Before the spirits visit Scrooge, he is busily working when men stop by to collect charity for the poor. Scrooge dismisses their efforts and refuses to contribute to the cause, telling the men that he cannot afford to make "idle people merry." Scrooge believes that the poor deserve their situation, assuming that they refuse to work hard. He tells the men that he already pays for them to be contained in "prisons" and "workhouses," and he refuses to contribute anything more.
Tiny Tim breaks through Scrooge's cold and indifferent heart and stirs within him feelings of true empathy. In this young boy, Scrooge sees the real face of poverty, and it conflicts with the stereotypes he has previously held. This innocent and thoughtful child clearly doesn't deserve the fate of prisons or workhouses, and Scrooge's attitude is transformed by observing the way Tiny Tim interacts with his father and his family.
When Scrooge asks the spirit whether Tiny Tim will live, he learns that the little chair in...
(The entire section contains 5 answers and 1095 words.)
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