What do ignorance and want symbolize in the Christmas carol?

Answer 1

The "Want" is the desperate need of the poor who across Britain of that time were malnourished and starving. The ignorance was the attitude of the Parliament and the industrialists of the time that ignored the terrible state of the people who were considered poor - Indeed on parliamentarian stated that the poverty that was all around at that time "was grossly exaggerated ".

Answer 2

They are the two children hiding under the cloak of the Ghost of Christmas Present. The two dirty, scared, malnourished children in rags embody the two roots of all social evils - as seen by Dickens.

Answer 3

These are the names of two children reveled from beneath the robe of the ghost of Christmas present. Scrooge wants to know whose children they are and is told " they are of mans making". Scrooge is told that the boy is ignorance and the girl is want. But scrooge should be very aware of the boy (ignorance) when scrooge sees their pitiful form, malnourished painfully thin and ragged Scrooge asks "do they have no one to care for them, have they no resource? He is rounded on by the ghost who bellows " are there no prison, are there no work houses?". This was to make scrooge see that there was a huge level of want all around him and his ignorance blinded him to the level of desperate deprivation around him. It was also a message about society's view of the poor. Many were starving, no work, sickness was rife and those who had the money and power to make changes were ignorant to the level of want

Answer 4

The want is represented by a girl child and symbolises the poverty and suffering of the time the ignorance is represented by a boy child and this is used to highlight the fact that those who had money preferred not to know that people were starving to death in the streets of London at the time

Answer 5

Ignorance and Want symbolize the consequences of society's neglect and indifference towards the less fortunate. They represent poverty, suffering, and the need for compassion and help for those in need. Dickens uses them to emphasize the importance of addressing social issues and showing goodwill towards others.

Answer 6

The each symbolise the vast amount of want by the poor and the ignorance of those who had the power to alleviate that level of poverty

Answer 7

Want & Ignorance represent the poor.