he was sent to a debtor's prison when he was 12, so he had to be put to work. Ignorance and want are writen from a place of experience. He emphatised with the poor.
When was it written?
1843
When was it set?
1834
What was significant about 1834?
1834 New Poor Law-Law which stated that if you are poor and can't look after yourself the government can help you as long as you were sent to a workhouse to work for free. Terrible conditions, Dickens saw it as a punishement & very critical.
Who is Thomas Malthus?
Economist who came up with a harsh theory. Blamed overpopulatipon for poverty, claimed that disease + pandemics are good for us because they kill off a number of us and reduce overpopulation. Dickens was very critical, saw it as insesitive, almost saying poor deserve to die, takes pressure alway from government to help the poor.
What was the Industrial Revolution?
A period of rapid industrialization and technological advancements in the 18th and 19th centuries. Dickens thought it created an even worse social divide, rich exploited the poor to become richer.
