In Charles Dickens’ iconic novel “A Christmas Carol”, he aims to portray scrooge as a 19th century miser. He does this by using a variety of techniques to portray that powerful image, as well as comparing to other characters, using his settings and surroundings and also linking the everyday scenarios of 19th century life.
Dickens uses strong and emotive language, including similes, metaphors, adjectives and verbs to portray an image of a 19th century miser. “Solitary as an oyster”. This shows that scrooge is someone who likes to keep to himself, and spends a lot of time on his own. In this quote Dickens uses the word “oyster”, this comparison gives us the idea that scrooge is like an oyster he is locked away from everyone else. “He carried his own low temperature”. In this quote Dickens uses the words “low temperature”. This then creates the idea that scrooge is always a cold person; he's never warm to anybody and never has any interaction with other people. This has an impact on the reader’s picture of a 19th century miser.
As well as that Dickens uses more techniques to help enhance the idea of Scrooge. “Hard and sharp as a flint”. Dickens uses the word “flint”, which is a type of stone, this then might create the feeling of that scrooge has a heart made of stone. The word “sharp“ could relate to sharp features of scrooge. This quote allows the reader to link it to other parts of the novel where it describes scrooge’s features, “pointed nose”. This then helps the reader
The journey to his childhood results in visible signs of emotion in Scrooge, which we do not associate with him to start with, as this one of the first ways that Dickens presents the change in Scrooge. ‘“Your lip is trembling”’. ‘“And what is that upon
Further to this Dickens use of metaphors paints a picture of Scrooge as a "covetous old sinner!", in Stave 1 the narrator describes Scrooge to be a "tight-fisted hand at the grindstone". A grindstone is a thick disc of stone used for grinding and it was extremely hard to hold onto however the narrator uses the adjective tight-fisted to imply Scrooge as adamant and as one who is able to hold onto the grindstone or in
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a moral tale that depicts the protagonist’s Ebenezer Scrooge’s moral journey from selfishness to redemption. It can be seen that his new found way of life is derived from the desire to be a good man of the community and to assist others such as Tiny Tim. The idea of Scrooge’s transformation not being selfish can also be seen in his aspiration to contribute to the wider community that suffers from a poverty stricken way of life. In addition to this, Scrooge also reforms his way of life in order to feel love and care from family, which satisfied his nephew Fred aswell as himself. However, this selflessness is only to an
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol was first published in London on the 19th of December 1843, the novella was instantly popular and still is to this day. Dickens inspiration for the short story seems to come from his childhood experiences and his sympathy for the poor. In the story a miserable old man, Ebenezer Scrooge, is shown the error of his ways and what will come of it if he doesn’t make drastic changes. Various ghosts and spirits slowly transform him into a kinder more pleasant man. A Christmas Carol is a powerful novella that uses symbolism like the children Ignorance and Want, Scrooge’s transformation, and Scrooges nephew Fred, to reinforce significant themes like social isolation, rebirth, and family.
During the Industrial Revolution in London, the poor were treated as inadequate citizens. Most worked just so they could have food and shelter. In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens uses Ebenezer Scrooge to convey his critiques of Victorian society. Dickens uses the character Scrooge to express his judgements of Victorian society, greed, and the treatment of the poor. He also suggests a reform to these problems, charity and the spirit of Christmas.
Also, Dickens describes Ebenezer Scrooge as a 'cold-hearted, tight fisted, selfish man' who despises Christmas and all things that incite happiness. In addition, the words have a rhythm, they all have three syllables. The title of this book is A Christmas Carol. A Carol is a hymn, the three descriptive words is representing a carol so this refers back to the title. A quote from the book is 'The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red'. Dickens portrays Scrooge's characteristics like the wintry weather conditions. This illustrates the readers what kind of personality Scrooge has, to me it’s like Dickens is describing Scrooge like Jack Frost (from the Santa Claus 3 film). He is truly mean at the beginning but at the conclusion of his experience he changes to a nice man. Although Dickens describes Scrooge as a mean, rude man, it’s like Dickens is teaching us the viewers a lesson that everyone has a different side of them it just takes hard work to transform them.
