Culture In A Christmas Carol

The culture of 2016 is very different than previous generations. We have access to newer technologies, more advanced medicines, and different kinds of foods. Even though the similarities between our society and the past societies are slim, there are still some pieces of literature from long ago that represent today’s culture. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is one of many novels from previous years that reflects the culture of today. Many of the main characters in this book have personalities that are not far from some beliefs or behaviors that people show today. The first person from this cast that will be examined is Ebenezer Scrooge and his egotistical ideals.
Mr. Scrooge is known by many to be selfish and cruel. He does not care for

others; his only care is about himself and how weak everyone else is. This is a form of egotism, or thinking only about oneself and their importance. The culture of 2016 is no better. Magazines have articles that are meant to make you look better, while millionaires and billionaires usually never seem to donate to charity because they only seem to care about their finances and businesses. On the other hand, Bob Cratchit is a man who values family over money. Another chunk of our society is full of people who care for others who are not as fortunate or are in need of help. There are thousands of different orphanages, homeless shelters, and food banks located all around the world. Likewise, Tiny Tim is another piece in the puzzle of our culture because he is an optimist. There is a group of people who believe that the world can only get better from where it is at right now. In conclusion, Mr. Scrooge, Tiny Tim, and Bob Cratchit represent two polar opposites of our civilization.
Thes second group of candidates, the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, show great similarities between, well, the past and the present.

The Ghost of Christmas Past can be compared to people who live in nostalgia. These are the people who think that this present society is weak and that the past was where the world was at its strongest. The Ghost of Christmas Present can be related to hipsters. These humans believe that the present is better than the past and that it can only improve. The last ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Future, is represented by pessimists and nihilists. This group is known for believing that Earth is on its way to utter destruction and that everyone is going to die. The book also reflects this. The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his past and how he was hardened through his hardships. The people who live in nostalgia believe the same thing: that humans were tougher in the past then they are now. When Scrooge is taken by the Ghost of Christmas Present, he is shown how people are happy with what they are doing. Also, the Ghost of Christmas Future gives Scrooge a pessimistic vision of his and Tiny Tim’s tombstones. In the end, the three ghosts are relatable to our society and the people within

it.
A Christmas Carol is a heartwarming book with relatable characters and a good moral. Even though this book was first written in 1843, many people today show similarities with it and its personalities. From pessimists to optimists, there are different sections of our society, and many of those have been shown nearly two hundred years ago. To finish up, the human civilization is very diverse in its beliefs and habits, and many of those have been shown in past works of literature.