Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." `Plenty of prisons,' said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. Read this extract from A Christmas Carol and answer questions 1-3 below. "And the Union workhouses?" I have to agree. “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. For one, it’s still culturally and politically relevant to the world we live in today, but more importantly the writing is exquisite. 19 Are there no prisons? “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. I Do My Bit; Evil Democrats Push Awful Programs; ... and do not reflect views of my employers, the United Federation of Teachers, or any UFT union caucus. . We can see that Scrooge has gone through a huge amount of redemption, directly contrasting to his words in Stave 1 to the charity collectors "are there no workhouses?" "Are there no prisons?" Despite coming from a poor background, Scrooge has no desire to help poor people which shows his brutality and how his greed forces him to behave paranoid as to never become poor again. A character which also shows a negative attitude to poverty was Scrooge in the quote “are there no prisons?...and the union workhouses” this shows that Scrooge does not care about the poor nor what happens to them. asked Scrooge. & And the union workhouses Scrooge may feel as is he had done his bit by paying taxes to the state in order to support these organisations. And the Union workhouses? "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. "Are they still in operation?" At a time when we’re talking about making sure that children don’t go… This is an example of a person from a higher class casting a metaphorical shadow on someone in a lower class. This content was created by a Daily Kos Community member. Scrooge-"Are there no prisons?" "I help to support the establishments I have mentioned--they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."' A situation when two gentlemen came to scrooge to make him contribute some money in the festive season of christmas. Mind! "Are there no prisons?" While it sounds like the ravings of a pure sociopath in the 21 st century, we miss the depth of commentary that would have attended audiences of the cognoscenti of the late 18 th and early 19 th century. He actually says that, if … “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. Scrooge-"And the Union workhouses." The UK had poorhouses, also called workhouses in the 1700's and early 1800's. asked Scrooge. I have to agree. "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" There are a number of excellent reasons. "Are they still in operation?" `The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?' "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." When they told scrooge that hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, Srooge directly asked this question! Are they still open? The rhetorical questions “Are there no prisons?” “And union workhouses?” are used to show where Scrooge believes the poor people belong, suggesting that he believes his status suggests that poverty is not directly relevant to him, and that nothing to do with the poor matters. (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication. He is attempting to justify not providing them with a donation to help the poor. Note the yards for men, women & children "They are. The Cratchit's Christmas Dinner People often ask me why we still teach Dickens. 2.1. "Are they still in operation?" "Are they still in operation?" Are there no workhouses? Are they still in operation? “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. demanded Scrooge. What happens when Scrooge came to his front door? Jacob Marley: I wear the chain I forged in life! "Are there no prisons?" “Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts” is a quotation from A Christmas Carol . demanded Scrooge. "And the Union workhouses?" Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. demanded Scrooge. These passages from Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" seem particularly relevant right now... "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" Mar 11, 2010 “They were a boy and a girl. As nouns the difference between prison and workhouse is that prison is a place of long-term confinement for those convicted of serious crimes, or otherwise considered undesirable by the government while workhouse is (label) formerly, an institution for the poor homeless, funded by the local parish where the able-bodied were required to work (w). “And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. This statement shows that Scrooge would rather let the poor suffer than donate a little bit of money to people it could help.Christmas time is for helping others out and instead Scrooge snaps at everyone who tells him “Merry Christmas” and to those who are just asking for a small donation. "Are there no prisons?" “And the Union Workhouses?” demanded Scrooge.“Are they still in operation?” “They are. Are there no workhouses? There are numerous versions of A Christmas Carol, but many agree that the 1951 film, starring Alistair Sim as mean miser Ebenezer Scrooge, is the definitive one. The workhouses were like Nazi Germany concentration camps, 100 years earlier, or like USSR labor camps in the 20th century. "And the Union workhouses?" said Scrooge. said Scrooge. "Plenty of prisons..." Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.” "Are they still in operation?" “And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. Are There No Prisons? "And the Union workhouses?" 'Are there no workhouses?'" “Are there no prisons?” he asks. said Scrooge. In this beloved Charles Dickens story, Scrooge is visited by a group of ghosts on Christmas Eve and is forever changed. Dickens' father was sent to a debtors prison because he was in debt. said Scrooge. “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. "They are. “And the Union workhouses? Scrooge suggests that the poor go to the Union workhouses, or to the Treadmill , or that they be taken care of by the Poor Law. & And the union workhouses Scrooge may feel as is he had done his bit by paying taxes to the state in order to support these organisations. This is an example of a person from a higher class casting a metaphorical shadow on someone in a lower class. and "are there no prisons?". I have to agree. No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle... Scrooge stave 1 - poverty - the poor. “Are they still in operation?” “They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." Are they still in operation? “Are there no prisons?” “And union workhouses, are they still in operation?” Mystic54 Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.) … The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigor, then?” Without context, there is much that we fail to understand. Are There No Workhouses? "They are. Daily Kos moves in solidarity with the Black community. "Are there no prisons?" “And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. Copyright © 1999 - 2021 GradeSaver LLC. "Are they still in operation?" Are there no workhouses? First Collector : At this festive time of year, Mr. Scrooge, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute. "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. He is saying he gives