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1 Running head: The effects of Prejudice factors on the outbreak of Cholera

The effects of Prejudice factors on the outbreak of Cholera April 3ed , 2019 Simon Fraser University TA: Chris Niosco HSCI 130 D107

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In the novel Ghost May by Steven Johnson the epidemic tragedy of the outbreak of Cholera is explained. In the nineteenth century, London was one the most modern cities in the world, however its social and economic infrastructure was not meeting its residence needs. Its biggest problem was providing an acceptable sewage removal system, where its citizens all throughout different social groupings had access to clean water and proper waste removal system. This problem was causing human waste to be piled up around the city. During this critical time there was a huge gap between different social groups. Therefore, the working class were far more likely to contract diseases such as cholera and show symptoms than upper-class Londoners, who lived a fortunate lifestyle, where diseases occurrence was less frequent. The upper class were less likely to be affected due to having an easier access to clean water and fresh environment. The drawing sums up the epidemics of London, during the outbreak of Cholera. This painting includes low income citizen fetching water from a random water pump, clueless of the danger they are putting themselves in. The person who is pumping the water is an evil figure that is wearing a golden crown, representing the upper-class Londoners who were careless of the suffering the rest of the citizens were facing. One of factors for the high mortality rate of cholera was caused due to the lower class not having immediate and effective medical care, this could have prevented less damage on London and its citizens, “Death was omnipresent, particularly for the working class”. (Johnson, 2006, p.80). Most of the upper-class Londoners believed that London’s working-class had actually earned their deaths, either because the “poor were inherently weaker than the rich, or because poor people’s wicked, immoral behavior had led them to contract cholera” (Arn, 2017). Being considered as part of the lower class was not just based on income it was also dependent if you were not part of the majority race. Racism was a

3 The effects of Prejudice factors on the outbreak of Cholera

very heavy subject at that time especially in such a white dominated city. People whom did not make the majority race were part of the lower social grouping as they have less opportunities to grow as individuals. Furthermore, as the minority had less chance to improve their lifestyles, they were unable to provide a healthy and happy living for themselves. During this critical time, majority of the population had little to no access to any resources to improve their way of life, as if the “plague had devastated the meaner houses and bad streets” (Johnson, 2006, p.64). During this tragic period in London, an unspoken truth was out about how status effects one’s attitude towards others. John snow proved by his work that psychologically, decision making was affected by prejudice factors. Many of the upper-class Londoners wanted to have little to do with the Cholera outbreak. They morally proved themselves that it is the lower class’s fault for being infected with this deadly disease that’s has such a high rate. In conclusion in this novel the hidden truth of the effects of dominancy was illustrated. The impact of prejudice factors had a highly negative on the outbreak of cholera. Not only did it slow down the cure, but also made the disease have a bigger impact on London’s and it its citizen than it should have. Living with cholera meant being surrounded in an environment where every aspect had a negative impact on this historical tragedy. Moreover, it proved a harsh reality of how individuals who are living in higher power don’t feel obligated to help out those who are in need, and only blame them for putting themselves in that situation.

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Reference Johnson, S. (2006). The Ghost map : The story of London's most terrifying epidemic-- and how it changed science, cities, and the modern world / Steven Johnson. Arn, J. (2017, May 10). The Ghost Map Quotes. Retrieved April 2, 2019, from https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-ghost-map/quotes...