Social Darwinism in society was established during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. During this time period Charles Darwin believed that people or living species competed with each other or to survive within their environment that was suitable for them. When one survives then that is the environment or society they belong too. Charles Dickens wrote the novel A Christmas Carol, in the 19th century and was inspired by the circumstances London was experiencing during this time. Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol; in response toward how social norms set people apart, as far as lower class or upper class, in society. Likewise, Charles Darwin’s book The Origin of Species, points out the importance of equality among all living breeds. The theory of
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When these two theories emerged, sociologists and psychologists termed “Social Darwinism.” Social Darwinism, explains that the only people who are fit enough to live in a society belong there, thus if one was upper class in the early 19th century, they were the fittest and belonged on …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, the reader views’ Scrooge as a very hateful cold person, who does not like Christmas because it is a time of the year people want handouts for the needy. Being the heartless wrench that he is he tells two gentlemen who want money for the needy “If they would rather die they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population” (Dickens 16). This quote will later come back to haunt Scrooge when he is introduced to Tiny Tim by the second spirit. Another example, of the survival of the fittest theory, is when Scrooge displays his coldness to his nephew, who stops by to visit him, on Christmas Eve by saying, “What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough” (Dickens 13). He is telling his nephew here that there is no way you can be happy because you are poor. In return the nephew tells his uncle: “What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough” (Dickens 13) making Scrooge speechless. Because Scrooge lived part of his life as being good hearted and lively as a young man and the other part as being, cold hearted and lonely, was why the three spirits visited him, in hopes to give him a second chance at a better full filled
When these two theories emerged, sociologists and psychologists termed “Social Darwinism.” Social Darwinism, explains that the only people who are fit enough to live in a society belong there, thus if one was upper class in the early 19th century, they were the fittest and belonged on …show more content…
In the beginning of the novel, the reader views’ Scrooge as a very hateful cold person, who does not like Christmas because it is a time of the year people want handouts for the needy. Being the heartless wrench that he is he tells two gentlemen who want money for the needy “If they would rather die they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population” (Dickens 16). This quote will later come back to haunt Scrooge when he is introduced to Tiny Tim by the second spirit. Another example, of the survival of the fittest theory, is when Scrooge displays his coldness to his nephew, who stops by to visit him, on Christmas Eve by saying, “What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough” (Dickens 13). He is telling his nephew here that there is no way you can be happy because you are poor. In return the nephew tells his uncle: “What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough” (Dickens 13) making Scrooge speechless. Because Scrooge lived part of his life as being good hearted and lively as a young man and the other part as being, cold hearted and lonely, was why the three spirits visited him, in hopes to give him a second chance at a better full filled