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Analysis of charles dickens christmas carol
Analysis of charles dickens christmas carol
Christmas carol dickens social critic
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Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol is considered by many to be a classic for all the ages, if an objectivist point of view is used to analyse the social and political undertones of the story they will agree with most of it, if not all of it. One of the major parts that an objectivist would agree with in A Christmas Carol is how scrooge thinks of and how he treats the poor and infirm. Scrooge further develops his objectivist ideology by being completely self-interested in both his personal and professional life. After Scrooge is visited by the three apparitions he is radically changed from a self-interested, objectivist, to a positive and uplifting altruist. In Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, an objectivist would agree with Scrooge’s original ideology but would struggle with Scrooges outward manifestation at the end of the story. Scrooge generally disregards or outright denies the needs and welfare of the less fortunate and the challenged, which fits in perfectly with an objectivists view on the less fortunate. An objectivist view on the poor is that, “Every honest man lives for himself. Every man worth calling a man lives for himself. The one who doesn't - doesn't live at all.”(Ayn Rand). What this means is that because the poor cannot provide for themselves and their families they are not men at all and why should the rest of the population help them if they cannot help themselves. This is the same ideology Scrooge subscribes to and is best shown when two men appear at Scrooge’s counting house and ask him if he can, “make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries… [Scrooge has] help[ed] to support the establishments I have menti... ... middle of paper ... ...id the same fate as Jacob marley. Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol is considered by many to be a classic for all the ages, if an objectivist point of view is used to analyse the social and political undertones of the story they will agree with most of it, if not all of it. One of the major parts that an objectivist would agree with in A Christmas Carol is how scrooge thinks of and how he treats the poor and infirm. Scrooge further develops his objectivist ideology by being completely self-interested in both his personal and professional life. After Scrooge is visited by the three apparitions he is radically changed from a self-interested, objectivist, to a positive and uplifting altruist. In Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, an objectivist would agree with Scrooge’s original ideology but would struggle with Scrooges outward manifestation at the end of the story.
Dickens displays guilt as the main form of how Scrooge’s character develops into a compassionate person by the end of the novella. As Scrooge feels this quilt, it's purely based on the visions that the ghosts provide which further causes Scrooge to realise the consequences of his actions. His alienation from specific characters that he used to love such as Belle, “...has displaced me…” whom left Scrooge, due to his desire for money and wealth which grew. This desire grows with him as he is rejecting the christmas joy and spirit as he continuously states that Christmas is a “humbug,” but by stating this it provides comparison. Dickens depicts that Scrooge has become a better person because of fear but in the end he has become kinder. As the
Scrooge was and owner of a factory and made a whole bunch of money, but he did not care about anyone else. “Merry Christmas said his nephew, what right do have to be merry you are poor enough”. This shows that scrooge is mean to family and does not care about Christmas.
In the 19th century in the Victorian period there was a huge difference in the way the rich and the poor live. The Victorians believed in "self" help" so the poor did not have a lot of help with money or equipment to get. work or do it? So most of the poor had to work in dangerous factories. Scrooge himself believed this was a good thing as he believed in "self."
At the beginning of the novel, Dickens presents Scrooge as an outsider by describing Scrooge as physically Cold hearted and unemotional person. This is seen in the quote, "A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him.". The words ‘frosty’ and ‘wiry’ shows the uses of adjectives and metaphor. Dickens uses these figurative techniques to emphasize to the reader how Scrooge has secluded his soul against society as a result of his own actions. Dickens uses dramatic irony here effectively to symbolise how the rich who are characterized as the construct Scrooge, who is presented as a gothic and supernatural being. This is ironic as the rich in Victorian society are
In the beginning of the play in spite of being selfish Scrooge is also cheap, cold-hearted, and cruel. Scrooge behaves in this manner to his nephew, Fred. One way of proving this is when Fred said “Merry Christmas.” Scrooge replied salty saying “Humbug Christmas is just a time for spending and wasting money.” Not only he treats Fred badly but many more people. For instance take one of his quotes towards the Gentleman Visitor, “Are there no Jails for the poor, are there no
(Dickens 11) During the visit of Christmas Past, Mr. Scrooge traveled through the past from another’s perspective, instead of his own. (Video 1984) To Mr. Scrooge, Christmas is no longer a bah-humbug. No matter what medium you watch A Christmas Carol, there will be one moral: greediness and selfishness will result in a depressing life with loneliness surrounding you. This was the message the three Christmas spirits delivered in conclusion, welcome family and friends into your life, and you will enjoy a jubilant life.
