Charles Dickens
Dickens’ Biography
• He was born on February 7,
1812 in Portsmouth.
• 1824 -- Dickens worked at Warren’s Blacking
Warehouse when he was just 12 years old
(labeling jars of shoe polish)
• 1824 -- Mr. Dickens (Charles’ father) was taken
to debtors’ prison; his family joins him after some
time.
1837 - Oliver Twist
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It is Charles Dickens' second novel.
It is about a boy named Oliver Twist, who
escapes from a workhouse and meets a gang
of pickpockets in London.
The novel is one of Dickens' most
well-known works, and has been the
subject of numerous film and television
adaptations.
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But what was happening in 1837?
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King William IV of England dies.
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Victoria becomes queen of England.
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The British Empire reached its greatest
expansion under her reign.
The era is often characterized as a long period of
peace and economic, colonial, and industrial
consolidation. However, during the Industrial
Revolution, the population in England grew a
huge amount. This was one of the main causes
for poverty. More people means less work for
everybody.
And, because of the poverty, the children in families
were expected to contribute to the family income.
Usually children at the age of eight were already
working in factories and mines.
A child worked for at least ten hours a day.
The personality of Dickens
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He was an advocate of child labour laws to
protect children.
He opposed cruelty, deprivation and corporal
punishment in the education of children.
He was also against the abuses of the Victorian
legal and penal systems.
He organized amateur theatricals for charitable
purposes.
He created an institution for homeless and
"fallen" women, offering them a positive
alternative to the prostitution and crime.
He attacked slavery.
BUT TODAY?
Basic fact
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There are more slaves today than were seized from
Africa during the entire 400 years of the transAtlantic slave trade.
The price for a slave in 1850 in Mississippi was
$40,000 (based on constant dollars). The average
price of a slave today is $90.
The majority of child laborers, an estimated 70%,
work in agriculture.
Around the world, over 211 million children between
the ages of 5 and 14 are working. At least 60 million
of these children are working under dangerous or
abusive conditions.
Were it occurs
An estimated 158 million children aged 5-14 are
engaged in child labor – 1 in 6 children.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, around 1 in 3 children are
child laborers – representing 69 million children.
Forms of Child Slavery
Forced Labor
To extract work or service from any person using
the threat of penalties.
Debt Bondage
Debt bondage occurs when an individual is
pledged into slavery as collateral on a loan or to
pay a debt. Sometimes parents will pledge their
children or the entire family into debt bondage.
It is nearly impossible to pay off debt because
additional debt is constantly accrued through
additional expenses, such as food and lodging.
Chattel Slavery
Chattel slavery is the most widely documented,
historic form of slavery.
their
Chattel slaves are legally viewed as personal
property that can be sold and traded by
master.
Religious Slavery
sold or
Religious slavery refers to when children are
given to temple gods and priests.
This still occurs today in parts of Africa (such as
Ghana) and India.
Effect on Children
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Health: child slaves are easily replaced; it is more
expensive to nurse a sick child to health than to buy a
new slave. Consequently, children rarely get medical or
psychological attention if needed.
Education: child slaves are often denied access to
education. Thus, even if they escape slavery, they do
not have the skills necessary for higher-paying jobs.
Family Ties: child slaves are often
separated from their families.
Even if these children escape from
slavery, their families still may not
welcome them home.
Why Does It Exist?
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Poverty: Children who live in extreme poverty are most
susceptible to enslavement.
Tradition: Some parents view their children as property
over which they have the right to control.
Control: Children are attractive slaves because they
are easier than adults to manipulate and control.
Cheap and Replaceable: The average slave today
costs less than $100. Overpopulation in some regions
mean there is an abundant supply of children who are
available as slaves.
Physical Size: Because they are smaller than adults,
child slaves are more desirable for certain tasks such as
weaving rugs and picking cocoa.