Fullfilled Life or Circumstance

 In the short story "The Little Match-Seller" by Hans Christian Anderson we read about a young girl who is selling matches on the streets, last day of the year. New years Eve. She walks around the winter cold streets no shoes, no jacket just a box of matches.

This story highlights the idea/theory that society makes a very bad situation and death as an escape or finding opportunity in a bad situation. Making death seem like it's better than living your life to your full extent, falling into major issues. Poverty, finding business oppurtuity in your hardships. Abuse of any sort because your needs/wants are being satisfied or paid for by your partner. Lastly being a single parent due to it being glorified by being reselient. And there are many more.

The girl in the poem illustrates/shows the raw and real truth of society. Society shys away and covers up the raw reality of child poverty and abuse. A late 2025 UNICEF report indicates that over 19% of children worldwide live in extreme poverty. 

The poverty struggles of children are shyed away as society considers a child that has a roof over their head as child that is not going through other major issues as listed above.

The girl in the story dreams for a better life with her grandmother, the one that truly loved her. This portrays the idea of death being a peaceful matter than living life. The girl shows the idea that death "makes" her known or her life is of value because she has passed on. 

This concept is ethically problematic as the bigger issue is not recognised. As the report UNISEF states the poverty levels for children are increaing, however the issue is not recognised because the "death" of the girl is seen as peaceful.

Yes, she died peaccefully but at what cost? If society acknowledged the bigger picture would she have lived a fulfulled life? She never wanted that lifestyle, but the cards we are dealt can not be changed but played.