Theme Of What Right Have You Re Rich Enough By Scrooge

The theme social justice is important to the novella, because it shows the intended audience the way the rich and poor prefer to treat each other. For example, Scrooge’s hostility and Fred’s cheer shows social justice through this quote, “‘I do,’ said Scrooge. ‘Merry Christmas! what right have you to be merry?... You’re poor enough.’... ‘What right have you to be dismal?... You’re rich enough.’” (3) The juxtaposition in this quote shows the difference between social classes. There are two different sides put into one paragraph; the different feeling of the rich and poor. The novella does a wonderful job putting two opposing ideas into one paragraph, using the same format for different words. Although Scrooge saying to his nephew that he shouldn’t
be happy because he is poor, nevertheless his nephew contradicts him saying Scrooge has no right to be morose because he is rich. This conversation is showing that the poor can be happy, and the rich can be morose. The importance of this quote to the overall novella is that sometimes the rich are not happy just because they have money. The last quote that shows social justice in the story is, “‘I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer And therefore… I am about to raise your salary!” (67) There is juxtaposition because there are two opposing ideas; Scrooge being angry with Bob, then Scrooge raising Bob’s salary. The fact that Scrooge changes the poor man’s salary shows social justice. Undoubtedly, social justice is evident in these examples, which show not only how the rich and poor treat each other, but also how the rich can be changed by the poor.