A Christmas Carol as Allegory

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'A Christmas Carol' as Allegory

The novel 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens can be represented in

different ways. It can be represented as a simple story with a moral,

where a man named Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who give him a

chance to mend his ways. However Dickens also gives the novel a more

profound meaning by using symblosim and so it can be represented as an

allegory.

The four ghosts are repeated symbols that give structure to the novel.

The book is divided into chapters that end after each ghost has left

Scrooge. This is due to each ghost giving a different atmosphere in

the novel. The four ghosts that come to visit Scrooge are: Marley, the

ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present and the ghost

of Christmas yet to come.

Scrooge's dead business partner, named Marley is the first ghost to

visit Scrooge. You first see his face as Scrooge's door knocker. This

represents Marley trying to enter his life. The knocker 'had a dismal

light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar', symbolising

Marley is there to enlighten Scrooge by giving him hope and help to

amend his life. He is also an example of what will happen to Scrooge

if he does not mend his ways. The terrors that Marley goes through can

be seen by the horror in Marley's face (as the knocker) which 'seem to

be in spite of the face and beyond its control, rather than part of

its own expression'. This shows Scrooge that terrors await him if he

does not change. 'Though the Ghost sat perfectly motionless, its hair,

and skirts, and tassles, were still agitated' is another example to

Scrooge of what might come, as Marley can not rest and is constantly

tormented. Marley's body is transparent symbolising the helples...

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... asked him to buy

the prize turkey for him and he would reward him with half a crown.

Scrooge then decided to send it to Bob Cratchit and he would let him

rejoice. Scrooge went over to Bob Cratchit and gave him the turkey. He

offered him a raise so he could afford to keep his family on the go.

Scrooge did more than he said he would. We have seen from this book

that a man can change. Scrooge proved that he could be kind hearted.

His attitude at first as a person was disrespectful and shamming. The

same applied for his attitude as a businessman. In the end both of

these changed. Scrooge is now a kind-hearted man full of joy. Scrooge

now is a very generous businessman. As we saw he gave his employee Bob

Cratchit a raise to support his family for many years.

As Tiny Tim observed he noticed the kind heart of Mr. Scrooge and

said, "God bless us, Every One!"

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