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2 Feb 2023
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Ignorance and Want: Quotes, Analysis, and Victorian England
C
Chloe
@chloe006
The Symbolism of Ignorance and Want
Dickens continues to develop the allegorical representations of Ignorance and Want in this section, delving deeper into their symbolism and the consequences they represent for society.
The author uses religious imagery to contrast the children's appearance with what one might expect of angelic figures. He writes, "Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked and glared out menacing." This powerful comparison emphasizes how society has failed these children, stripping them of their youth, beauty, and innocence.
Quote: "But most of all beware the boy, for on his brow is written doom."
This ominous warning about Ignorance suggests that lack of education and awareness poses an even greater threat to society than poverty alone. Dickens implies that failing to address social inequalities will lead to disastrous consequences, including societal collapse and increased crime.
Example: The poverty cycle is illustrated through the description of these children, showing how lack of education and material deprivation can perpetuate social problems across generations.
The author's use of hyperbole in describing the potential outcomes serves to underscore the urgency of addressing these social issues. By presenting Ignorance and Want in such a stark and disturbing manner, Dickens aims to shock his readers into action, encouraging them to support education and poverty relief efforts in Victorian England.
Definition: Allegorical representations - the use of symbolic figures or actions to convey a broader, often moral or political, meaning in literature.
Through these powerful allegorical figures, Dickens critiques the social and political conditions of the Victorian Age, highlighting the vast disparities between the upper class and the impoverished. This extract serves as a poignant reminder of the author's commitment to social reform and his skillful use of literature as a tool for raising awareness about societal issues.
Allegorical Representations of Social Injustice
In this section of "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens introduces the allegorical figures of Ignorance and Want to represent the social injustices prevalent in Victorian England. These characters serve as powerful symbols of the devastating effects of poverty and lack of education on society's most vulnerable members.
The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals these figures to Scrooge, describing them in stark and disturbing terms. Dickens writes, "A stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds." This vivid imagery portrays the continuous and harmful impact of poverty on children.
Quote: "Wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable"
These adjectives are deliberately chosen by Dickens to shock the reader and evoke a strong emotional response. The author's use of structure is particularly effective here, as this scene follows a detailed account of cheerful Christmas festivities around London. The juxtaposition of these contrasting scenes creates a significant impact on the reader.
Highlight: Dickens' intention was to make his more affluent readers aware of their actions and encourage them to donate to charity.
The children are described as "yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish," emphasizing their malnourishment, poor hygiene, and lack of proper clothing. This dehumanizing description compares them to predatory animals rather than innocent children, further underscoring the severity of their condition.
Vocabulary: Meagre - lacking in quantity or quality
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Ignorance and Want: Quotes, Analysis, and Victorian England
C
Chloe
@chloe006
The Symbolism of Ignorance and Want
Dickens continues to develop the allegorical representations of Ignorance and Want in this section, delving deeper into their symbolism and the consequences they represent for society.
The author uses religious imagery to contrast the children's appearance with what one might expect of angelic figures. He writes, "Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked and glared out menacing." This powerful comparison emphasizes how society has failed these children, stripping them of their youth, beauty, and innocence.
Quote: "But most of all beware the boy, for on his brow is written doom."
This ominous warning about Ignorance suggests that lack of education and awareness poses an even greater threat to society than poverty alone. Dickens implies that failing to address social inequalities will lead to disastrous consequences, including societal collapse and increased crime.
Example: The poverty cycle is illustrated through the description of these children, showing how lack of education and material deprivation can perpetuate social problems across generations.
The author's use of hyperbole in describing the potential outcomes serves to underscore the urgency of addressing these social issues. By presenting Ignorance and Want in such a stark and disturbing manner, Dickens aims to shock his readers into action, encouraging them to support education and poverty relief efforts in Victorian England.
Definition: Allegorical representations - the use of symbolic figures or actions to convey a broader, often moral or political, meaning in literature.
Through these powerful allegorical figures, Dickens critiques the social and political conditions of the Victorian Age, highlighting the vast disparities between the upper class and the impoverished. This extract serves as a poignant reminder of the author's commitment to social reform and his skillful use of literature as a tool for raising awareness about societal issues.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Allegorical Representations of Social Injustice
In this section of "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens introduces the allegorical figures of Ignorance and Want to represent the social injustices prevalent in Victorian England. These characters serve as powerful symbols of the devastating effects of poverty and lack of education on society's most vulnerable members.
The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals these figures to Scrooge, describing them in stark and disturbing terms. Dickens writes, "A stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds." This vivid imagery portrays the continuous and harmful impact of poverty on children.
Quote: "Wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable"
These adjectives are deliberately chosen by Dickens to shock the reader and evoke a strong emotional response. The author's use of structure is particularly effective here, as this scene follows a detailed account of cheerful Christmas festivities around London. The juxtaposition of these contrasting scenes creates a significant impact on the reader.
Highlight: Dickens' intention was to make his more affluent readers aware of their actions and encourage them to donate to charity.
The children are described as "yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish," emphasizing their malnourishment, poor hygiene, and lack of proper clothing. This dehumanizing description compares them to predatory animals rather than innocent children, further underscoring the severity of their condition.
Vocabulary: Meagre - lacking in quantity or quality
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user