Ignorance And Want Flashcards
Analyse quote “This boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want. Beware them both … but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing can be erased”
-this passage exemplifies his use of personification to embody societal ills. The boy, Ignorance, represents the dangers of a society that neglects education and enlightenment, while the girl, Want, symbolizes poverty and deprivation. By giving these abstract concepts human form, Dickens forces his readers to confront their tangible effects on the most vulnerable members of society—children.
-The word “Doom” evokes a sense of impending disaster, reinforcing the novella’s broader moral message. Dickens, through the Ghost of Christmas Present, suggests that ignorance perpetuates suffering, exploitation, and injustice. By presenting this revelation at a climactic moment in the story, he ensures that both Scrooge and the reader grasp the urgency of reform.
-Without education and awareness, the cycle of poverty would persist, leading to crime, disease, and social unrest. The use of “Doom” suggests an apocalyptic warning—if society does not change its ways, it is destined for collapse.
Analyse quote “They were a boy and a girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility.”
-The word “yellow” often connotes sickness, suggesting that these children suffer from disease due to inadequate living conditions. “Meagre” conveys their physical frailty, indicating that they are starved and undernourished. “Ragged” emphasizes their destitution, their clothes barely covering their bodies, symbolizing the neglect they have endured
-Wolfish” is particularly striking, as it likens them to predatory animals, desperate and feral. This zoomorphic imagery reflects both their desperation and the way society perceives the poor—as threats rather than victims. This aligns with Victorian fears of the underprivileged masses, whom many of the upper classes viewed as dangerous and criminal. This lead to harsh Poor laws and workhouses designed to punish rather than assist them. Dickens challenges this view, arguing that the poor are not inherently dangerous but are made so by neglect and oppression. The phrase “but prostrate, too, in their humility” underscores this, reminding readers that these children are victims, not villains.
