By the time that Ignorance and Want show up near the end of Stave Three, Scrooge has already seen many things that will help him to change his selfish, greedy ways. The Ghost of Christmas Past reminded him of his childhood loneliness and love for his sister, and the Ghost of Christmas Present has shown him how others, including Scrooge's nephew Fred, the Cratchits, and many others near and far keep and celebrate Christmas, whether their means are meager or many. However, when Scrooge noticed the small foot (or claw, as he is initially unsure) sticking out from underneath the robe of the Ghost of Christmas Present, he experiences firsthand a manifestation of Mankind's selfishness and greed. Up to this point in the story, the grand majority of children that Scrooge has seen have been vibrant, joyful, and full of life. Even Tiny Tim resonates with the joy and selflessness of the season. However, the boy and the girl that appear are "[y]ellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostate, too, in their humility." They are unlike any children that Scrooge has encountered. As youths, they should be vibrant and full of energy, but instead "a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds." Scrooge is appalled at the sight of them. He has made a life of looking the other way, of ignoring those around him who want. Now he is forced to face the effects of his choices, and those of other greedy people like him. The two children both emit and absorb the misery of the world, and are so terrifying that Scrooge asks "[h]ave they no refuge or resource?" To this, the spirit throws Scrooge's own words back in his face one final time by asking "[a]re there no prisons? [...] Are there no workhouses?" Before Scrooge can even attempt to respond, the bell strikes midnight and the final phantom appears "draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along the ground, towards him."While Fan and Fezziwig help Scrooge to see the effects of generosity, Ignorance and Want force Scrooge to confront his own worldview in a way that he has never had to. Instead of simply moving past with blinders on, as he has done every moment up to now, he has to face the truth of the world. Dickens was a major proponent of social reform, and Ignorance and Want work to make Scrooge (and his real world counterparts) think about how harmful a life of self-absorption can be. The effects of this encounter terrify Scrooge, and his terror continues through the final part of his journey with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
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