
- Dickens makes Scrooge embody Malthusian views and ridicules this
- Scrooge shows these views in stave 1 “prisons… and the union
workhouses”
- He is ridiculed by Ghost of Christmas Present in Stave 3 “decrease
surplus population”
Dickens Intentions
- Dickens crafts an allegorical (story with a moral message) novella with
a didactic purpose, aiming to convey a message about the virulent
(harmful) consequences of avariciousness and frugality in society.
He criticises the upper classes for their apathy toward the poor and
their complicity in perpetuating dehumanising laws and social
structures through ignorance
- Dickens crafts the ghosts as vehicles for conveying his
condemnation of the ignorance and callousness prevalent among the
materialistic upper classes. Thus, the ghosts serve as Dickens’
mouthpiece, delivering a powerful message advocating for
compassion and societal reform
- Dickens communicates to his upper-class readers the important role
of repentance and compassion increasing both personal and societal
moral redemption. By holding up a mirror to his readership, he
prompts them to introspect and assess whether their attitudes
perpetuate social injustice or contribute to social reform
Religion was the foundation of morality in the Victorian era – 7 deadly sins
(greed, wrath and pride) to be avoided. Christians believed that God
provides individuals with redemption when sin has been confessed
- Scrooge embodies some of the 7 deadly sins (also known as the
cardinal sins): greed (want for money), wrath (anger at the world) and
pride (ego)
- Scrooge granted redemption through the ghosts
Charles Dickens
Dickens grew up in poverty and worked in the workhouses. The novella
was written in response to the report of children’s employment
commission which covered the dehumanising and exploitative
conditions children were subject to in the Victorian era
- The struggles of the Cratchits is presented in a compassionate way
- Tiny Tim’s death links to the exploitation of children during the era
Industrial Revolution
Change from farming to factories, marked as the ‘progressive era’ due to
the advancements in technology
- Dickens scathing of Britain being the pinnacle (peak) of excellence and
progression when it neglects and exploits the lower classes
- Uses character of Scrooge to critique how ‘progressive’ Victorian
society is
1834 poor law
Introduced the workhouses, poor sent there in exchange for food and
shelter. They were hubs of squalor which exploited the poor. 10% people
admitted to them would die
- Dickens shows ignorance of those who enforced laws like this one
through Scrooge
- Cratchits and children of ignorance + want provide a small insight into
how the poor were exploited + dehumanised by laws like this
, Thomas Malthus
British economist who believed poverty was inevitable due to the
population increase
- Dickens makes Scrooge embody Malthusian views and ridicules this
- Scrooge shows these views in stave 1 “prisons… and the union
workhouses”
- He is ridiculed by Ghost of Christmas Present in Stave 3 “decrease
surplus population”
Dickens Intentions
- Dickens crafts an allegorical (story with a moral message) novella with
a didactic purpose, aiming to convey a message about the virulent
(harmful) consequences of avariciousness and frugality in society.
He criticises the upper classes for their apathy toward the poor and
their complicity in perpetuating dehumanising laws and social
structures through ignorance
- Dickens crafts the ghosts as vehicles for conveying his
condemnation of the ignorance and callousness prevalent among the
materialistic upper classes. Thus, the ghosts serve as Dickens’
mouthpiece, delivering a powerful message advocating for
compassion and societal reform
- Dickens communicates to his upper-class readers the important role
of repentance and compassion increasing both personal and societal
moral redemption. By holding up a mirror to his readership, he
prompts them to introspect and assess whether their attitudes
perpetuate social injustice or contribute to social reform
