A christmas carol

The novel “A Christmas carol” was written in 1843 when celebrating Christmas was hard, by a famous author who goes by the name of Charles Dickens. A young man during that time who knew how to enjoy Christmas even when having to work in a warehouse and, watching his father being sentenced to prison for being poor and in debt. A man with a tough childhood but, unbelievable techniques when it came to language and writing. He was very depressed in the three months that he spent apart from his family. He disliked his job. Once he was released from prison, Charles went back to school, later becoming a law clerk. At the age of 25, he completed his first novel and years later he wrote the very popular novel, A Christmas Carol.

In this novel written by Dickens, his language is often over exaggerated and descriptive, Scrooge is the main character. A rich, cold hearted selfish man who feels no sympathy towards the poor and hates the time of Christmas. ‘What’s Christmas to you but a time for paying bills without money…every idiot who goes about with “Merry Christmas” on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!’ An old man who feels Christmas is a fraud. A character that only has a mind for money and thinks Christmas is a drug that addicts people into spending their savings on pathetic gifts and items. A character that feels paying tax is bad enough so giving charity is out of the question. ‘I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned-they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.’ He despises the word charity. A man who believes poor people ought to be punished with death. ‘If they would rather die,’ said Scrooge, they had better it, and decrease the surplus population. An evil man in people’s eyes and is also feared and hated by all of those that know him. Dickens also uses metaphors to describe Scrooge. ‘A frosty rime was on his head,’ ‘he carried his own low temperature’. This shows readers that Scrooge was foreign to human warmth. No one can stand to be in the presence of him just to avoid seeing his moody face and arrogant belief which is Christmas is a fraud and the poor deserve to die. Scrooge represents one of many people that lived during that period of time who felt the same way Scrooge did. Dickens made Scrooge the way he did so he could make an effect on the attitude of people towards Christmas and the poor. He wanted people to feel sympathy towards the poor like the way he did because he had the experience of being poor. He wanted people to understand the outcome of people if they were similar to Scrooge which was cruelty, loneliness and selfishness.

In my opinion one of Dickens’s best techniques was his use of a lot of description just so that he could get his point across his readers. ‘Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts;’ Dickens wrote this to prove even animals were interpreted by the behaviour of Scrooge. This technique was used throughout the whole story and made a huge effect on me because it really made me understand Scrooges’ character and the effect he was making on the surroundings. The whole book was very easy to understand because of Dickens’ description and this technique made the book seem more interesting to me. He also uses exaggeration when describing one of the scenes in the novel where Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present are watching a definitely exaggerated scene of people out an about in the cities celebrating Christmas but, then showed another scene of a family known as the Cratchits who were pretty poor but were still celebrating Christmas in their homes, playing games, having fun and enjoying Christmas to its fullest. This in my opinion was also another useful technique because it makes everything seem possible, which is why it was attracting more readers because it even made poor people seem good which must’ve made an impact on its readers. People were finding it difficult to celebrate Christmas because it was changing due to the industrial revolution. Once Oliver Cromwell the man people thought was doing more evil than good and, the man that banned Christmas during his role was no longer in power people were moving to cities causing the population to rise and were once again trying to celebrate Christmas. Although many were struggling at first it began to get easier and people were finally celebrating Christmas once again due to the fact Dickens’s novel was allowing people to understand how to celebrate Christmas. Dickens encouraged many to once again celebrate Christmas but in a new way, the way the Cratchit family were celebrating it. This is why nowadays people tend to celebrate Christmas in their homes with their immediate family. This was just a few of many techniques Dickens used in his novel to change the attitude of people towards Christmas and the poor.

Throughout the story he wanted people to feel for the poor and Christmas, he made this clear by using a character in the book as a mouthpiece. This character was a gentleman who was helping the charity and was trying to make Christmas better for poor people. That’s the attitude Dickens wanted to make happen by using a mouthpiece. He wanted people to make life better for the poor and allow them to have a Merry Christmas.

