A Christmas Carol is set in 19thC London during the Christmas period. The story starts on Christmas Eve and ends on Christmas day. This is done to show the events that pass during the story are done by magic. The use of magic to tell this story would appeal to 19thC readers who were very superstitious. Also the time span of the story allows the reader to see that it is never too late for people to undergo great changes in their personality, and that under pressure people can change for the better in short spaces of time.
During the 19thC when people thought of Christmas thoughts of church, feasts and presents filled their minds. In Scrooges’ past he had experienced lonely Christmases at his boarding school as a child and warm happy Christmases as a young man. In particular when he was apprenticed by a man named Fezziwig who held a big Christmas party for his friends, family and employees. The party was not meant to have cost a lot of money but the idea of generosity of spirit was meant to inspire the 19thC reader to start helping the less fortunate who were in their control, such as servants “He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome…The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune”.
Like most tales of its time, there was a moral behind a Christmas Carol. It had been written to challenge the moral conscience of the wealthy people of the 19thC and the Government through the character of Scrooge and his attitude. Scrooges’ attitude was that of a typical wealthy business man who believed the poor had nothing to do with him and that Government issued help was enough. When asked to make a donation for the poor Scrooge replied “are there no… Union workhouses?” to which he was told the poor would rather die then go to. He then voiced the opinion of many wealthy people with “If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.” Dickens enlightens his readers to what repercussions could take place from their actions through Scrooges own journey. Scrooges’ 3 spirits enlighten him and guide a path for him that will change his and all affected by his actions, future.
The story shows the extremities of suffering endured by poor children in 19thC London. In Stave III the ghost of Christmas present, presents two children named Ignorance, the boy, and Want, the girl. These children are used to represent the plight of all poor children. Their appearance is used to show how a life of poverty affects the most innocent of creatures. Through lack of nourishment, warmth and care from their fellow man. ‘Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish…where graceful youth should have filled their features out…shrivelled hand had pinched…and pulled them into shreds.’ Their names also showed how lack of education and help from their fellow man led to the state they were in. They were presented to warn Scrooge not to be in want or ignorant because they would lead to his downfall.
The horrendous conditions of the poor are brought to light through this tale. ‘The ways were foul and narrow; the shops wretched, people half naked.’ Most wealthy readers would not have ever experience any of conditions the poor suffered daily, so having these truths written in a book for the wealthy elite was incredibly daring and challenging. The conditions were described to draw sympathy and to raise awareness about the plight of the people in their own country. It also gives the idea of child suffering a human form in tiny Tim. Tiny Tim’s condition would have been similar to a lot of children born into poverty, without proper treatment tiny Tim would die, the fact that Dickens gives a human embodiment to the plight of poor children enables the reader to in a sense connect better and feel more obligated to do something about the terrible situation.
The message in this story is simple; it is saying that those who are better off should not ignore the poverty stricken, rather they should help to escape poverty. Dickens wrote this book especially for Christmas because the message within it reinforces the spirit of Christmas which focuses on good will, forgiveness, family, peace and most importantly charity. Joining this message with the spirit of Christmas enabled Dickens to show people exactly how they could help at Christmas time and all year round.
The structure of the story centers on Christmas and celebrations which would appeal to the 19thC reader. As Christmas was a time for happy endings, good tidings and joviality the 19thC reader would expect as much from a Christmas story. The fact that it was written in five separate staves allowed the readers to become enthralled in the story then leave them wanting more. Not only does this story challenge the readers’ perspectives on the poor it also brings out all the good things about Christmas.
I think this story would appeal to a modern audience because it has some of the basic elements modern audience look for; history, macabre, and a happy ending. However the story would have appealed more to the 19thC reader as it written in archaic English and it is written for a 19thC reader who would have a different education and different lifestyle to that of modern day.
