A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Context
Wrote it in 1843, after the Industrial Revolution. He was born into a middle-class family, and he received a good education.
However, his father came into financial difficulty and ended up in a debtor's prison (John Dickens was a clerk like Bob Cratchit)
which could explain his empathy towards the Cratchits and idealises them to such an extent. This meant that Charles Dickens
was forced to work in a factory with appalling conditions. He experienced poverty first-hand. He was able to return to
education through inheritance.
As a result of the Industrial Revolution, overpopulation was an Issue. Dickens wrote this political diatribe to address claims by
Thomas Malthus directly. Scrooge could be an allegorical character for Malthus as the ‘surplus population’ reflects the
Malthusian growth model. Furthermore, Dickens couldn't have become a writer if he didn't experience education. He uses
‘Ignorance’ and want as a metaphorical product of society without education. Through the use of allegorical characters such
as Scrooge, Dickens voices his opinions on ignorance towards the poor. In Victorian society, the rich often believed that the
poor were lazy and deserved to be poor. The quote ‘can't afford to make idle people merry’ suggests a lack of empathy and
encompasses this prejudice as he also describes them as lazy. This novella is credited for popularising the spread of traditions
and festivities(themes of family, love, and giving) which encapsulate the spirit of Victorian Christmas.
Stave Summary Key Quotes
1 (Jacob It's Christmas Eve ‘Solitary as an oyster’
and Scrooge is Suggests he is closed off and reclusive. It is symbolic of Scrooge's character
Marley) introduced as a redemption arc as through the cumulative effects of the Ghosts, he reveals the pearl
‘tight-fisted’ miser
inside of him.Pearl=purity and innocence in him is also rare to find a pearl in an
He treats Bob
Cratchit awfully oyster. The symbolism of an oyster is thick and hard to get through.
He refuses an ‘Are there no prisons, are there no workhouses’
invite to his Scrooge allegorically represents the upper class and their opinion of poverty. Reveals
Nephew's house Scrooge's misanthropic nature through repetition of ‘no’ implying he is insistent they
for Christmas must suffer first.
Refuses to give
money to charity ‘If they would rather die…they better do it and decrease the surplus population’
‘Are there no
Link here to context and Thomas Malthus. The ‘surplus population’ could be linked to
prisons’
Scrooge is visited Tiny Tim as he is too unwell to work so he can't contribute as much to society in the
by Jacob Marley eyes of capitalism. This dehumanises the deserving poor as the upper classes
Tell him that 3 assume they are just lazy.
Ghosts will visit. ‘I wear the chains I forged in life…I made it link by link’
Marley is a catalyst for Scrooge's redemption. The chain metaphorically represents
spiritual impurities (greed and sin). The greed in life has become a burden to Marley
in the afterlife. He is living in spiritual poverty. Asyndetic list e.g ‘cash-boxes, keys,
padlocks’ emphasise greed
‘Hard and as sharp as flint’
‘Sharp’=hurts cratchits as he is causing them to starve. Scrooge causes emotional
pain. ‘Flint’ could indicate that there is a spark of hope as fire has connotations of
warmth and generosity-hinting at Scrooge's character redemption arc.This is a
metaphor
‘Mankind was my business’
"'Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy,
forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were
but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!'
Analysis: The repetition of "business" emphasises the foolish notion that man's
"business" should be financially driven. It is ironic that "mercy" (implying leniency),
"benevolence" (emphasising kindness) and "forbearance" (highlighting patience and
fairness) don't cost anything- mankind Money is depicted as a metaphorical "drop of
water", juxtaposed with mankind, shown as a "comprehensive ocean". Mankind's
value dwarfs that of operations around "common welfare", not "trade". money.
‘Covetous old sinner’ ‘Covetous’=sin from the bible(greed) Scrooge juxtaposes the 7
heavenly virtues that Fred embodies. Scrooge is encompassed with sin and is far
from salvation.
, 2 (Ghost of Scrooge is visited ‘A bright clear jet of light’
by the Ghost of The adjectival list emphasises spiritual purity. Light represents remembrance/hope. It
Christmas Christmas past metaphorically shines a light on Scrooge's past.
