Social Divide And Responsibility Flashcards
‘He might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell…Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so much smaller’
• Lower class highly scrutinised by higher classes
• This is because they were viewed as untrustworthy and deceitful at the time
• Higher classes are apathetic to plight of the poor as the poor have to work in dire working conditions
• Emphasised by ‘so very much’ which indicates the extent of disparity between the comfort of higher classes vs lower classes
‘Only time…when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of poeople below them as if they really were fellow-passengers’
‘Can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned - they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.’
- Member of the higher class
- Refers to impoverished as ‘idle’ -> supports overview as rich believed poor were lethargic
- The establishments mentioned are ‘union workhouses’ which exploited poorer classes by giving them low quality conditions in exchange for gruelling and inhumane work. Reinforces higher class apathy to plight of the poor
‘Who claim to know us and who do their deeds of passion, pride, I’ll-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are strange to us, and all our kith’
- ‘who lay claim to know us’ —> phrase serves as social commentary where Dickens uses the ghost as a social mouthpiece to convey his belief of corruption within authoritarian figures in society. However, the ‘claim’ to know celestial beings such as the spirits can be a direct criticism of religious authoritarian figures who claim to understand divine beings.
- ‘passion…selfishness in our name’ —> uses an asyndetic list of 7 —> perhaps mimics the 7 deadly sins. Also, it includes some of these. This highlights the purpose of the spirit which is to show Scrooge the immorality of certain acts and to educate him that these acts should not be committed by anyone regardless of their authority or ‘claim’ to know celestial beings.
‘Cratchit’s wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap’
• Reference to Mrs Cratchit’s resilient yet resourceful nature – she makes a conscious effort to dress well for the special occasion of Christmas however she remains limited in her resources. This contradict’s the higher class’s view that the poor are lethargic
• Use of the phrase ‘twice turned gown’ – indicative of Mrs Cratchit’s need to re-use resources owing to the family’s lack of money.
• Use of the phrase ‘but brave in ribbons’ demonstrates Mrs Cratchit’s commitment to the occasion as she will not allow her financial situation to spoil the time she has with her family
‘His threadbare clothes darned up and brushed to look seasonable… Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch, and had his limbs supported by an iron frame.’
- ‘threadbare clothes’ —> adjective ‘threadbare’ indicates lack of proper clothing and an inability to afford better clothing. This shows the growing social divide in the Victorian Era.
- Use of the alliterative ‘Tiny Tim’ brings attention to his vulnerability as a character and his need to be protected by those around him,
- Use of the adjective ‘little’ further emphasises Tim’s size and presents him as helpless.
- brings attention to the severity of the plight of the poor due to despondency of the poor innocent boy. Dickens did this to evoke sympathy.
- ‘bore’ links to Jesus bearing sins of mankind just as Tiny Tim is bearing sins of higher class’s negligence and apathy to plight of poor
‘devils lurked, and glared out menacingly. No change, no degradation, no perversion…this boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want…beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom’
‘I’ll raise your salary and endeavour to assist your struggling family…make up the fire and buy another coal-scuttle’
- After scrooge’s journey with the spirits he understands the severity of the plight of the poor and is compelled to help the poor
- He is a member of the higher class acknowledging his responsibility for the welfare of the lower classes
- ‘salary’ —> refers to economical jargon referring to money. However, Scrooge’s willingness to give it away indicates how he is no longer miserly yet helps others.
- Scrooge, now the archetype of a benevolent member of higher class is showing warmth and compassion to the lower class (by using the recurring motif of fire)
- Juxtaposes stave 1 where Bob’s fire “looked like one coal”
- Dickens is stating that anyone can change to decrease social divide, even if one was as morally bankrupt at the start
‘To Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man’
- Scrooge, now the archetype of a benevolent member of higher class is showing warmth and compassion to the lower class (by using the recurring motif of fire)
- Juxtaposes stave 1 where Bob’s fire “looked like one coal”
- Dickens is stating that anyone can change to decrease social divide, even if one was as morally bankrupt at the start
- Through the use of the anaphora in ‘As good a’ this indicates how as Scrooge helps others and helps to prevent the social divide from growing he excels on all other areas. Through the adjective ‘good’ this now portrays him as a moral character.
