Christmas carol poverty essay

Alternative transcript:

poors worth rather than themselves, taking away their voice and value. The noun 'foot' alludes that these children could have humanistic traits, and they don't have to be seen as animals but rather as humans. Therefore, Dickens is criticising the choice of demonisation of the working class from the upper class and how they are seen to be an outsider of society and the way that this perpetuates the cycle of poverty as instead of being helped, the upper class degrade them to benefit themselves. Dickens further portrays Ignorance and Want as children who have become destroyed by poverty. This can be insinuated in the quote " where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked". This quote connotes that the children had the potential to be free and innocent children, but poverty has stripped them away from it. The noun 'angels' alludes that Ignorance and Want were supposed to have good qualities and be welcoming members of society; this contrasts to the noun 'devils' which is associated with an evil nature and a threat to society. The verb 'might' exhibits that despite their poverty, other factors of society could have taken away their good nature, it wasn't definite that they would have had a high quality life, though poverty destroyed them before anything else could. The transitive verb 'enthroned' is associated with royalty and power, suggesting that having remarkable qualities increases your influence in life. The verb 'lurked' implies that the evilness in them is hidden yet holds a lot of control over them; it's not an obvious action which could represent that the children are more powerful as their intentions are no longer seen- they are more dangerous and unpredictable and are something to be wary of. Dickens is consequently highlighting how innocent children's lives are ruined by poverty-this links to Scrooge's childhood as a working class child. Moreover, throughout the whole of the novella, poverty can also be portrayed as a factor that prevents happiness. Scrooge questions his Nephew "what right do you have to be merry, you're poor enough". This question connotes that Scrooge associates poverty with misery and believes it is impossible to enjoy life whilst not having any money - he believes that money is the answer to happiness. The phrase "what right" provides Scrooge with an aggressive tone, believing that it's not fair for Fred to be able to be happy when he is poor as Scrooge was always miserable. Scrooge is angry at Fred for being content even without money because when he knows what it is like to be poor, he could feel as though Fred is dismissing the detrimental effect that poverty has on people. The phrase "you're poor enough" implies that Scrooge thinks that poverty is supposed to be controlling; instead of being glad he is enjoying himself, he is angry and degrades him as just a mark of poverty. He believes that poverty should take away his happiness- just as it did to him- and shouldn't need to worsen for him to be miserable. He portrays an anger at Fred feeling 'merry' as instead of trying to fix his poverty, he is allowing himself to enjoy Christmas; this doesn't seem fair to Scrooge as his poverty has a long term negative impact on him though Fred is able to remain happy. Dickens is therefore representing that the upper class feel that money is the answer to happiness and feel the poor shouldn't be able to be happy due to their poverty, again degrading them as nothing. Furthermore, poverty is represented as controlling people's lives. Bob Cratchit sat in his 'dismal little cell'. This quote conveys that due to Scrooge's use of money, Bob Cratchit did not have a comforting environment to work in. The adjective 'dismal' indicates how due to the long lasting effects of poverty, Scrooge has become so fixated on money that he is too fearful to provide light for his clerk because he doesn't want to spend money. Alternatively, the cell being 'dismal' mirrors the emotions at work as it's a place of misery due to the fact that they're not being paid well though just enough to survive and as a result are obligated to be there. Bob Cratchit is working in a 'cell', mirroring the feeling of being trapped as he sees no way out of his poverty, he is reminded of his poverty at work as he is working hard at the cost of nothing. He feels as though he is in prison as his work isn't worthwhile, but he still has to go as if he doesn't he will die of starvation. Alternatively, the 'cell' he is working in could be seen as a result of Scrooge's care towards his workers, he only cares of the benefit it provides him rather than the feelings of the workers. Dickens is consequently writing a diatribe against the way the poor are worked hard but treated poorly for the benefit of the upper class. In conclusion, poverty is displayed as something that takes away one's humanity, replacing them as just a label of poverty. The working class are dehumanised and aren't valued in society. Dickens is representing how the upper class belittle the poor and take away their own identity.