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Dickens' Social Commentary: Essay on Scrooge & Workhouses

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STAVE 1
I find this very interesting because Dickens shows us that Scrooge doesn't care about his
clerk. So far, I think Dickens does a wonderful job of describing what is happening instead of
just telling the reader. Dickens also is telling you that Scrooge is selfish because he keeps the
coal in his room and does not share it with his clerk.
This is a very good way to show the reader what type of person Scrooge is. It is way to say
that no matter what is going on in his life, he will not be changed. I think this helps the story
because we all know that Scrooge does eventually change his ways, but it takes a lot to get
him to change.
When Scrooge's nephew invites him to dinner, he says he'd "see him in that
extremity," which is a funny way of saying he'd rather see his nephew dead than go
to his Christmas dinner. This shows how much Scrooge hates Christmas and family
meetings. Dickens uses this interesting way to show the readers just how nasty and
mean Scrooge really is.
"A Walk In A Workhouse" by Charles Dickens.
Dickens compares being poor to a dragon, but a weak and with no teeth. I believe he
is saying that the workhouses have made being poor ok or less scary. The
workhouses has help the poor by kind of protecting them. However, it's also hurt
poor people in a different way. By trying to control them, the system has taken away
the pride and power from the poor people, made them feel less human.
A person living in a workhouse says they want more bread. This short sentence tells us a lot
about how bad life was in these places. By talking about something as simple as bread, we
can see that people there didn't even have enough food to eat. It shows that workhouses
weren't taking good care of poor people. Dickens wants the readers to feel sorry for people
who had to live like this. He is trying to make his readers understand and care about how
tough life was for poor people in workhouses.
STAVE 2-3
At this point there is a lot of sitting and waiting at this moment for Scrooge. I think Dickens
uses this to build up the anticipation like a scary movie does today. Scrooge is almost
just sitting and watching the clock. He is just focused on the chimes, listening to it and it all
feels quite tense. Scrooge is in thought about the Marley's ghost who is bothering him quite
a bit he is perplexed and i like how they really make a point that Scrooge has no choice but
to confront Marley's. You can tell it really shook him to his core. Dickens really makes this
scene it feels scary and tense.
This was a very interesting way to explain what has happen in the past. They start
going through Scrooge’s past by traveling through time to show Scrooge what a
good person he once was. As Scrooge sees more from his past, he gets very
emotional and cries. These memories make him think about the choices he made in
life, making him feel both happy and sad. The ghost turns out to be really good at
helping Scrooge change. This is a big part of how Scrooge becomes a better person
in the end. Dickens does a good job in showing ways in how Scrooge was once
good.
Here I think Dickens is trying to show that the ghost it is showing Scrooge the
importance of cherishing the little things in life. Scrooge might have everything that money
can buy, but the Cratchit’s are happy just to get pudding. Bob Cratchit finds joy in everyday
things and is just happy to be with his family. Scrooge sees that Bob Cratchit can makes life
happy, even in tuff times. I think Scrooge is jealous of Bob Cratchit at this moment.
The Cry of the Children
This might be because they work in a workhouse like Dickens describe in "A Walk In A
Workhouse". They seem to be very tired and exhausted even though they are kids. It seems
to make the miserable and have no joy in life.
This shows how much the children were suffering from child labor. The upward might
mean God or it also could mean the people in power. To me it seems like a cry out
for help. It also feels like they have no control of the situation and have no hope for
help.
I believe this is saying that the children would rather be dead than alive. This poem is
so sad and hard to believe that these children can be so desperate. Browning is
saying that the Children need to find any happiness that they can in the miserable
situation that they are in. Sing and pluck meadows and get away from the mines and
the city.
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