A Christmas Carol Background
Meghan Ray
Charles Dickens
You may of heard about many of these greater known pieces of lterature. "Oliver Twist," David Copperfield" or even "A Tale of Two Cities". "A Christmas Carol" is a book that many people know about. Charles Dickens thought writing about the Christmas Carol was important because his latest book was not selling and was causing him financial troubles. This novel was also influenced by his visit to the industrial city of Manchester in 1843, where he saw the plight of the poor and felt that he needed to comment on the wide gap between them and the rich.
The Victorian Era
Dickens grew up in the Victorian era that began in 1837 and ended in 1901. The British empire covered about 1/5 of the Earth's land mass, and Queen Victoria ruled about 1/4 of the world's population. Within Britain, many great changes took place. Science made rapid strides. Literature and arts flourished. They became a land of mechanical and industrial activity.
Child Labor & Poverty
Many children around the ages of 9-13 worked in factories with harsh working conditions and long hours. The rapid development of large-scale manufacturing made it possible for kids to work in these factories. Poverty is one of the main reasons for children being put to work. Many had little to no money so they sent their children to go work for the extra money.
Industrialization
Industry gave rise to a new class- the Industrial Capitalists- but for the majority, people suffered from harsh working conditions. Pollution became a big problem because of the factories. Many people moved from their farms and into the cities to become manufacturers, which then lead to overpopulation.