Therefore, two different depictions of the poor evolved. One was the picture painted by the upper class, a picture that portrayed the poor as lazy, idle, immoral, and worthless people that deserved the plight they were in because they were unwilling to work for success. However, the way the poor saw themselves were obviously contrary to this view. They believed they were honest, moral, hard-working people that were being victimized and oppressed by the immoral and heartless upper classes. The common theme that binds both images together is the fact that both attempt to use the ideal of morality to justify the image they wish to see. It is interesting to contrast the ideas that the upper classes had in regards to what constituted morality with the definition the lower classes had for the same word. In "A Christmas Carol- Dickens, though criticizing the upper classes, presents the view that many of the upper classes had about morality. Additionally, "Waiting for Godot- not only gives different perspective on the issue, but further addresses the importance in perspective when dealing with a term as subjective as morality.
Although Dickens uses the most selfish, greedy character he can envision as that of Ebeneezer Scrooge, he does an excellent job of adding the element of humanity to the character. Though the obvious message in the story is to discourage those that are selfish and insensitive to the plight of others, one can easily see the moral justifications Scrooge has for his actions prior to his reformation near the end of the story. Scrooge, unlike several other characters in the book, is a three-dimensional, dynamic character. Dickens does not portray him as a necessarily evil man, just one that has a different set of moral values. It is important to note that the story is not one of converting evil into good, as many religious texts do, but rather a story of shifting attitudes and a change in morals in what was once a very selfish man.
