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CONTEXT (DICKENS INTENTIONS FOR THE NOVELLA WERE: (3.It reinforces the…
CONTEXT
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POVERTY IN BRITAIN
Dickens was acutely aware of the poverty evident in Victorian Britain. Lots of people were living in cramped conditions as the cities were becoming overpopulated due to the industrial revolution. The conditions people were under caused crime was rife and difficult to control. Diseases were overcoming many people due to lack of sanitation in the conditions that the civilians lived in, this was ruining society and sewers were struggling to cope with the increased demand that the amount of people moving into the cities had. Many worked in factories for long hours whereas prior to the revolution more people worked the land as farmers. It was a time when rich businessmen and owners exploited their workers expecting them to work extremely long hours for very little pay.
Dickens himself experience poverty when his family went into debt. Scrooge represented a hard headed businessman contrasted with the poor but hardworking Cratchit family.
In 1834 the new poor law was introduced to Britain to try and combat the large numbers of poor people in the country at the time. It stated that in order to receive any financial assistance anyone without a job was required to enter a workhouse if they wish to seek support than money in housing. There was a belief that poor people were lazy, so workhouses were deliberately very difficult places. Dickens likens them to prisons in the novella to discourage people from wanting to go there. Dickens was against this new law. It is the new at the start collecting the money for charity that makes the situation clear when they say "many thousands are in want of common necessities". Dickens is presenting education as a way out of poverty through his use of the two children Ignorance and Want.
CHRISTMAS
The novella is set to broadcast , the message of the tradition of Christmas. Dickens believed it should be a time of peace and goodwill to everyone no matter their social status. Christmas spirit is still spread by many today where some people spend it giving and caring for others. Whereas some spend it on a negative note with the 'Bah' approach to Christmas.