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Symbolism in a christmas carol
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A Christmas Carol , is a story that uses symbols used in everyday life to create a feel for the overall meaning of the story. Charles Dickens used the symbol of fire in Scrooge’s house and the Cratchit Family, to show how each character utilizes fire to warm their home. Dickens uses the symbol of fire to compare how two different social classes can warm themselves during the winter days. No matter how poor a family is, they always create the warmest house because they are united as a family. Fire is used in this novel to bring compassion, hope, and light. The symbol of fire is seen in the beginning of the story when Scrooge and his clerk are in the store. “Scrooge has a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller than it looked like one coal” (Dickens 3). His argument is that he wants to save money, so he only …show more content…
Scrooge, was able, to repent himself from living a life full of sorrow and he learned to appreciate everyone, even the poor people. The Cratchit family always showed a positive attitude even with their poor living conditions. The Victorian age, marked a significant impact on all the poor families that were unable to speak up, causing them to allow other people to feel higher than they were. Fire is a light symbol in this story. The fire, was able, to open Scrooge’s mind and ask for forgiveness. Warmth, was spread across the town, even to the tiniest places that cannot be seen. Hope was the only thing that the low-class families never lost. They kept a firm in their wishes that someday, Scrooge would change. At the end of the story, Scrooge sends the Cratchit family a huge turkey and for the first time he does not care about announcing who gave this wonderful gift. Scrooge has learned that “giving is more important than receiving and the gift is one of profound pleasure” (English works). Finally, Scrooge has learned the true meaning of being a compassionate and loveable
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 story, “A Christmas Carol”, Scrooge goes through many changes, one of Scrooge is him being one of the most closed minded people in his hometown to the most thoughtful person. This happened when the Ghost of Christmas Present visited Scrooge and showed him Cratchit and his family. Little did Scrooge know one of Cratchit’s children, Tiny Tim, was dying. Him seeing this showed Scrooge what his little pay to Cratchit was doing. As a result, Scrooge began to feel a little more thoughtful and raised Cratchit’s salary in hopes of being able to raise enough money to cure Tiny Tim and to support his family. Doing this, Scrooge became like a second father towards Tiny Tim.
Dickens paints Scrooge as a dodgy old man who is only concerned about making money and keeping it. Scrooge will not even allow his poor clerk more than one piece of coal during the harsh winter’s day. He scoffs at the idea of love and people having joy on Christmas. In A Christmas Carol, Scrooges fall is temptation. He is obsessed with money and the idea of not letting money go. Scrooge’s greed drives his fiancé away. She refuses to stay with him because he has made his profit his first priority in his life. Scrooge is so interested in his profit
(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.
Little did Ebenezer Scrooge know, this was going to be the kickoff to a substantial journey on his night of Christmas Eve. The ghost of Christmas past had the appearance similar to a child, yet it had some characteristics comparable to a lit candle. This ghost took Scrooge to all of his most painful memories leading up to his present day position. After brief reminders of these incidents, Scrooge started to get melancholy. Events from his schooldays, his engagement, and even his happy apprenticeship with his former boss Fezziwig provided enough insight for the main character to visit his childhood. Scrooge then got an unexpected visit from the ghost of Christmas Present. He took the display of a gigantic man, dressed in a green robe. This ghost helped provide an insight for Scrooge on what his acquaintances were doing on Christmas Eve night. Bob Cratchit, had a dinner with his family and could barely afford any food due to his low wage from Scrooge. Lastly, Ebenezer received a visitation from the ghost of Christmas yet to come. The ghost was strictly straightforward with Scrooge’s future if he kept acting similar to what he did. The three ghosts provided a prolonged climax to the story, giving Ebenezer a direct turning point in his actions and beliefs. He had adjusted to not making
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
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...
This turning point is different than the rest because it is shown to scrooge that the cratchit also has a family and everybody else does too. They care for their family but they need help. Scrooge needs to help them and his own family. The ghost of christmas present them the shadows of christmas present. The cratchit family is a happy family who respect and love what and what they have. Cratchit walks in with tiny tim on his shoulder. He has crutches and a brace on his leg. Cratchit is afraid that he might die. Show in this line
Despite his lofty language and high-handed tone, Ebenezer Scrooge 's grasping ways left him without friends or family. Bob Cratchit, living in his tiny cottage crowded with both children and love, was by far the happier man. Dickens was not, however, advocating poverty as the surest road to contentment. We know that Cratchit will happily accept the assistance Scrooge eventually offers. Rather, Dickens makes
Scrooge is completely heartbroken and ashamed when he finds out that the Cratchit’s Christmas Eve dinner will have an empty seat. When Tiny Tim passes away in the time to come, the Cratchit family and Scrooge, are mournful of the loss. The Cratchit’s, as well as Scrooge himself, are depressed and pitiful. Scrooge has everything compared to the Cratchit family, but desires one thing, Tiny Tim’s pure joy. As he looked in on the Cratchits Christmas Eve dinner, Scrooge didn’t take his eyes off of the boy. He is overjoyed about life and the holiday season despite his crippled condition. He had an overjoyed smile on his face and was surrounded by all he needed: love, shelter, and a warm meal. Tiny Tim did not take anything for granted. Everyday was a miracle for him. He was humble and thankful for the things God had provided for him. He embraced every moment, and was positive that everything happens for a reason. Tiny Tim was an extraordinary kid. He was loved by many (including Scrooge), had the necessities he needed in his life, and took nothing for
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..."
Dickens had the cold hearted character Scrooge portray someone who changed his lifestyle and brought several families together to get through a time of great poverty. He planted several characters in the novel to represent impoverished people during the 19th century and what generosity of the wealthy could do to them and the town(Gevatheatre). Dickens never had someone take care of him as a child and he went his whole life with a feeling of abandonment(Gevatheatre). Dickens used realism in his novel to inspire change in the way that the wealthy treat the impoverished families and children, particularly by making the child Tiny Tim’s life rest in the hands of Scrooge in The Christmas Carol
...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.
In the novel, “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, the author tells a story about an irritable man named Ebenezer Scrooge who dislikes Christmas. Not only was this novelette written to amuse and teach a moral lesson, but Charles Dickens also used his ability to express his outlook on the social and economic struggles during his time period which was the Victorian Era. In the novel, he shows the effects of gluttony, fortune, and the ignorance to the welfare of others. This story reveals the economic and social conflicts between the rich and the poor, and resembles how moral corruption and self-indulgence are the results of wealth and power.