Dickens also uses his characters to endorse other lessons that he believed were essential in keeping Christmas ‘well’. Scrooge’s behavior in Stave 1 towards the two portly gentlemen and his rudeness displayed towards his ‘ruddy’ nephew Fred, encapsulates all the attitudes
He expresses change and vows to become a better person. Pg. 116 “He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew... Some people laughed to see the alternation in him, but he let them laugh... His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.” The technique used is repetition to emphasize Scrooge’s transformation. Scrooge repents selfishness of his way of life and devotes to have a charitable heart and live his life fulfilled with joy and surrounded by people. Page 110 shows an example of personification, “I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the past, the present and the future. The spirits of all Three shall strive within me.” Scrooge repents the selfish life he once invested in when he realised that being a miser caused him to miss out on the most important and pleasurable part of living.
In 'A Christmas Carol', Dickens represents Scrooge as a 'squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner' who is against Christmas and happiness and values money, yet given a chance to redeem his fate. Marley's Ghost has come to warn Scrooge to change
The novels A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, and Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte display a strong parallel in the ways in which they use their different styles of narration in the story to reveal the true inner-feelings of characters. In A Christmas Carol, the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge, is taught many valuable lessons through the testament of three different spirits, each working to bring out the true emotions of this man. Likewise, in Wuthering Heights, the main character, Mr. Lockwood, is taught stories of his landlord, Mr. Heathcliff, through written recollections from the testaments of others, showing the inner-feelings and thoughts of him through diary entries. Although they are written in two different styles, indirect
The outlook of his house was dull. This quotation illustrated this “It was old enough, dreary enough, for nobody but Scrooge" ---------------------------------------------------------- The inside of his house was also dull and dark and was like nobody lived in it. He had splinters on his staircase and it was dark and dull, which was very similar to Scrooge’s character.
Also, Dickens describes Ebenezer Scrooge as a 'cold-hearted, tight fisted, selfish man' who despises Christmas and all things that incite happiness. In addition, the words have a rhythm, they all have three syllables. The title of this book is A Christmas Carol. A Carol is a hymn, the three descriptive words is representing a carol so this refers back to the title. A quote from the book is 'The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red'. Dickens portrays Scrooge's characteristics like the wintry weather conditions. This illustrates the readers what kind of personality Scrooge has, to me it’s like Dickens is describing Scrooge like Jack Frost. He is truly mean at the beginning but at the conclusion of his experience he changes to a nice man. Although Dickens describes Scrooge as a mean, rude man, it’s like Dickens is teaching us the viewers a lesson that everyone has a different side of them it just takes hard work to transform them.
“He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew…” Discuss Scrooge’s transformation in A Christmas Carol.
Scrooge is presented as a selfish, rude, angry and lonely character in Stave 1. This is suggested when he is described as, “Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster”. Here, he is presented as a cold, mean and a private person suggesting he is never warm or generous. By using the simile to compare Scrooge to a stone, “flint” we understand that he is hard-hearted yet also sharp and quick-witted. The reader would link the image of a flint as a stone the sharpen knives giving him a menacing image Dickens' intention here was to make the Rich at the time reflect on their actions not to make them ease their conscientious but to realise what they're doing is wrong, even though in the Victorian Era Religious beliefs were very strong ( especially Christianity) they weren't doing anything to help the poor and the evergrowing poverty of the world.
Throughout the last stave, Scrooge is portrayed as a ‘changed man’, shown through his many acts of kindness and love as well as his changed attitude towards poverty and prosperity. “He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town or borough, in the good old world.” This statement encapsulates the stark contrast between Scrooge’s character in the first stave when compared to the last. It can even be said that the last stave is written in a symmetrical manner to that of the first. This is made obvious through the stark opposites that can be seen in Scrooge’s personality in the first stave when compared to the last; where he used to be greedy and self-absorbed, he became selfless and compassionate. Dickens uses this example of symmetry to make Scrooge’s transformation even more discernible to readers as to allow them to note just how a model citizen should act towards others.