Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

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Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell

The story of "Down And Out In Paris And London" deals with the author's

experience with tramps and the poverty stricken in Paris and London in the

1920's. He lives with them on equal terms and suffers the same hardships and

tribulations.

Orwell shows great compassion for the plight of the poor and feels that

society is very unfair in their criticism and judgment of the tramps and beggars

that roam the streets. He feels that these people are victims of their

circumstances. To be belligerent towards tramps is no fairer than to be that way

towards invalids and the handicapped, in that they are that way not because they

want to be, but because of their circumstances. In this essay we will explore

the characteristics and personality of a person who lives below the poverty line.

Through the author we get a very keen insight into this area of human

experience.

Orwell feels that beggars and tramps have unfair labels and stereotypes

attached to them. For example, most people think of tramps as being dangerous.

About that Orwell says:

"Quite apart from experience, one can say a priori that very few tramps are

dangerous, because if they were dangerous they would be treated accordingly. A

casual ward will often admit a hundred tramps in one night, and these are

handled by a staff of at most three porters. A hundred ruffians could not be

controlled by three unarmed men. Indeed, when one sees how ramps let the...

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