To pile on the pathos, we are introduced the pompous Alderman Cute, who thinks nothing of poking fun at Trotty's situation and stealing his scant food, as he shows off to his two companions, Mr. Filer, a rigid political economist and another overly nostalgic, "red-faced gentleman in a blue coat", who bemoans, Through these visions, Trotty witnesses the devastating consequences of societal injustices and the plight of the poor and downtrodden. The goblins attempt to shake Trotty's faith in humanity further, but he ultimately resists their influence and clings to hope and compassion. Even though this tale was a dark one, it had so much to say about how we view those less fortunate than ourselves. So often we forget to view people who have fallen on hard times as just that: people. They are no different than us except in the fact that they have to struggle more to obtain less than we’ve been blessed with. And as I stated earlier, there was a happy ending, which I was thankful for; because even in the midst of darkness and pain, there should always be hope. Isn’t that the promise that a new year brings? arm’s-length, and looking in her face imploringly.‘The worst of all, the worst of all! Strike me old,

The novel's setting is contemporary and the 1840s (the " Hungry Forties") were a time of social and political unrest.

CHAPTER I—First Quarter.

Gates, Barbara T. Mad Crimes and Sad Histories Chapter 3 at VictorianWeb" . Retrieved 13 February 2008. During the night, Trotty has a dream that the Chimes call to him and they are actually goblins that are very disappointed in him for losing faith in humanity. They tell Trotty he is dead and he must learn about the true nature of humankind by watching his daughter's life unfold. Trotty is once again convinced that people are indeed innately good and circumstances drive them to desperation and the poor are not a plague on society and they do have a right to exist. He also learns that poor like their "betters" are constantly trying to improve their lives... just like Trotty did during his life. Yet, the poor seem to always be fighting a losing battle because of the structure of society. As the bells of a nearby church, known as the chimes, start to ring, Trotty is drawn to their magical sound. He climbs up to the bell tower, where he encounters a group of goblins who personify the bells and take him on a surreal journey. These goblins present Trotty with visions of potential futures that may occur in the lives of people he knows, including his daughter Meg. Christmas Eve" ( Noch pered Rozhdestvom, 1832) by Nikolai Gogol (from Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka) Heaven preserve us, sitting snugly round the fire! It has an awful voice, that wind at Midnight, singing in a church!"

So may the New Year be a happy one to you, happy to many more whose happiness depends on you! So may each year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of our brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, in what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy." The final words of The Chimes seem fitting So may the New Year be a happy one to you, happy to many more whose happiness depends on you! So may each year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of our brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, in what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy. After trying in vain to help a couple of poor people who are in trouble, Trotty reads of a woman who killed her child and herself, and finds himself concluding that impoverished people like himself are, as he puts it, “Unnatural and cruel! None but people who were bad at heart, born bad, who had no business on the Earth, could do such deeds….We’re Bad!” (p. 54)

Trotty loves the church chimes and he and Meg feel the chimes have always been their constant friend. The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man". The little book is now, as far as I am concerned, all ready. One cut of Doyle's and one of Leech's I found so unlike my ideas, that I had them both to breakfast with me this morning, and with that winning manner which you know of, got them with the highest good humour to do both afresh. They are now hard at it. Stanfield's readiness, delight, wonder at my being pleased with what he has done is delicious. Mac's frontispiece is charming. The book is quite splendid; the expenses will be very great, I have no doubt."

Things get worse and worse for Meg, until she finds herself standing at the edge of the river, preparing to throw herself and her baby into the cold waters below. At that point, like Ebenezer Scrooge with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Trotty begs the Spirits to relent, saying, “I know that we must trust and hope, and neither doubt ourselves, nor doubt the good in one another” (p. 106). And the manner in which the story resolves itself may seem somewhat familiar to readers of A Christmas Carol. He is also told to try to improve conditions in the here and now, not to sorrowfully remember a fictitiously "better" time in years past. Twas the Night Before Christmas: Edited by Santa Claus for the Benefit of Children of the 21st Century" (2012) being Pamela McColl "smoke-free" edit of Clement Clarke Moore's poem I know there is a sea of Time to rise one day, before which all who wrong us or oppress us will be swept away like leaves. I see it, on the flow! I know that we must trust and hope, and neither doubt ourselves, nor doubt the good in one another."Will Fern is in and out of prison, unable to abide by petty laws. He turns up during the annual New Year's Day Banquet and turns on Sir Joseph Bowley, hailed as "the Poor Man's Friend". Will gives an impassioned lengthy speech, detailing the unfairness and inevitability of his life, and against the treatment of the working classes, observed Sir Joseph, glancing at the poor man present.‘As such I may be taunted. As such I have been On New Year's Eve, Trotty, Meg and Richard have an encounter with some arrogant terrible men who are a higher social class than Trotty & co. These men make Trotty, Meg and Richard feel like they do not have a right to exist because they are so poor and a burden on society. Their words to Trotty and Meg just boiled my blood!