enough money to places like 'prisons' and 'workhouses' and he says that he refuses to give out any more money because the places he mentioned 'cost enough' as it is. Scrooge stave 1 - poverty - beggars. They were constructed to overawe… "Both very busy, sir..." There is a reason his voice is still relevant today. Not affiliated with Harvard College. What happens when Scrooge came to his front door? In this beloved Charles Dickens story, Scrooge is visited by a group of ghosts on Christmas Eve and is forever changed. And people had turned a blind eye because supposedly there were “services.” When two men ask Scrooge for money, he replies: “Are there no prisons? He expects all poor people to work to earn money just as he did. Confronting Scrooge (and us) with ignorance and want in the guise of two wretched children, Dickens does not offer as a solution prisons and workhouses, joyless instruction and punishment by bureaucracy. If they would rather die, they had better do … demanded Scrooge. The rhetorical questions “Are there no prisons?” “And union workhouses?” are used to show where Scrooge believes the poor people belong, suggesting that he believes his status suggests that poverty is not directly relevant to him, and that nothing to do with the poor matters. There are numerous versions of A Christmas Carol, but many agree that the 1951 film, starring Alistair Sim as mean miser Ebenezer Scrooge, is the definitive one. Stories herein containing unnamed or invented characters are works of fiction. Are there no prisons? "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. `They are. ...And the Union workhouses are they still in operation? `And the Union workhouses?' “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. "They are. I gartered it on … asked Scrooge. Who is the spirit quoting? Scrooge suggests that the poor go to the Union workhouses, or to the Treadmill , or that they be taken care of by the Poor Law. When they told scrooge that hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, Srooge directly asked this question! said Scrooge. “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. `Are they still in operation?' it also shows Scrooge’s cold hearted ness and carelessness towards others despite not knowin them. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir." I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. Workhouses have become one of the totemic symbols of poor relief in the nineteenth century. Still,' returned the gentleman, `I wish I could say they were not.' demanded Scrooge. “If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population” is a quotation from A Christmas Carol . () are the no prisons? I made it link by link and yard by yard! A plan of a workhouse for 200 inmates A type of workhouse sometimes seen in rural areas. Marley was dead: to begin with. "They are. "And the Union workhouses?" “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. 2.1. "And the Union workhouses?" Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." () are the no prisons? “Are they still in operation?” “They are. Are there no prisons? asked Scrooge. Get an answer for 'In stave 3, Dickens writes, "'Are there no prisons?' said Scrooge. There is no doubt whatever about that. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.” CHARLES DICKENS - “A Christmas Carol” "Are they still in operation?" A situation when two gentlemen came to scrooge to make him contribute some money in the festive season of christmas. Indeed, it is growing more relevant than at any time in the past century. Those who lived there had to work there, but many were old, sick and disabled, and could not. "At this festive season of the year, Mr Scrooge, ... it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Spirit of Christmas Present : [quoting Scrooge] Are there no prisons? "Are there no prisons?" This week, in the second of our blogs on historic abuse in workhouses, Natalie Carter explores what the Poor Law Commissioners' correspondence reveals about the sexual abuse and exploitation of women paupers by workhouse officials. "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. Of course these people have done nothing wrong; scrooge just wants the poor out of his sight. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" demanded Scrooge. Scrooge stave 1 - poverty - prisons. I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. “Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. What did scrooge really mean when he said," Are there no prisons?". A character which also shows a negative attitude to poverty was Scrooge in the quote “are there no prisons?...and the union workhouses” this shows that Scrooge does not care about the poor nor what happens to them. Are there no Union workhouses” (Dickens 10). ), “Are there no prisons?” “And union workhouses, are they still in operation?”, Ways to get involved in the 2020 Election. asked Scrooge. I have to agree. Read this extract from A Christmas Carol and answer questions 1-3 below. “And the Union workhouses? The rhetorical questions “Are there no prisons?” “And union workhouses?” are used to show where Scrooge believes the poor people belong, suggesting that he believes his status suggests that poverty is not directly relevant to him, and that nothing to do with the poor matters. “And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. And the Union workhouses? demanded Scrooge. asked Scrooge. Scrooge thinks that prisons are a good place to send the poor and destitute. In Washington, inmates earn $0.36 an hour working for private industry , and up to $2.70 an hour working for state-owned industries. Scrooge- "If they would rather die,"  "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. As a verb prison "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" "Those who are badly off must go there." "They are. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility… a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. ", Sign and send the petition: Thank Democrats for passing historic COVID relief, Sign and send the petition: Demand the Senate pass the For the People Act and rebuild our democracy, Sign and send the petition: End the filibuster to restore democracy. Prisons have also become workhouses, paying inmates paltry wages for work while incarcerated. "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" "Many can't go there; and many would rather die." "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. Prisons in Victorian times were for people in debt and could not pay. asked Scrooge. `Are there no prisons?' Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.” The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” After hearing these are still active, he complains, “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.” “Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge. 19 Are there no prisons? Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. This chilling recommendation by Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol is spoken of the “poor” in his encounter with the gentlemen from the charitable society. The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” After hearing these are still active, he complains, “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.” “Are there no prisons?” he asks.