Comparison: Theodore Dalrymple and Shiva Naipaul's Essays
Moral Poverty
In "What is Poverty?" Theodore Dalrymple argues that the poverty in England is not economic, it is moral and spiritual. In the text "The City by the Sea" by Shiva Naipaul discusses the poverty in Bombay and its economic and moral connections. Theodore Dalrymple also argues that the poverty his situation in England is worse than poverty in Third World countries. I agree with Dalrymple's first thesis, but in Naipaul's essay the life conditions are more miserable than England. That's why if the economic conditions in the Third World are so bad, that will bring more moral poverty. Therefore I disagree with Dalrymple’s second thesis. If one must compare countries, it shouldn't be between England and Third World countries because they are not in a similar position. In his essay Dalrymple gives background information about poverty in England. He states that the poverty in England is not economic, it is spiritual and cultural. He supports his idea with an effective example that the rate of cigarette consumption among the poor. Higher consumption belongs to people from slums; they do not belong to rich part. It shows that poor people in England has enough money to spend their money for a useless thing (40). So they have enough money to survive. With this example Dalrymple shows us that the poverty in England is not because of economy. They prefer to buy cigarettes rather than medicine. Another idea given by Dalrymple is about spiritual poverty in England and the results of being welfare state. He gives an example about heroin addict's behavior towards the doctors. After an addict who is unconscious because of having overdose of heroin wakes up, he doesn't show any appreciative behavior towards the doctors. But these doctors and nurses care about him and try to save him without expecting anything in return (41). Giving this example of heroin addict, Dalrymple tries to explain cultural poverty in England and the emotional numbness in of the poor. He shows
In "What is Poverty?" Theodore Dalrymple argues that the poverty in England is not economic, it is moral and spiritual. In the text "The City by the Sea" by Shiva Naipaul discusses the poverty in Bombay and its economic and moral connections. Theodore Dalrymple also argues that the poverty his situation in England is worse than poverty in Third World countries. I agree with Dalrymple's first thesis, but in Naipaul's essay the life conditions are more miserable than England. That's why if the economic conditions in the Third World are so bad, that will bring more moral poverty. Therefore I disagree with Dalrymple’s second thesis. If one must compare countries, it shouldn't be between England and Third World countries because they are not in a similar position. In his essay Dalrymple gives background information about poverty in England. He states that the poverty in England is not economic, it is spiritual and cultural. He supports his idea with an effective example that the rate of cigarette consumption among the poor. Higher consumption belongs to people from slums; they do not belong to rich part. It shows that poor people in England has enough money to spend their money for a useless thing (40). So they have enough money to survive. With this example Dalrymple shows us that the poverty in England is not because of economy. They prefer to buy cigarettes rather than medicine. Another idea given by Dalrymple is about spiritual poverty in England and the results of being welfare state. He gives an example about heroin addict's behavior towards the doctors. After an addict who is unconscious because of having overdose of heroin wakes up, he doesn't show any appreciative behavior towards the doctors. But these doctors and nurses care about him and try to save him without expecting anything in return (41). Giving this example of heroin addict, Dalrymple tries to explain cultural poverty in England and the emotional numbness in of the poor. He shows