The Ghost of Christmas Present, right at the end of his time with Ebenezer Scrooge, is revealed to have two children seeking shelter under his robe.
The boy is Ignorance and the girl is Want. They are hideous looking creatures. They are also MAN's children.
Want is what you'd expect: needs unfulfilled; hunger, not enough money, ragged clothing...anything that truly poor people will experience.
Ignorance is the determined lack of knowledge about such things as the needs of others. On Ignorance's brow is the word DOOM...it spells the destruction of man if he stubbornly refuses to help those in need or even to see that need. Ignorance reveals men who think that their duty is only to themselves; as though they have no moral obligation to use their own means to help others, to lend a helping hand, to be charitable and forgiving and loving and kind and compassionate.
They are important because, if man refuses to eradicate the one (Want) because they act like the other (Ignorance), then man is doomed to destruction. It's a warning and a prophecy. These two are leading to the downfall of man.
…..The spirit takes Scrooge to a number of other Christmas gatherings, including the festivities of an isolated community of miners and a party aboard a ship. He also takes Scrooge to Fred's Christmas party, where Scrooge looses himself in the numerous party games and has a wildly entertaining time, though none of the party guests can actually see him. As the night unfolds, the ghost grows older. At last, Scrooge and the ghost come to a vast and desolate expanse. Here, the ghost shows Scrooge a pair of starving children who travel with him beneath his robes--their names are Ignorance and Want. Scrooge inquires if nothing can be done to help them. Mockingly, the ghost quotes Scrooge's earlier retort, "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses ?".More…….
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The Ghost of Christmas Present, right at the end of his time with Ebenezer Scrooge, is revealed to have two children seeking shelter under his robe.
The boy is Ignorance and the girl is Want. They are hideous looking creatures. They are also MAN's children.
Want is what you'd expect: needs unfulfilled; hunger, not enough money, ragged clothing...anything that truly poor people will experience.
Ignorance is the determined lack of knowledge about such things as the needs of others. On Ignorance's brow is the word DOOM...it spells the destruction of man if he stubbornly refuses to help those in need or even to see that need. Ignorance reveals men who think that their duty is only to themselves; as though they have no moral obligation to use their own means to help others, to lend a helping hand, to be charitable and forgiving and loving and kind and compassionate.
They are important because, if man refuses to eradicate the one (Want) because they act like the other (Ignorance), then man is doomed to destruction. It's a warning and a prophecy. These two are leading to the downfall of man.
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…..The spirit takes Scrooge to a number of other Christmas gatherings, including the festivities of an isolated community of miners and a party aboard a ship. He also takes Scrooge to Fred's Christmas party, where Scrooge looses himself in the numerous party games and has a wildly entertaining time, though none of the party guests can actually see him. As the night unfolds, the ghost grows older. At last, Scrooge and the ghost come to a vast and desolate expanse. Here, the ghost shows Scrooge a pair of starving children who travel with him beneath his robes--their names are Ignorance and Want. Scrooge inquires if nothing can be done to help them. Mockingly, the ghost quotes Scrooge's earlier retort, "Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses ?".More…….
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