Charles Dickens: Carrying a Burden of Social Responsibility Charles Dickens’ classic novella A Christmas Carol, focuses on the social responsibility of the wealthy to help the poor and less fortunate. Dickens, having lived in poverty as a child, knew of the many struggles of the lower class of London. As an author, he made it his goal to reform England as best he could. Many of his works ran in his weekly journal, Household Words, including "Christmas Stories" and Great Expectations. In a Christmas Carol, Dickens stresses the point that the writers of that time carried a special burden to speak out for those who lived in poverty and couldn't speak out for themselves. Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843. He had published …show more content…
Inmates broke rock, ground corn by hand, picked oakum, and ground animal bones for fertilizer and manufacturing.(Spencer) In some workhouses, "inmates assigned to bone grinding were observed gnawing the bones they were to grind."(Spencer) In A Christmas Carol two men approached Scrooge and asked for a donation to benefit the poor. They said, "Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
The book was first published in 1843, a time when many of the wealthy people neglected the old Christmas spirit of charity. In addition, the Industrial Revolution had further done away with the simple pleasures of the season. Dickens’ intentions in writing ‘A Christmas Carol’ were not only linked to his childhood and sympathy for the poor, but he was also acting as a philanthropist by making an appeal to the rich people of society to mend their selfish ways.
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
In Charles Dickens film and novel A Christmas Carol, he shows his feeling of capitalism and how it affects societal wellness and individuals. The setting of the story is in Victorian England where Ebenezer Scrooge, the main protagonist, lives and dwells. In this time period in England many are poor and few are rich; the economic state of the city is in poor health. Scrooge is one of the scare rich individuals in the land and practices capitalism to a T. Dickens shows how his story is related to economics by using the setting of the story and also the capitalistic ideals of Ebenezer Scrooge.
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.
Following this bitter blow, the Ghost of Christmas Present leads Scrooge on a tour of two more families: that of his nephew and of his clerk. The vision of Scrooge’s clerk’s family – the Cratchits – paints an intricate example of the beauty of family. As Dickens explains, “They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty… But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the times…” (page 54). The Cratchits possessed minimal earthly wealth, and even had an ill son, yet they displayed incredible joy! The joy, warmth, affection, and laughter surrounding the Cratchits’ Christmas celebration brought Scrooge to the realization that the “Christmas spirit” does not depend on any material possessions, or even on situations. Joy is a choice, and that choice is made easier when we are surrounded by the ones we love.
‘A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!’ said Scrooge” (Dickens 18). This quote shows that Scrooge is so greedy, that he can’t even part with a day’s wage. Scrooge also shows greed in many other places throughout the novel. “‘[A] few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth.
Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol ‘A Christmas Carol’ written by Charles Dickens tells the story of a man named Ebenezer Scrooge who is taught the true meaning of Christmas and is shown the errors of his ways. ‘A Christmas Carol’ was published in 1843, this was a time of social and political unrest. Dickens motivation for writing this story was to encourage employers to treat workers well, he uses the Christmas Carol to portray this message. Charles Dickens felt strongly about the working conditions and poverty that many people endured. He wanted to encourage employers to treat their workers well.
Often times, many people enjoy the gift of money and the happiness it brings. However, Charles Dickens writes to persuade otherwise. A Christmas Carol authored by Charles Dickens, a fiction story, and is about a man, Scrooge, who despises Christmas with all his heart whilst he lives in London. Furthermore, Scrooge regrets not appreciating people, not realizing that money is not everything, and is happy to live in all the stages of Christmas.
Set up against the rampant industrialization of the 18th century, Charles Dickens classic novella “A Christmas Carol” endorses the notion that all people have a responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of every member of society. By taking his seemingly irredeemable protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge on an other worldly journey. Dickens intends to convey to the complacent classes of the age, the necessity of various traits that are essential in life, such as the responsibility for those whom are less fortunate and other vital traits such as charity, generosity and simply caring for others. Dickens warns the reader of the consequences that will follow if these lessons are not taken into consideration.
chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind!
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens is a compelling tale of greed, love and charity. Studying this short novel at school is necessary because it concedes the threats of holding and leading a selfish life and how acting greedy is notorious on your fate and your perspective of life. Through his representation of Scrooge, Dickens wants the reader to learn from his miserable personality and encourages others
'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens allow readers to be positioned to identify what he values in society and his beliefs of the consequences in life and in Christianity as shown through Scrooge's transformation. Scrooge was a coldhearted and frosty man who has been given a second chance in life to alter his view towards Christmas, and most importantly, the happiness in the world by becoming charitable, and positive while maintaining self respect and value. Through the teachings from the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, Dickens demonstrates a defiant and isolated character who transforms into a changed man imbued with Christmas
A Christmas carol by Charles Dickens is a significant novella written in the Victorian era. The protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge is used to demonstrate the upper class society and their attitude towards the poor. Throughout this redemption story, Dickens combines a descriptions of hardships faced by the poor with a heart-felt sentimental celebration of the Christmas season. The novella contains a dramatic and comic element as well as a deep felt moral theme. The text promotes the values of Ebenezer Scrooge, delving into his past, present and supposed future as well as contrasting between the enriching and depressing story; specifically
In the novella, A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens’, the author takes you through the life of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted, miserable old man. Dickens’ focuses on Scrooge’s harsh behavior and actions during Christmas time with a supernatural twist, for he is visited by a series of ghosts including his deceased close friend, Jacob Marley. In this spirited story, the author also makes meaningful use of literary devices such as similes, personification, and imagery to represent change.
Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ presents a warning to society through the representation of characters and the journey and transformation of the notorious miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens warns society of the grim future that awaits humanity if people fail to respond to the plight of the poor. Finally, if Dickens intentions weren’t made clear enough through these examples, his preface says it all. “I have endeavoured in this ghostly little book, to raise the ghost of an idea…May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and