A Christmas Carol

The Victorian Era Elements Evidences in A Christmas Carol The fantastical tale of Ebeneezer Scrooge and his transformation from a miser to

a philanthropist is a multi-layered story that provides the reader an opportunity for varied

learnings. The timeless Christmas story crafted by Charles Dickens is set in the Victorian

Era and illuminates different aspects of this era. This paper will identify and describe in

detail the realities of life for workhouses, Christmas traditions and the poor and the rich in the

Victorian Era evidenced in A Christmas Carol.

When you think of the Victorian Era, you may picture a happy and jolly place for

everyone or even when ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens was created. But was this

The work they were forced to do was

cruel and harsh. They had to work for shelter and food, the food was terrible and was the same

everyday. It did not matter whether you were a child, woman, man, or even an elder, you had the

same job. This was not all, they also were forced to wear a uniform. This was for everyone to

look the same therefore everyone outside to acknowledge them that they were poor and that they lived in workhouses.

A Christmas Carol has shown us a timeless story full of magic and excitement.

But has that all given us ideas of Christmas traditions? Act One of Scene Two reads,” There are

many things from which I have derived good, by which I have not profited, I daresay.

Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time when it

has come round-as a good time: the only time I know of when men and women seem to open

their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were creatures

bound on other journeys. And therefore, Uncle, though it has never put me a scrap of gold or

silver in my pocket, I believe it has done me good, and that it will do me good; and I say,

Queen Victoria popularized Christmas traditions, her family was pictured in a

newspaper article with a decorated tree, Christmas decorations, and gifts.

Shortly after that, everyone had a decorated tree, decorations, and presents, similar to Queen

Victoria’s. A grand family dinner, caroling, Christmas cards, and giving to charity soon became

part of Christmas traditions.

Children’s lives in the Victorian era weren’t always happy and joyful as many might’ve

thought it was. Scene Two of Act Two reads, “Who are they? They are Man’s children, and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. The boy is Ignorance; the girl is Want. Beware them

both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for I see that written in his brow

which is doom, unless the writing is erased. Have they no refuge or resource? Are there no

prisons? Are there no workhouses?” ( page #638) This reveals the idea that they represent

humankind, especially society’s desertion of the poor and the consequences they will face

because of that decision. The children of the poor were the most affected, they were forced to

work as early as four years old. They worked in order to assist their large family for they