ACC context Flashcards
(10 cards)
Industrial revolution
- brought significant changes, often worsening living and working conditions
- huge economic and social changes and had a large impact on peoples lives
- manual labour to machine-driven intensive labour which was often very dangerous
- increased gap between upper and lower class
- child labour became commonplace in factories
Poor laws
- Poor Law Amendment Act was passed by Parliament in 1834 which largely prevented money from going directly to the poor
- It established workhouse system rather than being a refuge for the poor, sick or elderly (similar to the prison system).
Working conditions linked to ACC
Scrooge is symbolic of a Capitalism system which Dickens believed denied others from access to wealth and opportunity. He is a self-centred business man who doesn’t care about his workers as shown in stave 1 where Bob Cratchit is scared of him. Dickens contrasts this when Scrooge worked for Fezziwig.
Attitudes towards the poor linked to ACC
Scrooge shows his appreciation of the workhouse system when he refuses to give to the charity man and goes on to say “are there no prisons, are there no workhouses”. This shows the average upper class ignorance to help others.
Personal redemption linked to ACC
Ideas about redemption and salvation are shown throughout the novel. Marley’s ghost and the 3 ghosts help Scrooge save himself and at the end Scrooge’s transformation is seen as benevolent.
Christian attitudes towards the afterlife linked to ACC
Marley is symbolic of the normal christian beliefs about the afterlife, he isn’t in heaven or hell rather purgatory where he must repent for all of his sins from when he was alive.
Christmas spirit linked to ACC
Ghost of Christmas present is viewed as a personification of Christmas spirit and represents everything that is positive about Christmas as he is cheerful, giving and jovial.
Centrality of family linked to ACC
Importance of family is shown through the Cratchits and Fred’s family. However Scrooge is depicted as alone, but this changes at the end of the novella.
Child morality linked to ACC
Dickens presents the image of death as the problem caused by the capitalists of society. The consequence of the system is showed through Tiny Tim who is going to potentially die. As Bob Cratchit doesn’t earn enough due to Scrooge’s ignorance he cannot afford to pay for his dying son. This highlights the average child morality at the time.
Love and marriage linked to ACC
Scrooge wonders why Fred his nephew got married. Scrooge’s ideas about marriage stem from his last relationship will belle.
