Poverty Flashcards
As a vehicle to?
Dickens utilises the novella as a vehicle to address the issue of poverty in the mid-Victorian era, with the hope of changing his middle class readers attitudes towards the poor from complacency and indifference to compassion and altruism.
Initially point
Initially, Dickens exposes the dismal conditions that the poor are forced to endure through the Portly Gentlemen. He also exposes the works of institutions such as the work houses which were out in place to support the poor, but the reality is much more dire.
Initially… (quote 1) how is suffering introduced through the lower class?
”who suffer greatly at the present time”
- This implies that poverty and suffering in the 19th century are inextricably connected due to this reference to the poor.
- The fact that it is “at present time” would evoke guilt from the largely middle class readership as it is an issue that they would have been responsible for.
Initially… (quote 2) how many are in need of help?
“many thousands are in want of common necessaries”
- This implies that there are thousands of people who are in such a state of destitution that they are unable to afford “common necessaries”.
- “necessaries” connotes that they are unable to afford the basic items that they need to sustain themselves, let alone any sort of luxury.
However… (quote 1) How is Mrs Cratchit’s gratefulness shown?
“dressed out poorly in a twice turned gown, but brave in ribbons” which is in reference to Mrs Cratchits dress.
- “poorly” highlights the extreme poverty that the Cratchit family endure, however this is juxtaposed by the pride that Mrs Cratchit has in her appearance as well as the appreciation she shows, despite the dress being old and tatty.
However… (quote 2) how does Bob praise Scrooge?
“I’ll give you Mr Scrooge, the founder of the feast” which implies that Mr Cratchit is still thankful for the goose that he had in front of him, despite the fact that a goose was a only eaten on Christmas if they could not afford a turkey.
- “feast” emphasises that even though the meal is not large by any means , Bob Cratchit is still thankful for all of it and it is enough for him
Important effect on audience for Crachit family
Through this depiction of the Cratchit family, Dickens presents a human face to the plight of the poor, rejecting harsh economic theories (like Thomas Malthus’ theory of population) which dehumanises those living in impoverished conditions. In doing so, Dickens prevents his middle and upper class readers from viewing the lower class as distant and removed, instead evoking empathy on an individual level.
What is the significance of the Cratchit family being hard working?
Dickens guides his readers to respect and admire the working class through the Cratchit family’s humility, gratitude and resilience in the face of adversity, dismissing prominent views about the poor being idle and that poverty is self inflicted.
Ultimately… (quote 1) how is the fact that giving is easy shown?
Dickens exposes just how easy it is to be charitable and help the lower class, through Scrooge’s “purchase of the turkey” that he sent to the Cratchit household so that they could enjoy. Dickens is promoting his socialist ideology in order to persuade his contemporary readership to be more compassionate and charitable and to internalise these values in order to disassociate with a previously prevalent capitalist mindset.
However as the text develops point
However, as the Novella progresses, Dickens highlights just how thankful the lower class are, despite having so little, through the depiction of the Cratchit family.
Ultimately point
Ultimately, Dickens presents poverty as something that can be easily overcome by perpetual giving as shown through Scrooge’s purchase of the turkey, perhaps so that his middle class readership can empathise with the poor and be more charitable, in order to disassociate with capitalism and transition to a more socialist society.
