A Christmas Carol Literary Analysis A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is about misanthropist Ebenezer Scrooge who is an ignorant, greedy rich person. However after getting visits from the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future he changes into a better person which shows how through changing how someone acts and their values their future can have a different outcome.
For instance, in the beginning of the story Scrooge values are that the rich are better than the poor while the poor are less deserving and beneath the poor. For example on page 25 when asked to donate money to the poor his reply is that I can’t afford to make idle people merry. This shows that Scrooge dose not believe that the poor are trying to do anything to stop being
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Also in the beginning of the story Scrooge does not allow Mr.Cratchit to add more coal to the fire and on page 116 the nephew says “His wealth is of use to him. He doesn’t do any good with it. He doesn't make himself comfortable with it. He doesn’t the satisfaction to benefit us with it.” Booth pieces of evidence show Scrooge is so wealthy yet he refuses to use any of it on himself or others but hoards it for himself and doesn't want to use it to help it for others. Another example is on page 56 ”Perhaps, Scrooge could not have told anybody why, if anybody could have asked him; but he had a special desire to see the spirit in his cap; and begged him to be covered.” Also on the topic if the light spirit stated on page 82”.. Scrooge observed that it’s light was burning high and bright; and dimly connecting its influence over him, he seized the extinguisher-cap, and by a sudden action pressed it against the spirits head.”Dickens uses Scrooge’s resistance to the light as a way to show how Scrooge refuses to see the truth.
In the beginning of stave 5 on page 135 Scrooge overhears two men talking about his death “Old Scratch got his own at last, hey?” This show that no one cares about Scrooge’s death mentioning it briefly and seeming happy about
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Another example is on page 160 is when Scrooge says that he will live in the Past, the Present and the future and that all three spirits shall live within him Scrooge is recognizing his mistakes in the past and is say that he will learn from them.Also Scrooge says “Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob; on my knees!” (Dickens 160) Which could be taken as that Scrooge now believes in God or that his faith has been renewed. Also in the book Scrooge is said to became a good friend, master and a good mas as the old city knew, and while some laughed at him he payed no heed for he thought that as they were laughing it all was fine. This show that Scrooge has changed and become a better person.
In conclusion when you change how you act and what your values are your entire life changes typically for the better. Scrooge was at first ignorant and greedy, but through the help of the spirits Scrooge changes into a better person who is capable of caring for others. This shows that anyone can change their
Dickens uses the supernatural as a method of holding a mirror up to Scrooge who is forced to confront the error of his ways. Dickens shows us that if Scrooge fails to do this it will result in him having a similar fate to Marley. Dickens uses the ghost to emphasize that there is a chance of redemption for Scrooge “that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate”. Dickens’ use of the supernatural continues throughout the story as a means of arousing nostalgia, thought, fear and action by Scrooge. All of these emotions, which Dickens shows us Scrooge is feeling, demonstrate the gradual change in Scrooge throughout the book, and as these changes take place, our thoughts and feelings towards the relationship we have with Scrooge also changes; we begin to understand him and see under his hard outer shell.
The vivid images of the plight of the poor that are presented to Scrooge ultimately act as a catalyst for him to change his miserly ways in order to help the destitute and the needy in society. St the beginning of the novella Scrooge states “if they would rather die…they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. In contrast, at the end of the novella Scrooge is depicted as a benevolent man who is “so fluttered and glowing with his good intentions”, who wished to help the lest fortunate. The personified children “Ignorance” and “Want” act as a catalyst for Scrooge to change his derisory and self-interested nature as he shows interest in the plight of the poor as he is shocked by these two “ragged, scowling” demons by saying ‘ “are there no refugee or resource?” The Ghost states that “there is no degradation, no perversion of humanity” for these “wretched, abject, frightful,” children, which makes Scrooge realise that he needs to change in order to assist them as he “hung his head, overwhelmed with penitence and grief”. This, it is illustrated in the novella that Scrooge transforms his previous, pessimistic self, into an individual who is no just self-interested, but who becomes responsible and generous to the poor by the end of the novel.