Scrooge is a great example of the wealthy, who never gave to the poor and would rarely put money into charities. Dickens was appalled by the conditions the working class had to endure. “Dickens felt that self-interest, uncontrolled, subject to the passions and desires
In this Stave, Dickens shows the importance of kindness by showing Scrooge’s absence of it and the effects of his harmful indifference. Scrooge is taken into his own past and shown memories of when he was young. The Ghost shows him scenes of when he was small and alone on Christmas. This memory makes him regret his harshness towards a young caroler that had come to his door the previous day. He sees that he lacked kindness and wishes he gave something to the caroler. His indifference towards the caroler insured that Scrooge would remain alone. The Ghost also reminds Scrooge of his beloved sister, Fannie who had died and left only her son. “’Always a delicate creature, whom a breath might have withered,’ said the Ghost. ‘But she had a large heart!’ ‘So she had,’ cried Scrooge. ‘You’re right. I will not gainsay it, Spirit. God forbid!’ ‘She died a woman,’ said the Ghost, ‘and had, as I think, children.’ ‘One child,’ Scrooge returned. ‘True,’ said the Ghost. ‘Your nephew!’ Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; and answered briefly, ‘Yes.’” (pg. 33-34). Scrooge’s only connection to his kind and gentle sister is his nephew, who also shares Fannie’s sweet nature. Scrooge is then filled with regret because of his callous treatment and lack of relationship with his nephew, who only wanted to be kind and spread the joy of the season. Scrooge’s sheer indifference and lack of kindness towards his nephew prevented
" “I can't afford to make idle people merry" These two quotations refer to poor people; Scrooge did not have any compassion towards these poor people. He called them idle people, which re-enforced his lack of Christian spirit. It also shows that Scrooge is not a true Christian as true Christians give money to charity. Scrooge is angry with poor people for no apparent reason and said that they should die and “Decrease the surplus population" These quotations sh... ... middle of paper ... ...
During the story, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts from Christmas past, present, and future, who shows the ill-tempered Scrooge how to be feel compassion towards others human beings. A large quantity of the story revolves around money, and it plays a large role, to contrast how generosity is viewed in society. Scrooge is incredibly wealthy, as he lives a l...
The novel introduces Scrooge as a man of greed. This is shown in the first stave when Scrooge's clerk Bob Cratchit can barely keep warm by such a small fire "that it looked like one coal." Because of Scrooge's greed, he insists on storing up on his wealth by burning less coal, despite it's lack of warmth. Furthermore, one can notice Scrooge's greed as he refuses to give any donation from his surplus wealth to the poor and destitute that the collectors were raising money for. Scrooge's selfish response to the collectors was, " 'I wish to be left alone...I don't make merry myself at Christmas, and I can't afford to make idle people merry..."
“Without their visits, you cannot hope to shun the path I tread.” (Dickens, page 9) Is there anything that can change the dreadful fate of the man who doesn’t believe in the Spirit of Christmas before it is too late? The famous story written by Charles Dickens, A Christmas Story, is very similar to the movie version. Scrooge is an old man who doesn’t believe in Christmas and thinks it is a “humbug.” Scrooge will suffer a horrible fate if he continues the cruel path he is on. Marley and the Christmas Spirits show Scrooge the true meaning of Christmas. The themes of the versions are discovery and change. There are many resemblances and some diversity between the play and the movie, A Christmas Carol.
For example, when Scrooge changes because he sees who and how he is affecting and what he is missing out on because of his mood towards others.The article states that Dickens is very popular amongst modern traditions, and Christmas According to Dickens also confirms this by saying, “I have read A Christmas Carol probably ten times, ever since I began doing so as a yearly holiday tradition. I have listened to a recorded version of the book about three times. I have watched cinematic renditions of the story, at least ten times, ranging from the sublime 1951 version starring Alastair Sim to the ridiculous Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol from 1962. Moreover, I have seen live dramatic presentations of this story at least a dozen times, including the Christianized version that was presented every year at the church where I grew up, as well as the always outstanding performance at the Glendale Centre Theatre (which is still offering its winsome drama, now in its 47th year). In fact, last year I played the role of Marley’s ghost in a shortened dramatic version of A Christmas Carol at my work Christmas party. I hope there was more of grave than gravy in me.” (Roberts) This shows that people look up to Charles Dickens for his themes that were given out and they also look up to him to being a great literary writer and him being successful with his book, A Christmas
The reason I choose Charles Dickens out of all of the British authors that I could have chosen from was that he made others feel like whatever was happening in their life could have an opportunity to get better. Time is all that matters in situations like these and you must acquire patience to help you better them. He gives hope to the hopeless and thankfulness to the unthankful. In A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge was the perfect example of how a greedy person can take for granted everyday luxuries that most people only see in their dreams. Scrooge only realizes this when he is visited in his dreams by ghosts which made him realize all the wrongs if was making morally. Then when he woke up and realized it was all a dream he was defiantly grateful that he had a chance to correct them. People had many different reactions to Scrooge some were amazed, scared, and some were even astonished by his actions they thought he had gone crazy. To them he wasn’t himself and in his own self interpretation was that he should just try to convince them that he wanted to right the wrong he had already done. Stories like these present the quality
...t, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within [him]." With this still resonating in his mind, he jumps out of bed and immediately begins setting things right. He buys a turkey bigger than Bob Cratchit's son and sends it to him, and instead of being rude to the Poulterer, he pays for a cab to get them to Cratchit's home. He then goes out with joy in his heart and bumps into a man who asked him to donate money to the poor the day before. As opposed to being unkind and cruel, the new and improved Scrooge donates a large sum of money to the cause happily. This kind, happy, and generous man is a complete change from the stingy and unkind Scrooge from Christmas Eve. If someone this awful can change, anyone and everyone can do the same. They just need a little push in the right direction.