In the spring of 1843, Charles Dickens read a government report on child labour in the United Kingdom. The report, compiled by a journalist friend of Charles Dickens, comprised of a series of interviews with working children. It detailed the long hours, crushing work, and poor conditions suffered by these children. The new and heartless […]
Dark Origins – A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens — Writing to be Read
roberta-writes.com 
Always a good reminder any time of the year.. And I left you a longer comment upon the complete post Robbie.. Have a wonderful family Christmas.. ❤
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Thank you, Sue.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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Excellent post. The wickedness of people seems to have no bounds. And pastors like Malthus are the worst among the evil people who make so many peoples lives miserable. It’s a bit of a non sequitur to say Merry Christmas after all that, but have a very merry non sequitur Christmas!
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HI Timothy, thank you and a Merry Christmas to you too. I was horrified by the words of Malthus, but it fits in with Dickens’ depictions of society during Victorian ages. It does serve as a reminder that the world has made a lot of progress in many countries with regards to labour law and human rights. It is not all doom and gloom despite the depressing news.
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And despite Malthus who was one of the greatest of all gloomer doomers. It’s sad old fools like him were taken seriously and had so much influence. I still run into people who totally believe in his mythology of overpopulation.
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What a dreadful thought to let people starve – shudder. I keep tins of meat in my car to give to beggars on the street. I feel dreadful to think of people being hungry.
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That’s good of you. It’s sad that people go hungry, mostly because of politics these days.
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An excellent post for the Christmas season. The pivotal scene for me was then Scrooge encountered Ignorance and Want:
“They are Man’s and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance and this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.” It is a call to action for all of us.
Merry Christmas Robbie – all the very best of this festive season to you and yours! Hugs!
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HI Rebecca, I have been thinking about Ignorance and Want a lot yesterday and today. I think that was intended to be a pivotal scene.
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I believe it was too, Robbie. It is a call to action for the reader. It may be easy to see the ignorance in others, but sometimes it is more difficult to identify our responses as needing more clarity and refinement. What I appreciate about your writing/blog posts is that you welcome all with kindness! Merry Christmas!
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I used to have a book called “The Annotated Mother Goose” which included all the background for nursery rhymes. It was a great book. I still have “The Annotated Alice in Wonderland” — another great one. These books keep going out of print, so I’m glad others are still writing in the same genre.
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HI Marilyn, There is information available about the origins of nursery rhymes and fairy tales but you do have to look for it. I hope you are having a Happy Holiday period.
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Well done, Robbie. Hugs on the wing.
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Thank you, Teagan.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you, Michael.
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Dickens is wonderful. Honestly i know so less about his work. Another topic i have to work within. I hope you had a nice Christmas celebrations, and will have a wonderful start of a hopefully very soon virusfree New Year! Best wishes, Michael
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Hi Michael, we are enjoying a lovely holiday and seeing lots of amazing sights which I’ll share on my return to blogging next weekend. Happy new year!
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I knew a little bit about Dickens and his reasons for writing about poverty. Can’t wait to read what you discovered, Robbie. Heading over.
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Dickens was a great man, Diana.
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Thanks for the link, Robbie — and the videos. I’ve always felt a dark undercurrent in Dickens and most other Victorian novels. You are right here. In this one it’s a lot more than just an undercurrent. Hugs on the wing.
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