A Christmas Carol

times.Dickens was concerned with the working conditions of the people who suffered whilst trying to make a living; this is reflected upon the character of Ebenezer scrooge, a ghastly, old and mean owner who is hated by almost everybody, even by his workers. He did not care for them, or show them pity, he paid them minimum wage and if they didn’t like it, it wouldn’t matter, they would resign and there would be a queue for people wanting to work there as a replacement, scrooge therefore saw it as no loss. He knew this because during the industrial evolution there were more people than their were jobs, and people back them had to grab anything they could get, whether or not they would suffer or die earning their money, there were a limited amount of jobs.We also see scrooge making a rather harsh remark on the lives of the poor, where we see two men knocking on scrooge’s door for donations. He says that it would be alright for them to die as it would help the population problem. Also we focus upon the character of Bob Cratchit, who is one of scrooge’s workers. He is paid a meagre salary and can barely afford to feed and care for his own family, his son is dieing and he is too poor to afford proper medication for him. Even through all this, he still manages to have a Christmas dinner with his family and not let his situation destroy the spirit of Christmas. Bob Cratchit represents the working class that do their best to live on what they get paid and are thankful for their health. While some still argue to this day that dickens motivation for the story came from the lives of the poor and that Christmas was all that they had left. Although there is clear evidence that Dickens looked to religious beliefs and Christian values as a way to keep Christmas sacred and also as a way to respond to the problems society was facing. Dickens writes particular about this in scrooge’s experience with his time with Ghost of Christmas future and how dickens responds to different values of Christianity. Just as Jesus speaks of welcoming and caring for children is a way of honoring god, and in the same resemblance for the family of Tiny Tim and how we should care for him and his family, is also a way of honoring god. A more symbolic lesson can be learned as we compare Tiny Tim’s grave with scrooge’s. When Bob Cratchit returns to his family he explains ‘I wish you could’ve gone, it would have done you good to see how green a place it is’. Bob cries with some optimism. In the city, particularly, the poor would not have seen many ‘green’ places, green beautiful places. And although Timmy’s death is a mournful occasion there is a slight sense of joy that he has reached a better place. In contrast, scrooge’s grave is different, although the church is considers a ‘wealthy place’ is it also wall’s by houses and overrun with grass and weeds. Looking upon the grave pointed out by the spirit, scrooge plainly reads his own name. It is clear that the graves differ greatly; as different as heaven and hell. Another Christian value explained.Just as scrooge is warned about his future and the way he is going about it, Dickens may be also warning the people of England and that if they don’t stand up and seek reform soon, not only on a social and political standpoint but on a moral and religious one two, great hell could also be in store for them. Another perhaps religious point in dickens story is at the end of the scene with the ghost of the future and scrooge’s change of heart and promise to ‘honor Christmas and keep it all year’, We assume from marleys earlier warning where if scrooge was to change his ways he could in sense ‘Sponge away his name from the grave’ and start a new life. It is significant that Scrooge promises that "the Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” This is a very indicative statement in Christian values and belief and faith to follow and live by the teachings of the ‘Three’, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. When we first meet scrooge we note and observe that he is cold, miserly and bitter. But after the visit from the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge changed into a generous and cheerful man, it is clear that something must have turned this man who is nice into something nasty and mean, in this case it is the Industrial Evolution.                                                                                 By Thomas Craig Davies, 11LL.