Past) Returns to his
‘I was a boy here…’ ‘Your lip is trembling’
childhood school
Moves on to a later The memory of his childhood is the first break in his metaphorical
Christmas when wall(Ebenezer=wall of stone).
Fan visits him The noun ‘boy’ emphasises the innocence of childhood. He sees himself as ‘solitary’
Moves to Fezziwig- which is a motif throughout Scrooge's character redemptive arc showing he was
how well Scrooge neglected in his childhood which could explain his lack of emotional warmth. This
was treated could link with Rousseau’s concept that what happens in childhood carries through
Scrooge’s fiance to adulthood (solitary)
Belle breaks off the
‘Another idol has displaced me… a golden one’
engagement
Belle’s family is Religious connotations of having sin. Scrooge has displaced his worship of Belle over
what Scrooge money. Embodiment of Capitalist attitudes.
could have had. ‘Father is so much kinder than he was’
The superlative ‘much’ emphasises that Scrooge's father has changed. Scrooge was
neglected by his father (link to context) and his character development could
foreshadow Scrooge's change to becoming a father-like- figure to Tiny Tim.
‘Show me no more’
The repetition of ‘no more’ could emphasise the emotional turmoil Scrooge has
experienced. Scrooge has become so enlightened that it is blinding him to the point
where he can't see.
3 (Ghost of Scrooge is visited ‘Jolly Giant’/’holly wreath’
by the Ghost of Adjective ‘Jolly’ implies the giant is non-threatening. ‘Holly wreath’ has connotations
Christmas Christmas Present. of everlasting and warding off evil which Scrooge currently embodies so it is a hint of
Present) Goes to Bob’s
his character's redemptive arc.
house and sees
their poverty but The spirit sprinkles his torch on the poor ‘as they need it the most’.It has religious
realises they are connotations of a blessing the poor and he is a protector of the poor
happy together. ‘Brave in ribbons’
The son Tiny Tim is Mrs Crachit although she is impoverished she is spiritually rich as she embodies
sick and the Ghost love,strength,joy. She takes pride in her appearance- economising
says he will die (Tiny Tim) ‘who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see’
unless something The metaphorically blind=Scrooge allows him to see how the poor suffer.It is a
changes
reference to one of Jesus’ miracles which teaches the victorian audience to use the 7
.Ghost shows him
Fred's house heavenly virtues
where they talk ‘As good as gold’ Bob describes Tiny Tim ‘as good as gold’.This metaphor sharply
about Scrooge and contrasts the ‘golden idle’ which displaced Belle.Gold is a symbol to emphasise how
his wealth not the rich worship material possessions but the poor ‘worship’ family and loved ones.
making him ‘Mr Scrooge…founder of the Feast’ -Bob Cratchit
happy. The Cratchits dinner is ‘sufficient’ implying that they are thankful for what they have
Finally, the Ghost but it could be more.It contrasts the image of the feast ‘heaped up on the floor’ at
shows Ignorance
the start of Stage 3 which could highlight the greediness and surplus of the rich that
and Want to
illustrate society's takes away from the poor.Furthermore this could have connotations of capitalist
creation and uses views as the rich only care for themselves (greedy- have a surplus of food-waste) and
Scrooge's own the poor are forced to comply with ‘sufficient’ materials.
words against him The toast that Bob gives Scrooge emphasises his gratefulness to Scrooge as without
‘Are there no him they wouldn't be able to eat. The ‘feast’ is an ironic read paragraph above
prisons’ emphasised by the exclamative
Analysis of the meaning behind ‘Cratchits’
It is latin for ‘crutch’ which could be a metaphor for how the poor have to
depend/lean on the rich.Tiny Tim=A christ like figure. Bob carries the burden that he
cant heal his child.
‘Scrooge was the Ogre of the family’
‘Ogre’ French for orcas feed on human flesh metaphorically scrooge is feeding on the
cratchits by underpaying them.
‘Tell me if Tiny Tim will live’
The imperative shows Scrooge's affection/concern for Tiny Tim.
‘Vacant seat’ (Ghost) emphasises Scrooge's responsibility in Tiny Tim's death.
This shows that Scrooge is progressing towards salvation and redemption.
Fred shows empathy for Scrooge 'couldn't be angry with him if I tried’ Fred and Bob
show no resentment for Scrooge
Context
Wrote it in 1843, after the Industrial Revolution. He was born into a middle-class family, and he received a good education.