In the novel Scrooge is visited by the spirit of his dead friend Marley. Marley lived a terrible life and so had to face a terrible fate. His spirit was not allowed to rest in peace because he had the same intentions as Scrooge which was money. His spirit was chained with many objects that had to do with money and greed. For his spirit to be freed so it could rest in peace Marley needed to make sure Scrooge changed his selfish attitude before he too would face the same fate as Marley and the both of them would never be given the second chance to change their fate and that the spirit of both of them would be chained forever however Scrooges would be longer and heavier because he would lived for a longer period of time. Each link and item of the chain symbolised each act of selfishness and greed. Marley gave Scrooge three warnings which were Marley’s spirit would not be given the chance to rest unless Scrooge would overcome his fate. The second of the two warnings was that Scrooge would have to change his selfish attitude and not just care for himself if he did not want to face the same fate as Marley but twice as bad, and the last of the three warnings was that Scrooge would come across three spirits.

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After the visit from his best friend Marley Scrooge tries to forget this meeting but then is shocked to see the presence of the ghost of Christmas past. A very gentle and peaceful looking spirit that glows in white and seems more like an angel than a ghost. She shows Scrooge flashbacks of his life and things he never managed to see. He is shown a terrible memory in his childhood days. He is shown him as a child alone in his boarding school. Lonely and feeling depressed. Scrooge feels very neglected and upset while seeing this scene. “Scrooge………wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be”. This scene was shown to Scrooge so he could understand why he’s so individual and selfish and why he likes to keep him to himself. He never had many people caring for him when he was young which is why he never cares for people around him. He never got to go home for Christmas which is why he disliked it when he grew up. He had bad memories when it came to Christmas.

He is next shown scenes of him being alone on Christmas with his only friend Ali Baba who meant a lot to him. He is very excited about this scene because it shows him with his only imaginary friend during Christmas in which he never got to go home. ‘Laughing’ ‘excited face’. Once seeing these scenes he remembers not giving money to the charity workers including a little boy reminding him of his poor self. He feels regretful about not giving money to the charity workers. ‘I should like to have given them something’. This proves he is beginning to change. Dickens in this part tries to show no matter how wealthy you are you should always care for the poor.

The next scene he is shown is him a bit older enjoying a party hosted by Fezziwig. The first party that occurred on Christmas that he was involved in. A party he felt was fantastic. ‘There were more dances…great piece of Cold Boiled.’ He also felt the old man Fezziwig was a great guy even though the spirit of Christmas Past makes Scrooge wonder whether Fezziwig deserved the praise he was given. Whether he deserved the gratitude he was given. Scrooge is angered by what the spirit says and reacts in a heated way. He feels even though Fezziwig only spent a few pounds he still made everyone happy. ‘He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. To Scrooge it doesn’t matter how much Fezziwig spends the happiness he gives is countless. ‘The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.’ Dickens tries to make his readers appreciate the people that make Christmas happy, which is why Scrooge after seeing this feels guilty for making his clerks work difficult as well as spoil his Christmas. ‘No I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. That’s all.’ Mr Feeziwig is in total contrast to Scrooge. He is the one that creates a more warm and positive atmosphere with his wealth whereas Scrooge who is totally opposite creates a more cold and negative atmosphere. Fezziwig, who was more involved in the Christmas spirit, gave his employees and local residents a Christmas party to remember whereas Scrooge didn’t even give his employees a day off on Christmas day. You can easily see the contrast between Scrooge and Fezziwig. This scene makes Scrooge realise hat his approach to life is harsh and cruel. You can tell by the way Scrooge reacts to what the spirit says. “oh how stupid, look at him sharing his money” and Scrooge replies “no, no it’s wonderful”. This scene was used in the book to allow Scrooge as well as the books readers understand that you should always take the opportunity to make people happy and never take anything for granted. Fezziwig had wealth but still managed to spread happiness which is why Dickens used him to get his point across his readers.

The first of the final two scenes he is shown is a flashback of him and his ex girlfriend breaking up. He is reluctant to see this scene because it proved how much he was in love with money and the greed over it. “No more! Cried Scrooge” His ex-fionce left him because he was in love with money more than her. She was second to his money. He was a very obsessive man. He had only thought on mind and that was money. Like the old saying goes money can’t buy you love.

