In contrast Bob Crachit represents those that suffer under the management of the ‘Scrooge’s’ of the world – the English poor. The sympathetic description of Bob Crachit and his family puts a human face on the lower classes. Finally in this brief sketch we should note that Scrooge is a caricature.
The context of the story is to attain the sympathy of the middle and upper class audience by illustrating Bob Cratchit’s young son, crippled at birth. Tiny Tim plays a very significant role in the story; his character is used in representing the poor and less fortunate people in the world. Also he symbolises innocence showing how the greedy (scrooge) can live and do quite well for themselves whereas innocent people like him are living in a harsh poverty. By choosing to portray an old person Dickens perhaps shows that no-one is too set in his or her way to change, and that change is possible even late in life.
Dickens describes the holidays as ‘a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time’. This contrasts between the streets, and Scrooge’s office and house. Scrooge’s office and house represent a nature opposed to the Christmas spirit whereas the streets represent a pleasant and sentimental celebration of the Christmas season.
The elements of fiction are connected by the background against which they stand out. The imaginative writer creates a world in which his characters ‘live, move and have their own being.’ You know it as if you were an observer on the scene; becoming a member of its population, willing to befriend its characters, and able to participate in its happenings by sympathetic insight, as you would do in a performance.
The most important theme is that change is possible however set we are in our ways. Dickens imagines the most miserable and hard-hearted man he can, and shows how he can be reformed if he sees his responsibilities.
Through out his work Dickens puts in the description of food and drink in such a way as to makes the simplest of meals seem a feast. Dickens readers would not have homes as full of food as we do today. "I have no doubt whatever that the warm stuff in the jug at Bob Cratchit's Christmas dinner, had a very pleasant effect on the simple party. I am certain that if I had been at Mr. Fezziwig's ball, I should have taken a little negus -- and possibly not a little beer -- and been none the worse for it, in heart or head. I am very sure that the working people of this country have not too many household enjoyments, and I could not, in my fancy or in actual deed, deprive them of this one when it is so innocently shared."
The structure of the story is determined by its content. The three central chapters correspond to times in Scrooge’s life: his past, the present as it is for other people, many of who are affected by Scrooge’s unkindness and his future as it may be or will be, if he does not change. The chapters relate to the visits of the three ghosts. Dickens portrays all three ghosts and in very different ways, the first ghost is shown as having or showing a kindly and considerate nature and expressing pity, the second ghost is shown as being authoritative yet hearty and the third ghost tending to be forceful of argument.
The ghost of Christmas past in a way shows people that your experiences make up who you are (experience is the name that everyone gives to their mistake and when each of us understands we’re responsible for the decisions we make in life we will become better people – this is why the ghost is both a child as well as a man):
‘it was a strange figure – like a child; yet not so like a child as like an old man’
The ghost of Christmas past, with his glowing head symbolising the mind, represents memory. The ghost of Christmas past, a strange childlike phantom touches on the role of memory to impose a force that connects the different stages of a person’s life. By using the glowing head Dickens is implying the enlightening power of the mind. The ghost transported him around the city, showing him scenes of celebration and also the lack of festivity that was happening as they watched. Scrooge watches himself become more cold and greedy as a result of the way he his viewed by others and the happiness which others will find from his death. We know this when Scrooge asks if Tim will die and is reminded of his past unkind comment – ‘they had better do it now, and decrease the surplus population’ – reflecting Scrooges earlier comment to the two charitable people and also from ‘why did his cold eye glisten and his heart leap up as they went? why was he filled with gladness when he heard them give each other Merry Christmas…?’ the tour through his memories forces Scrooge to recall his emotional period of his past. This breakdown and reconnection with his feelings causes him to come out of his bah-humbug outer shell. The story promotes the values of mutual good spirit and abounding celebration but when the desire of money exceeds it prevents them from sharing themselves with others, such as ‘our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both poor and content to be so…,’ his strong desire for money destroys his love for Belle.
The ghost of Christmas present demonstrates that there are always opportunities that confront us in life to care for others that are around us but we often do not recognise these situations or realise how big the world really is. The ghost of Christmas present performs as a core symbol of the Christmas goodwill and celebration. He represents a symbol of wealth and happiness. It allows Scrooge to bring to mind that Christmas is a time of sharing wealth with the community and enjoying a feast with loved ones. A memorable image comes where the Ghost of Christmas Present compares people to insects, and wealthy Scrooge is mocked for looking down on ‘insects’ who have less to live on: ‘oh god! to hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust!’ The ghost of Christmas present also represents sympathy and understanding which allows Scrooge to see the Cratchit’s and feel the sadness and hardship they face. When it quotes ‘the mention of his name cast a shadow on the party…’ it is putting forward the unfeeling members of an unattached upper class from the lower class.
Even though Scrooge is informed of some of his mistakes from the first as well as second ghost, in the concluding stages of the story, Scrooge himself is able to analyse the mistakes he committed and realises that he has to change. Throughout the novel we are able to notice that he is gradually changing his cold attitude and opinions through his own statements and feelings. Scrooge also begins to seem himself as others see him.
When the first and second ghost visit scrooge; taking him back to his past Scrooge ends up making many links.
Seeing himself as a small boy he thinks the carol singer outside his door. When he sees his sister, Fan, he thinks of how harsh he has been to her son. But most of all he is affected by the sight of the person he is most able to help Tiny Tim.
The ghost of Christmas yet to come symbolises our fear to the future and also our control over it – the future is what we make of it, that is why you cannot see the face of the ghost and he is cloaked in black. The ghost of Christmas yet to come symbolises the fear of death. It quotes ‘it’s likely to be a very cheap funeral…for anyone upon my life, I don’t know anyone to go to it,’ this is indicating the consequences of greed and selfishness. It is also representing the punishment and rewards which is basically heaven and hell.
In the end we encounter a new Scrooge which involves happiness and Christmas cheer. For example ‘ I’ll raise your salary and endeavour to assist your struggling family…’ Scrooge intends to make up for the bitterness he caused them.
A Christmas Carol has a content of passages that hold symbolic meanings which displays how a hard hearted person can be changed into a charitable person. On the whole I think the author was successful in trying to illustrate how and why Scrooge changes.
