'A Christmas Carol': Dickens’ depictions of poverty and suffering

Dickens' detailed descriptions of the Cratchits and their belongings emphasise how they are living in abject poverty. He conveys the message 'money doesn't buy happiness' by showing how they value family time over material possessions. Dickens encourages his wealthy readers to show compassion by using the Cratchits to humanise poor people. Poor Victorians lived in cramped conditions and endured awful working conditions to avoid debtors prisons or workhouses. There was a lot of social stigma around poverty; many believed poor Victorians were lazy, stupid or morally inferior.