The final depressing scene the ghost of Christmas past shows to Scrooge is a flashback of his ex-fionce and her new loving husband and their kids. He does not want to see this scene either. He feels upset about this scene. ‘Remove me from this place.’ He can be jealous at times and knows he could’ve been the man standing by Belle’s side instead of her new husband.

The ghost showed Scrooge all the possible things he could’ve had if Scrooge didn’t become so into money and greed. He could’ve had a fantastic business with friends, a loving family with a wife who would care for him so much. A terrific man he could’ve been if he didn’t turn into an evil, cold hearted, selfish independent man. A man who had no pity for the poor and, disbelieved the time of Christmas. He could have been the completely opposite to what he is now and might’ve lived a good life.

He is later visited by the second spirit, The Ghost of Christmas Present. A giant spirit with a jolly like personality. He still has a point to show Scrooge but unlike the other ghost seems more happy and pleased to show it. The first scene this spirit shows to Scrooge is a scene of many people enjoying their Christmas and people enjoying the outside life of winter. A warm scene that even caused Scrooge to have joyful emotions running through his veins. This was a very descriptive and sentimental scene which was another technique Dickens used. Dickens tried to show the perfect Christmas which was joyful people and delicious food displayed in the street. A happy time Christmas was supposed to be according to Dickens. This was a great technique Dickens used to make his readers feel warm and happy about Christmas when reading this scene.

The next scene the spirit shows Scrooge is a scene where the Cratchit family are celebrating their Christmas in their home. They are wearing poor clothes but making the best out of them. “…dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence;” They have not got the most enriching food and the clothes they are wearing are not that expensive but are still trying to celebrate this special occasion to its best. They then eventually make a toast for Scrooge for giving them these benefits but then suddenly the atmosphere becomes moody and dark for a few minutes. Everything goes back to normal and the family continue with their celebration. Dickens’s message here was that you don’t need money to be happy.

Tiny Tim one of the many sons of Bob Cratchit is then mentioned. A young, kind hearted boy. “As good as gold.” A young boy on crutches but still trying to fight it. A boy on the verge of death according to the spirit unless, Tiny Tim’s shadows are removed. These shadows represent the lack of money for his operation. Scrooge reacts in a shocked way and gets scared after hearing this. He cares for Tiny Tim and wants his life spared. ‘No, no said Scrooge. ‘Oh, no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared.’ The spirit then repeats “if he be like to die” to Scrooge. Scrooge is then gob smacked after hearing the repetition of these words and is then full of pertinence and grief. He now feels he is responsible for the outcome of Tiny Tim and now feels some pity for the poor because the lack of money the Cratchit family are receiving is because of Scrooge. Scrooge is not giving a high enough salary to Bob Cratchit and now that is affecting his family. He now feels a bit more for the poor.

Tiny Tim is used as a character in this book very well. A young kind hearted boy that represents Scrooge when he was young. A poor and happy child with a big heart just like Scrooge. Even with a disability he was still cheerful and happy which once again Dickens intended to do because he wanted people to understand that you can be happy no matter what the situation is. Dickens made his readers feel sympathy for the poor Tiny Tim with the language the character used. ‘God bless us everyone!’ A young child with a disability as well as a kind loving heart. Again Dickens wanted his readers to remember to fell sympathy for the poor.

The final scene Scrooge is shown is a scene of Scrooge’s nephew, niece, friends and family enjoying a Christmas party in which Scrooge was invited but rejected. There all playing games and Fred who is Scrooge’s nephew wishes his uncle Scrooge came to the party. Scrooge is enjoying this scene to and does not want to leave. ‘Here is a new game,’ said Scrooge. ‘One half hour, Spirit, only one!’ Scrooge is now being entertained by the party. Fred proposes to drink to Scrooge’s health. ‘and it would be ungrateful not to drink his health. This proves to Scrooge that there is someone else other than himself that also cares for him.

At the end of the journey the Ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge something that strikes Scrooge like an electric shock. The ghost shows Scrooge two very hideous, frightful and wretched children that represent doom and belong to man’s. All those that deny them bide their doom. The boy’s name is Ignorance and the girls name is Want. The ghost claims the boy should be most feared because his brow represents doom. Scrooge screams other ways to stop these inhuman children. ‘Are there no prisons?’ however the ghost leaves Scrooge to find the answer to stopping these children himself by leaving Scrooge stranded in the middle of nowhere on the stroke of Midnight and leaves him to face the next ghost, the ghost of Christmas future. The plight of the poor and other social issues was the main discussion in the 1840s. This is mentioned when the Ghost of Christmas present mentions “Man’s children,” which readers symbolised as children being born in a new industry.

