Quote 8: “Decrease the surplus population”

Question 1

“______ the ______ population”

Answer 1

“Decrease the surplus population”

Question 2

who said it and when? who did they say it to? what is it about?

Answer 2

Scrooge’s respond to the Portly gentlemen after their request for a donation to charity

Question 3

5 key features:

Answer 3

• “rather”: indicates choice. presents them w/ ultimatum. highlights how detached he is from society.
• “die”: views death as viable option for poor
• “better do it”: overtones of threatening command/ an obligation.
• “decrease”: mathematical terminology. solely views poor as numbers in a likened manner to replicable cogs that he can exploits for monetary gain.
• “surplus”: overtones of Malthusian rhetoric. depicts poor as disposable (and excessive) objects. ironic given state of opulence that the wealthy possessed.