Dickens- a writer who illuminated contemporary social issues, wrote a Christmas carol to push forth his message of society
needing to atone for its sins through his festive allegorical ghost novel. At the heart of this novella are the ghosts : Dickens
utilises each of the ghosts to demonstrate to the Victorian readers the impact of their misdeeds, the values of joy within family
and Christmas, therefore urging the audience to repent and change for a better society.
Dickens introduces Marley's spirit as the first ghost towards the end of stave one as he states "Marley had no bowels' ' at the
start of the extract. This could imply Marley was cowardly, uncompassionate and lacked substance during his lifetime as a
result of his avarice, suggesting his suffering was a result of it. This could also allude to his transparency, which appeals to
gothic conventions of ghosts being transparent and instils a sense of eeriness to frighten the readers. It makes the readers more
receptive to Dickens’s oncoming message as he highlights it is imperative that Scrooge understands the consequences he will
face (linking to how Marley's spirit questions "You don't believe in me") in the afterlife so that he truly redeems himself from
his covetous sins.
Further into the extract, Dickens presents Marley's spirit as the parallel of Scrooge to embody the impending consequences of
his current parsimonious lifestyle. This is suggested by "In life I was your partner" which signifies that Scrooge- Marley's
business partner is condemned to suffer Marley's fate of a "chain clasped about his middle" due to his obsession with
monetary gain. It links in with Scrooge’s previously established character as a "squeezing, clutching, wrenching, grasping,
scraping, covetous old sinner" which not only is an overwhelmingly harsh-sounding list of adjectives, which reflects his
misanthropic personality, but also religiously connotes the need of his redemption to the Christian-majority readers.
Therefore, Dickens could be using Marley's Spirit to not only catalyse Scrooge's redemption with fear, but more importantly,
relay a fate of purgatory to the stereotypically miserly Middle and Upper class Victoria's, simultaneously staging their
intervention against callous, ignorant greed.
Finally, towards the end of the extract, Dickens presents Scrooge's reaction to Marley's spirit as he explains "There's more of
gravy than grave about you". On one hand, his seemingly flippant response portrays him as obstinate as he denies his senses;
On the other hand, it suggests his deflection to conceal his fear of Marley- Striking unease in the reader to strengthen Dickens
message as aforementioned and even establishing the Ghosts’ lessons to come as the imperative takeaway towards redemption
of Scrooge's soul, as he realises "in his heart” the detriments of persisting in his "secret, self-contained, solitary" ways.
Dickens further utilises the ghosts to bring about change as the Ghost of CHristmas Past shows Scrooge his memories,
allowing him to recognize the ramifications of his self-imposed isolation. Dickens describes the spirit as having “very long,
muscular arms, the hands the same '' and
“sprung a bright clear jet of light” from “the crown of its head”. The description could suggest the strength of the spirit,
adding to the authority of his message. Alternatively, this could symbolise the hope that the strength of Scrooge’s memories-
both tender and painful will help him gain clarity (implied by “clear”) and see past his avarice and misanthropy. Towards the
middle of stave 2, the spirit evokes a change in Scrooge through his rhetorics, claiming Fezziwig’s generosity as “a small
matter”, so that Scrooge argues that his “power “ lies in things that are impossible to add’em up and count”. This hugely
contrasts his initial interrogative of “what right have you to be merry” so that Dickens demonstrates that under the guidance
of the Ghost, Scrooge learns of the impact he has on Bob- his employee and seeks to spread the same joy that Fezziwig’s had
(suggested by his remorseful “I would like to say a word or two [to him]”). Furthermore, by presenting how Scrooge
gradually evolves under the spirits influence, DIckens could be urging his middle to upper class readers to also understand
that wealth that can be “[added]'' and “[counted]” should not precede spiritual and inter-personal growth. Again, the spirit
attempts to show this as Scrooge despairs over how he could've had a daughter who would've “ been a springtime in the
haggard winter of his life” if he had not been consumed by greed. Through showing how the spirit evokes a range of
emotions, such as “gladness” and “pity for his former self”, DIckens not only reveals Scrooge’s subtle metamorphosis away
needing to atone for its sins through his festive allegorical ghost novel. At the heart of this novella are the ghosts : Dickens
utilises each of the ghosts to demonstrate to the Victorian readers the impact of their misdeeds, the values of joy within family
and Christmas, therefore urging the audience to repent and change for a better society.
