Warmth and Humour in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

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Warmth and Humour in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

In A Christmas Carol, the author, Charles Dickens writes a lot about

social critiscm, the ghostly atmosphere that is present throughout

almost every stave, as well as the warmth and humour of the story.

Dickens had a very poor upbringing. He struggled to earn much money.

This affected his inspiration for A Christmas Carol because he had

experienced being poor and wanted people to realise how badly the poor

needed help.

Dickens originally was going to write a pamphlet 'An Appeal To The

People Of England.' But abandoned it in favour of A Christmas Carol.

During the Victorian era, the poor people had a very hard time. They

relied heavily on the meagre wages that their employers paid them.

Some even have to turn to crime to get an extra income. This is shown

in Stave Four.

'Mrs Dilber was next. Sheets. And towels, a little wearing apparel,

two old fashioned silver teaspoons, a pair of sugar tongs, and a few

boots. Her account was stated on the wall in the same manner.' Here

Mrs Dilber has stolen these things and has sold them to a pawnshop to

gain some extra money. The Poor were forced to behave badly as a

result of the society forged by people like Scrooge.

Many of the rich people were very mean and insensitive. If the poor

did not turn to crime they had the choice of going to the workhouses.

However, the conditions of these places were terrible at best. Some

charities tried to raise money to improve workhouses, but the rich

believed that the poor should have gone to the workhouses, as the...

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... Scrooge's first order of business is to get a present to the

Crachitts. '" A remarkable boy! Do you know whether they've sold the

prize turkey that was hanging up there…"' '"I'll send it to Bob

Crachitts."' After that, Scrooge visits his nephew.

'"It's I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me

in, Fred?"'

Finally, Scrooge raises Bob's salary on Boxing Day, when they return

to work. '"…and therefore, I am about to raise you salary!"'

The final line in A Christmas Carol, sums up all of the warmth in the

story. '"And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!"'

A Christmas Carol is a story that balances social critiscm finely with

the ghostly atmosphere and the warmth and humour. Dickens manages to

get his message across as well as tell the best Christmas story, ever

written.

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