A Christmas Carol: Dickens's Is Trying to Change Victorian Society. How Does He Use the Ghosts to Do This in a Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol was written in 1843, by Charles Dickens also the author of “The Great Expectations” and “David Copperfield”. Before A Christmas Carol was published as a book, it was in a magazine, this way; Victorians could pay for it more easily. Dickens is best known for his contribution to English Literature. He wrote of the truth about the era, things such as bad-working conditions, child labour, union-houses, poor law, class divisions and poverty. He knew of all these, before he succeeded as a writer; he himself worked in a factory, in bad conditions at the age of nine. Unfortunately this was very common during this era. Dickens has used his novel to express his views on social society at this time.   This period was called “The Victorian Age”. It was named after the Queen Victoria, who at the time was the Queen of England. Her reign started from 1837 to 1901, a total of 64 years. During Victoria’s reign Britain saw a long period of prosperity, there was lots of factories and rapid growth. When the century began people were living in small villages. By the end of the century villages became large towns and Britain the most powerful country in Europe.   For the poor however it was a different story, they were wanting and slowly getting reform and change. They were at the bottom of society and ignored by the middle and upper class. They had the choice to work in Union Houses that were there to support the, poor, old and sick. However, there were many complaints about them, such as being too expensive to run. The poor didn’t like them either. They were made to wear a uniform to be noticed by the whole community. Upon arriving family members could be split up and made to live separately or with other families. There were no health and safety regulation and children were also made to work instead of receiving an education. If punished, they could be disallowed to see their family altogether. Gradually people feared going there, they were described to be like...