Importance of Kindness in Society

• Philanthropist


  A person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes
• Dickens was a philanthropist
• Dickens's advocacy for charitable acts and compassion towards the less fortunate


  • The novella reflects this
  • Dickens uses Scrooge's transformation to critique societal indifference towards the poor and marginalised
  • Dickens highlights the importance of human connection and empathy in an increasingly impersonal society amidst rapid industrialisation
• Dickens established Urania Cottage, a safe house for destitute girls and young women in mid-19th Century London
• Urania Cottage


  • Provided refuge for women ensnared in lives of prostitution and crime, offering them training for meaningful employment
  • Dickens's schooling was disrupted due to his family's financial struggles, which shaped his belief in the transformative power of education
• Dickens passionately supported Ragged Schools, charitable institutions established to educate destitute children
• Ragged Schools


  • Charitable institutions established to educate destitute children
  • Dickens viewed education as a vital tool in addressing societal issues such as poverty and crime, and advocated for accessible and quality education for all children, regardless of their social or economic backgrounds
• Scrooge is not following reason; he's following trauma. His mother died when he was young. He was sent to a boarding home where he and the other children were poorly fed. By the time he was brought back from exile to his home (which his sister said is 'like heaven'), the damage to his core personality was done.: 'Highlights Scrooge's early experiences of loss and deprivation, including the death of his mother and mistreatment at a boarding home'
• Scrooge's traumatic past


  His lack of kindness is rooted in unresolved emotional wounds
• Kind interactions


  Gradually chip away at Scrooge's hardened exterior, suggesting that kindness has the power to heal and transform even the most bitter individuals
• Dickens's portrayal of Scrooge's interactions with characters like Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim

  • Underscores the importance of societal responsibility towards the less fortunate
  • Critiques the indifference and exploitation prevalent in Victorian society, advocating for a more compassionate and unbiased social order
• True wealth lies not in material possessions, but in the relationships we cultivate and the kindness we show towards others
• The Industrial Revolution


  • Brought about profound economic and social changes, transforming agrarian societies into industrialised urban centres
  • ACC depicts the harsh realities of life in rapidly industrialising cities - crowded and unsanitary living conditions, exploitative labour practices, and widespread poverty
  • TIR widened the gap between the wealthy industrialists and the working-class population
• Dickens's writings


  Contribute to movements for social reform by raising awareness, generating public sympathy and calling for new laws