Dickens introduces Marley's spirit as the first ghost towards the end of stave one as he states "Marley had no bowels' ' at the
start of the extract. This could imply Marley was cowardly, uncompassionate and lacked substance during his lifetime as a
result of his avarice, suggesting his suffering was a result of it. This could also allude to his transparency, which appeals to
gothic conventions of ghosts being transparent and instils a sense of eeriness to frighten the readers. It makes the readers more
receptive to Dickens’s oncoming message as he highlights it is imperative that Scrooge understands the consequences he will
face (linking to how Marley's spirit questions "You don't believe in me") in the afterlife so that he truly redeems himself from
his covetous sins.
Further into the extract, Dickens presents Marley's spirit as the parallel of Scrooge to embody the impending consequences of
his current parsimonious lifestyle. This is suggested by "In life I was your partner" which signifies that Scrooge- Marley's
business partner is condemned to suffer Marley's fate of a "chain clasped about his middle" due to his obsession with
monetary gain. It links in with Scrooge’s previously established character as a "squeezing, clutching, wrenching, grasping,
scraping, covetous old sinner" which not only is an overwhelmingly harsh-sounding list of adjectives, which reflects his
misanthropic personality, but also religiously connotes the need of his redemption to the Christian-majority readers.
Therefore, Dickens could be using Marley's Spirit to not only catalyse Scrooge's redemption with fear, but more importantly,
relay a fate of purgatory to the stereotypically miserly Middle and Upper class Victoria's, simultaneously staging their
intervention against callous, ignorant greed.
Finally, towards the end of the extract, Dickens presents Scrooge's reaction to Marley's spirit as he explains "There's more of
gravy than grave about you". On one hand, his seemingly flippant response portrays him as obstinate as he denies his senses;
On the other hand, it suggests his deflection to conceal his fear of Marley- Striking unease in the reader to strengthen Dickens
message as aforementioned and even establishing the Ghosts’ lessons to come as the imperative takeaway towards redemption
of Scrooge's soul, as he realises "in his heart” the detriments of persisting in his "secret, self-contained, solitary" ways.
Dickens further utilises the ghosts to bring about change as the Ghost of CHristmas Past shows Scrooge his memories,
allowing him to recognize the ramifications of his self-imposed isolation. Dickens describes the spirit as having “very long,
muscular arms, the hands the same '' and
“sprung a bright clear jet of light” from “the crown of its head”. The description could suggest the strength of the spirit,
adding to the authority of his message. Alternatively, this could symbolise the hope that the strength of Scrooge’s memories-
both tender and painful will help him gain clarity (implied by “clear”) and see past his avarice and misanthropy. Towards the
middle of stave 2, the spirit evokes a change in Scrooge through his rhetorics, claiming Fezziwig’s generosity as “a small
matter”, so that Scrooge argues that his “power “ lies in things that are impossible to add’em up and count”. This hugely
contrasts his initial interrogative of “what right have you to be merry” so that Dickens demonstrates that under the guidance
of the Ghost, Scrooge learns of the impact he has on Bob- his employee and seeks to spread the same joy that Fezziwig’s had
(suggested by his remorseful “I would like to say a word or two [to him]”). Furthermore, by presenting how Scrooge
gradually evolves under the spirits influence, DIckens could be urging his middle to upper class readers to also understand
that wealth that can be “[added]'' and “[counted]” should not precede spiritual and inter-personal growth. Again, the spirit
attempts to show this as Scrooge despairs over how he could've had a daughter who would've “ been a springtime in the
haggard winter of his life” if he had not been consumed by greed. Through showing how the spirit evokes a range of
emotions, such as “gladness” and “pity for his former self”, DIckens not only reveals Scrooge’s subtle metamorphosis away
