Quote 7: “I can’t afford to make idle people merry” Flashcards
1
Q
“I can’t _____ to make ____ people ______”
A
“I can’t afford to make idle people merry”
2
Q
who said it and when? who did they say it to? what is it about?
A
Scrooge’s respond to the Portly gentlemen after their request for a charity donation
3
Q
5 key features:
A
- ironic: possesses means to aid poor yet chooses to exacerbate their plight. misplaced priorities.
- blunt: emphasises detachment from society & lack of social awareness.
- declarative statement: steadfast certainty that charity = futile
- “merry” conflates happiness w/ money; oblivious as to what genuine, unmaterialistic joy is
- degrading terminology: “idle” as synonym for poor, assuming that they are to blame for their condition