However, his father came into financial difficulty and ended up in a debtor's prison (John Dickens was a clerk like Bob Cratchit)
which could explain his empathy towards the Cratchits and idealises them to such an extent. This meant that Charles Dickens
was forced to work in a factory with appalling conditions. He experienced poverty first-hand. He was able to return to
education through inheritance.
As a result of the Industrial Revolution, overpopulation was an Issue. Dickens wrote this political diatribe to address claims by
Thomas Malthus directly. Scrooge could be an allegorical character for Malthus as the ‘surplus population’ reflects the
Malthusian growth model. Furthermore, Dickens couldn't have become a writer if he didn't experience education. He uses
‘Ignorance’ and want as a metaphorical product of society without education. Through the use of allegorical characters such
as Scrooge, Dickens voices his opinions on ignorance towards the poor. In Victorian society, the rich often believed that the
poor were lazy and deserved to be poor. The quote ‘can't afford to make idle people merry’ suggests a lack of empathy and
encompasses this prejudice as he also describes them as lazy. This novella is credited for popularising the spread of traditions
and festivities(themes of family, love, and giving) which encapsulate the spirit of Victorian Christmas.
Stave Summary Key Quotes
1 (Jacob It's Christmas Eve ‘Solitary as an oyster’
and Scrooge is Suggests he is closed off and reclusive. It is symbolic of Scrooge's character
Marley) introduced as a redemption arc as through the cumulative effects of the Ghosts, he reveals the pearl
‘tight-fisted’ miser
inside of him.Pearl=purity and innocence in him is also rare to find a pearl in an
He treats Bob
Cratchit awfully oyster. The symbolism of an oyster is thick and hard to get through.
He refuses an ‘Are there no prisons, are there no workhouses’
invite to his Scrooge allegorically represents the upper class and their opinion of poverty. Reveals
Nephew's house Scrooge's misanthropic nature through repetition of ‘no’ implying he is insistent they
for Christmas must suffer first.
Refuses to give
money to charity ‘If they would rather die…they better do it and decrease the surplus population’
‘Are there no
Link here to context and Thomas Malthus. The ‘surplus population’ could be linked to
prisons’
Scrooge is visited Tiny Tim as he is too unwell to work so he can't contribute as much to society in the
by Jacob Marley eyes of capitalism. This dehumanises the deserving poor as the upper classes
Tell him that 3 assume they are just lazy.
Ghosts will visit. ‘I wear the chains I forged in life…I made it link by link’
Marley is a catalyst for Scrooge's redemption. The chain metaphorically represents
spiritual impurities (greed and sin). The greed in life has become a burden to Marley
in the afterlife. He is living in spiritual poverty. Asyndetic list e.g ‘cash-boxes, keys,
padlocks’ emphasise greed
‘Hard and as sharp as flint’
‘Sharp’=hurts cratchits as he is causing them to starve. Scrooge causes emotional
pain. ‘Flint’ could indicate that there is a spark of hope as fire has connotations of
warmth and generosity-hinting at Scrooge's character redemption arc.This is a
metaphor
‘Mankind was my business’
"'Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy,
forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were
but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!'
Analysis: The repetition of "business" emphasises the foolish notion that man's
"business" should be financially driven. It is ironic that "mercy" (implying leniency),
"benevolence" (emphasising kindness) and "forbearance" (highlighting patience and
fairness) don't cost anything- mankind Money is depicted as a metaphorical "drop of
water", juxtaposed with mankind, shown as a "comprehensive ocean". Mankind's
value dwarfs that of operations around "common welfare", not "trade". money.
‘Covetous old sinner’ ‘Covetous’=sin from the bible(greed) Scrooge juxtaposes the 7
heavenly virtues that Fred embodies. Scrooge is encompassed with sin and is far
from salvation.
, 2 (Ghost of Scrooge is visited ‘A bright clear jet of light’
by the Ghost of The adjectival list emphasises spiritual purity. Light represents remembrance/hope. It
Christmas Christmas past metaphorically shines a light on Scrooge's past.
