Final answer:
Scrooge refuses to give a donation to the portly gentlemen mainly due to his belief in the poor using workhouses and prisons, his view against reliance on charity, and wanting to keep his money. He does not refuse out of sympathy or a desire to help the poor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The character Scrooge, from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, refuses to give a donation to the portly gentlemen for several reasons. His justifications are deeply rooted in his beliefs about poverty and society. According to Scrooge, the destitute should go to workhouses and prisons (workhouses and prisons), which were common destinations for the poor during the Victorian era.
He also holds a view, common to some at the time, that individuals must help themselves and that society should not provide assistance to the undeserving poor, reflecting the belief that charity can do more harm than good in some instances.
Scrooge's refusal is not due to his desire to keep all his money for himself (money) or because he believes the poor should only rely on charity from others.
Instead, his refusal is based on a variety of reasons including the opinion that the poor should not be given handouts as it does not encourage them to improve their situations. Of the options provided, the only one that does not reflect Scrooge's views is that he is sympathetic towards the poor and wants to help them; Scrooge lacks sympathy and is not interested in their welfare.