"They are. There is no freedom in starvation and no virtue in being forced to bestial ignorance. When Scrooge expresses his concern for Tiny Tim, the ghost informs him that Tiny Tim will die unless something changes. Are there no workhouses?" "Are there no prisons, no workhouses for the poor?" "And the Union workhouses?" "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. said Scrooge. demanded Scrooge. Back to video One recent victim of this approach was a 53-year-old homeless woman struggling with addiction, sentenced to … What did scrooge really mean when he said," Are there no prisons?". "Are there no prisons?" Scrooge says, “But have they no refuge, no resource?” The ghost echoes Scrooge’s earlier harsh words: “Are there no prisons? Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not." This quote demonstrates Scrooge's lack of compassion for the less fortunate. You do not know the weight and length of strong chain you bear yourself! “Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. Robyn Pennacchia. asked Scrooge. "Then the poor should die and decrease the surplus population." Source. Indeed, it is growing more relevant than at any time in the past century. "Are they still in operation?" December 19, 2020 01:30 PM. A starving child needs food. "Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. "The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" "Are they still in operation?" Are there no workhouses? It's fair to say that this is going to be a really difficult holiday season for many, many families across the country. A situation when two gentlemen came to scrooge to make him contribute some money in the festive season of christmas. He then uses Scrooge’s own words about “ decreasing the surplus population ” against him. asked Scrooge. 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. An ignorant child needs a school. demanded Scrooge. Taken from the following passage in Stave 3 (The Second Of The Three Spirits) of A Christmas Carol: Are there no workhouses?” Marley’s Ghost: “Ah! ‘ The spirit once again quotes Scrooge, who asks if the grotesque children have ‘no refuge, no resource,‘ and the spirit retorts with more of Scrooge’s unkind words: ‘Are there no prisons? "They are. "And the Union workhouses?" Are there no prisons are there no workhouses?Jul 4, 2019Ebenezer : But have they no refuge, no resource? There is a reason his voice is still relevant today. Republicans Right On Schedule With The 'Are There No Workhouses?' "Are there no prisons?" This quote suggests Scrooge thinks poverty is a crime. "The Treadmill and … Are there no workhouses?‘. "A lonely boy was sat reading near a feeble fire". Spiels Class War. When they told scrooge that hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, Srooge directly asked this question!