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The Little Match Girl: Setting and Key Themes

The Little Match Girl: Setting and Key Themes

Setting
This story occurs on New Year's Eve on a particularly cold day. By setting the story in winter, Andersen brings out the little match girl's suffering most poignantly. Similarly, by setting it on New Year's Eve, he draws a parallel with the girl's life. Her life and the year end simultaneously.

Key Themes
Class differences
The story clearly highlights the difference between the rich and the poor. The little match girl
is so poor that she is out trying to make some money despite the freezing weather. She has no choice but to trudge on even though she is not adequately. dressed for the weather. In stark contrast, the rich are busy celebrating and enjoying feasts in the warmth of their homes. They do not even notice the shivering, hungry child until they find her dead body the next day.

Ill-treatment meted out to the poor
The story also throws light on the ill treatment that the poor have to face often. The little girl is almost run over by two speeding carriages. Her shoes fall off as she tries to save herself by running out of the way. After this, a boy runs off with one of her shoes, cruelly mocking her for wearing oversized shoes as he does so.

Hope in the face of adversity
The story also conveys the message of unrelenting hope. Despite finding herself in a nightmarish situation, the little match girl's visions are one of warmth, love and joy. She dreams of a life where she has enough food, a warm house and loving family members. Even when she passes away, she has a smile on her face.

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