In Scrooge’s past and present, his actions had not been admirable. In reaction to this, Scrooge had closed himself off and become cold and impenetrable by any kindness. He had no empathy for others. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come changed this mindset by showing Scrooge the most severe consequences of his cold hearted actions. In
Scrooge keeps the coal-box in his own room so the clerk is not able to
Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserable and greedy old man, who focuses mainly on his business and continues with his greedy ways on Christmas Eve. He is always grumpy and yells at his employees, and most of all at Bob Cratchit. Scrooge’s desire is to be by himself on Christmas Eve, and rejects his nephew Fred’s, invitation for dinner. One night, the ghost of Jacob Marley, a former colleague of Scrooge, who has passed away seven years ago, visits the old man. Marley reminds Scrooge of his cruel lifestyle and encourages him to change it before it is too late. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him. When Scrooge falls asleep, The Ghost of Christmas Past visits him first. The Ghost shows him scenes from the past the reveal Scrooges’ live; from a lonesome young boy to a man who has allowed greed to overcome his life, a man who does not know love and compassion. Scrooge is touched by what he has seen and even allows emotions to overcome his stone-cold heart. Secondly, the Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge. The Ghost takes Scrooge to several Christmas celebrations, including the party at Fred’s house. Also the Ghost takes Scrooge to the Crachit’s house, and warns him that unless the future is changed the crippled young son of Bob, Tiny Tim will die. The ghost warns Scrooge to be carful of his ignorance. Lastly the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come visits Scrooge. The old man becomes aware that several people discuses the death of someone. At last, he learns that this is
Ebenezer Scrooge had changed a lot throughout the screenplay and movies. In the story, Scrooge had started out as a rich miser who didn’t care about anything but himself and his business. He ended up being a kind man who helped everyone he could and gave back to the community. He had changed in many ways and had been shown what he had become. Marley helped Scrooge realize that he had made everyone turn away from him and think poorly of him, and that some people like Bob Cratchit and his nephew, had hoped that he could change. Scrooge’s encounters with the spirits had shown him the most.
The text explicitly states Scrooge, a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous, old sinner has passed away. According to the text, he despises many things such as happiness, humor, and even Christmas. From the reading, I know that he is depressed all the time, consequently his mental state has led him to call other people stupid, dumb, and idiots. On page three, in the conversation with his nephew Fred, Scrooge insults his nephew about marrying and loving his wife. The text states, that he also “seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the frost and even more congenial frost.” From the reading I know that Scrooge isn’t a people person and is very down about life. Based on the text he doesn’t really like being around them. For example Scrooge didn’t donate any money to the poor, and blew off his nephew about spending Christmas with them. In the text it states that there is no wind as bare as Scrooge, this means he doesn't really care or doesn't have many feelings.
In the first stave, Dickens tries to point out that Scrooge is a character that society considers negative. In the introduction,
'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
Scrooge's mean attitude was demonstrated when he said to his nephew, “What right have you to be Merry? You're poor enough" This is the first indication that Scrooge was not in the Christmas spirit as he was not joyful. This is also an indication that Scrooge was greedy and
Ebenezer Scrooge is the major character in the story, A Christmas Carol written by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol is about how a “cold-hearted, tight fisted, selfish” money grabbing man is offered an opportunity of a life time, to change his behaviour, attitude... to have a second chance in life.
“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.
money to the poor. He thinks of them as idle and he states that if
Before he wouldn't even think of giving away anything of his, nevermind something that precious to him. Both of these quotes show Scrooge's caring because he's giving to them, so he's trying to help because, for the first time, he felt empathy towards them. As you can see, Scrooge did go from selfish to generous. Adding on to that, the main character has obviously changed a lot, in just one
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.