“God bless us, everyone.” Were the words of timothy Cratchit round the dinner table and giving thanks to the world and to his family even when he is ill he thinks of others. Dickens uses these different characters to show two separate classes and different opinions. He shows the differences between classes and how people were treated just because of money advantages, or poverty. Bob Cratchits family is supported by Scrooges because Bob works for him, but dose not have a good relationship with any of his employees, he only cares about himself. He has a nephew who comes round to make peace with scrooge as it is Christmas but still there is no change with scrooge “Christmas or not!” He did not care about their needs “keep Christmas in your own way, let me keep it in mine” he also did not understand his nephew the way Christmas brought out so much merriment “merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.” He did not understand why a poor person could care so much and want to help others when they can not help them selves. He had no Family with whom he wanted to spend time, he didn’t see why anyone would want to, even though Bob Crathit was treated badly but still managed to make a toast to his boss, thanking him. Even though his family didn’t agree and hated the man. Scrooge would never show compassion to them.
The towns and cities in Britain in the 1800’ss were completely different from today, hygiene was not a great issue back then, the rubbish would be thrown onto the streets. Towns were small, dirty and compressed. Rich people looked down on that and thought nothing of the poor, “are there no prisons2 the rich were only happy just as long as the didn’t have to see the less fortunate. The rich thought they were below them. They more fortunate were a lot more different. They spent their money to have the best Christmas money could buy. It would include singing, dancing and many Christmas games. But the other part of the town had to make do with what they had, but that was not much.
They may not have had the money but they made sure that one day out of the whole year it wouldn’t affect them, they’d use the main component they needed, “love”.
“A Christmas Carol” points a perfect picture and tries to describe everything to the last point.
“heaped upon the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brown great joints of meat, long wreaths of sausage, mince pies, plum puddings, barrels of oysters, red hot chestnuts, cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immens twelfth cakes and bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam.” Dickens thought that this description would be the best way to show and describe every bit of food so the readers would be able to picture a traditional meal, he did not miss a thing. Dickens tried to show a change of character of scrooge from the start he hated Christmas and basically everyone after all his adventures he changes completely then he knew the true meaning of Christmas.
Today on the other Christmas has change a great deal. It is more commercial than before and a money making scheme and less thoughtful. Children today are not taught or raised with the true meaning of Christmas “the birth of Jesus Christ” even though it may put a smile on children’s faces while unwrapping his/her presents and they get a 2 week holiday from school, that’s not why Christmas is still here today.
The Christmas card images is a snowy white Christmas night with families together and carol singers the traditional day it is hardly seen like that any more, but when asked what is Christmas those thoughts always come to mind.
Dickens has left us all with the best thing, a picture we will never forget, and has passed on the message as well. To give love out to those less fortunate than yourself. He wanted there to be no boundaries and no classes and there still is today they may have changed a little but we need to forget all the little things and celebrate Christmas with our families.
