Context

• What does Victorian Society illustrate about social hierarchy?

  • A stark divide between the wealthy elite and the poor
  • The rich lived in comfort, the poor in squalor
  • Dickens uses characters like Scrooge to symbolize this divide
• What does Dickens use to symbolize the upper class's callousness?

  Characters like Scrooge
• How do Eva Smith and Tiny Tim reflect Victorian class divide?

  They illustrate the suffering of the poor
• What is the definition of a plutocracy?

  • A society ruled by the wealthy
  • Wealth dictates power and political decisions
  • Often neglects social welfare
• How does Scrooge's view of money reflect plutocracy?

  He idolizes money and shows indifference
• What are the capitalist values in Dickens' era?

  • Prioritize profit and individual gain
  • Neglect communal welfare
  • Contrast with empathy and charity
• How does Dickens contrast capitalism with social responsibility?

  Through Scrooge's transformation from miser to benefactor
• What impact did the Industrial Revolution have on urban centers?

  • Created overcrowded urban centers
  • Significant social and economic problems
  • Reflected in Dickens' depiction of London
• How does Dickens depict the exploitation of the working class?

  Through the grim realities of urban poverty
• What were the Victorian values regarding religion and morality?

  • Deep religious faith and moral imperative
  • Emphasis on charity and redemption
  • Use of religious imagery in Dickens' work
• How does Dickens use religious imagery in his narratives?

  To promote moral reform among the wealthy
• What were workhouses meant to do in Victorian society?

  • Support the poor
  • Conditions were harsh and dehumanizing
  • Criticized by Dickens as symbols of social injustice
• How do Scrooge's views on workhouses change throughout the story?

  He initially dismisses their failures, then changes
• What shift occurred in attitudes towards social reform in the late Victorian period?

  • Growing movement for social reform
  • Increased philanthropy among the wealthy
  • Dickens' work serves as a model for change
• How does Scrooge's transformation serve as a blueprint for societal improvement?

  Through his donations and renewed relationships
• What was Dickens' purpose in writing A Christmas Carol?

  • To expose social injustice
  • Encourage moral reform in society
  • Critique the capitalist system
• How does Dickens reflect on the poverty and inequality of the Victorian era?

  Through critiques of capitalism and dehumanization
• What key terms should be used when discussing Dickens' social criticism?

  Plutocracy, capitalism, philanthropy