Theme Of Ignorance In A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens

The character of ignorance and want are personified as two hideous children that Scrooge points out beneath the robe of the Christmas present. The ghost of Christmas present tells Scrooge to be aware of these two creature that are made by the man kind, especially ignorance. Dickens uses these two children to represent the poor in the Victorian era.

Dickens uses the girl "Ignorance" to symbolize the the ignorant attitude to the wealthy class toward the poor. Ignoring the problems faced by the poor created even more of social problems than there already was. people ignored the problems the poor faced such as not being educated enough and not being able to get a job that earns a good amount.This was the main reasons there was poverty in Victorian London. Furthermore the boy "want" symbolizes the the thing people need such as food, clothes or shelter. However the poor can not achieve their "want" if they are not educated and does not earn enough cause of the job they have. …show more content…
Dickens use of the metaphor "where angles might have sat enthroned, devils lurked,and glared out menacing.", emphasizes the fact that where children should enjoy life and be full of innocence despite this the poor children actually are more likely to be in the workhouses and not be educated.the use of the noun "angel" has religious connotation to purity and kindness. on the contrary the noun "devils" refer to the most powerful evil spirit and has a negative religious connotation to unholiness and heinousness.Dickens stating there are Devils where angels should be suggests the reader that the poor were unholy and usually does wicked acts. Moreover in the Victorian era poor were thought to be lazy and not work hard enough therefore the wealthy class came to the conclusion that the poor had a high rate in theft. In addition the girls would also pursue a career in being a