A Christmas Carol
Context
Thomas Malthus
Influential British Economist.
He believed that poverty was an inveitable consequence to the increasing population.
1978
He wrote that the human population would always grow faster than food supplies.
Industrial Revolution
Immense change between 1760 - 1840.
Belle
'Another Idol has replaced me'
Referring to money.
Also known as the 'progressive era'
Change from farming to factories.
It meant the class divide was exacerbated.
The lower class being subject to dangerous and dehumanising conditions.
Dickens and the poor
He was empathetic towards the poor an their suffering.
He himself grew up in poverty.
Critic G.K Chesterso
He characterised Dickens as 'the spokesman of the poor'.
He first wrote a pamphlet to try and spread awareness about the plight of the poor.
1834 Poor Law
Caused the introduction of the workhouses.
They were intended to be ther to provide shelter and food for the poor in exchange for work.
Around 145,000 people died eeach year due to the workhouses.
However they were exploitative of the poor and split up families and made young children work in the belligerent conditions.
Around 10% of people admitted to workhouses would die.
Including children as young as 4 or 5.
Religion
Victorian society was extremely religious, its foundations were built on these very beliefs.
Redemption is instrumental in Christianity.
God provides individuals with redemption when sins have been confessed.
Salvation of mankind due to Jesus' sacrifice of being crucified.
The seven deadly sins (cardinal sins)
Known as the root of all evil.
Marley
Imprisoned by his selfishness
He is symbolic of the eternal consequences o the pursuit of materialism.
He indulged in avarice (greed) during his life and shunned poverty.
Thus in the afterlife he experiences spiritual poverty.
'dragging a heavy chain'
The chain symbolises entrapment and restriction.
This shows the eternal consequences if being parsimonious.
'The chain he drew was clasped about his middle'
'was long and wound about him like a tail'
Scrooge's Denial
Dickens as a social commentator
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Dickens' mouthpiece
Ghost of Christmas Present
Ignorance and Want
It is important that they are introduced to the audience by this ghost as it highlights how it is a current issue (at the time of writing)
Ghost of Christmas Past