Past) Returns to his
‘I was a boy here…’ ‘Your lip is trembling’
childhood school
Moves on to a later The memory of his childhood is the first break in his metaphorical
Christmas when wall(Ebenezer=wall of stone).
Fan visits him The noun ‘boy’ emphasises the innocence of childhood. He sees himself as ‘solitary’
Moves to Fezziwig- which is a motif throughout Scrooge's character redemptive arc showing he was
how well Scrooge neglected in his childhood which could explain his lack of emotional warmth. This
was treated could link with Rousseau’s concept that what happens in childhood carries through
Scrooge’s fiance to adulthood (solitary)
Belle breaks off the
‘Another idol has displaced me… a golden one’
engagement
Belle’s family is Religious connotations of having sin. Scrooge has displaced his worship of Belle over
what Scrooge money. Embodiment of Capitalist attitudes.
could have had. ‘Father is so much kinder than he was’
The superlative ‘much’ emphasises that Scrooge's father has changed. Scrooge was
neglected by his father (link to context) and his character development could
foreshadow Scrooge's change to becoming a father-like- figure to Tiny Tim.
‘Show me no more’
The repetition of ‘no more’ could emphasise the emotional turmoil Scrooge has
experienced. Scrooge has become so enlightened that it is blinding him to the point
where he can't see.
3 (Ghost of Scrooge is visited ‘Jolly Giant’/’holly wreath’
by the Ghost of Adjective ‘Jolly’ implies the giant is non-threatening. ‘Holly wreath’ has connotations
Christmas Christmas Present. of everlasting and warding off evil which Scrooge currently embodies so it is a hint of
Present) Goes to Bob’s
his character's redemptive arc.
house and sees
their poverty but The spirit sprinkles his torch on the poor ‘as they need it the most’.It has religious
realises they are connotations of a blessing the poor and he is a protector of the poor
happy together. ‘Brave in ribbons’
The son Tiny Tim is Mrs Crachit although she is impoverished she is spiritually rich as she embodies
sick and the Ghost love,strength,joy. She takes pride in her appearance- economising
says he will die (Tiny Tim) ‘who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see’
unless something The metaphorically blind=Scrooge allows him to see how the poor suffer.It is a
changes
reference to one of Jesus’ miracles which teaches the victorian audience to use the 7
.Ghost shows him
Fred's house heavenly virtues
where they talk ‘As good as gold’ Bob describes Tiny Tim ‘as good as gold’.This metaphor sharply
about Scrooge and contrasts the ‘golden idle’ which displaced Belle.Gold is a symbol to emphasise how
his wealth not the rich worship material possessions but the poor ‘worship’ family and loved ones.
making him ‘Mr Scrooge…founder of the Feast’ -Bob Cratchit
happy. The Cratchits dinner is ‘sufficient’ implying that they are thankful for what they have
Finally, the Ghost but it could be more.It contrasts the image of the feast ‘heaped up on the floor’ at
shows Ignorance
the start of Stage 3 which could highlight the greediness and surplus of the rich that
and Want to
illustrate society's takes away from the poor.Furthermore this could have connotations of capitalist
creation and uses views as the rich only care for themselves (greedy- have a surplus of food-waste) and
Scrooge's own the poor are forced to comply with ‘sufficient’ materials.
words against him The toast that Bob gives Scrooge emphasises his gratefulness to Scrooge as without
‘Are there no him they wouldn't be able to eat. The ‘feast’ is an ironic read paragraph above
prisons’ emphasised by the exclamative
Analysis of the meaning behind ‘Cratchits’
It is latin for ‘crutch’ which could be a metaphor for how the poor have to
depend/lean on the rich.Tiny Tim=A christ like figure. Bob carries the burden that he
cant heal his child.
‘Scrooge was the Ogre of the family’
‘Ogre’ French for orcas feed on human flesh metaphorically scrooge is feeding on the
cratchits by underpaying them.
‘Tell me if Tiny Tim will live’
The imperative shows Scrooge's affection/concern for Tiny Tim.
‘Vacant seat’ (Ghost) emphasises Scrooge's responsibility in Tiny Tim's death.
This shows that Scrooge is progressing towards salvation and redemption.
Fred shows empathy for Scrooge 'couldn't be angry with him if I tried’ Fred and Bob
show no resentment for Scrooge
