Which of the following lines best reveals a concern with the social ills of the time? "The evening arrived; the boys took their
places." "The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale."
"...down the river on a strong spring-tide..."
“Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery.”
The phrase "Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery" highlights social issues of the period.
A child in hunger is a clear sign of societal failure. A community that allows children to endure hardship and despair indicates significant problems. Therefore, this statement illustrates a concern for social ills.