Scrooge learns a lot from the visit of the Ghost of Christmas present. He learns that he has people around him that care for him such as his nephew. He now knows that he is the one responsible for Tiny Tim’s outcome as well as his own because he is now threatened by the children of doom. Scrooge now knows that even if you have money it doesn’t mean you have happiness and he can say that because of his experience of a wealthy but depressing life. He also knows that even if you are poor you can still enjoy Christmas and a great example of this in the book is the Cratchit family. A family that were lacking money but were still knew how to enjoy the time of Christmas. Dickens used this to prove a true point which was you don’t need to have money to be happy.

The Ghost of Christmas Future is a very frightening and more of a Grim Reaper similar spirit. The only communication the spirit uses is his fingers which he only uses for pointing. Scrooge fears this spirit the most because it is the most ghoulish as well as it does not speak but, still knows the spirits intentions are good. ‘Ghost of the future!’ he exclaimed, ‘I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good,’

The spirit shows Scrooge many terrifying scenes of his and the future of others that in some way are involved with him. The first scene he is shown are men discussing a funeral. They have no intentions of going to this funeral. ‘I don’t mind going if a lunch is provided,’ Scrooge is sickened to hear this because Scrooge had known a few of these men and spent most of his business life trying to impress them. He did not know that they would act so harshly to the death of a person. Scrooge is puzzled because he does not know what this has to do with him. ‘Nor could he think of any immediately connected with himself, to whom he could apply them. Little did Scrooge know that the person that was having this funeral was indeed Scrooge?

He is next shown a scene where a woman is selling a blanket and other items that look familiar to Scrooge. Scrooge then realises that these items actually belong to him even after denying it at first. He has been robbed by this women and has also has had all he’s merchandise stolen. “Every person has a right to take care of themselves. He always did.” She says this after admitting to the man that is trying to buy these items that she had robbed a man of his belongings even though she knew he had died. Scrooge realises that the men that were talking about the funeral of a man in the earlier scene must’ve been talking about Scrooges’ funeral. He knows that even the closest people he can call friends are not even fussed about his death. He also knows that people are robbing him even after knowing he has died. Scrooge is disgusted and shocked to hear and see how people are reacting to his death. ‘Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror.’

He is then vanished from this scene by the spirits power to another scene. A scene where Scrooge sees a person lying on a bed covered by a veil. A veil that usually covers people that are dead. He removes this veil after a bit pressure from the spirits finger and notices that this pale man is Scrooge. This dead version of Scrooge is meant to show Scrooge’s future unless Scrooge changes. He is meant to see how alone he can be with nobody by his side once he has died.

He then tells the ghost he wishes to see someone that has an emotion that has to do with Scrooge’s death, so the spirit takes Scrooge to a home where a mother is waiting for the arrival of someone. Her family are with her. She then hears a door knock and it’s her husband. Her husband tells her that Scrooge has died and they no longer have to pay the dept they owe Scrooge for the time being. She reacts in a thankful way. ‘but she was thankful in her soul to hear it, and she said so, with clasped hands.’ They are grateful that the dept has been delayed because they will be prepared for it this time. “… We may sleep to-night with light hearts, Caroline!”

Scrooge comes across many streets with the spirit but still finds no good emotion towards Scrooge. They then come across the Bob Cratchit house. The family apart from Bob are all seated around the fire all quiet. Tiny Tim has just died and they are trying to cover up their sad emotions by talking about the happy memories with him. ‘I have known him walk with-I have known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder, very fast indeed;’ they have lost a member of the family because they could not afford the money for his operation. The family try to make Bob fell better with comfort and he appreciates that. ‘Bob was very cheerful with them, and spoke pleasantly to all the family. Even he is trying to be cheerful but can’t hide his true feelings of depression. ‘He broke down all at once. He couldn’t help it,’ The family then all get together including the cheerful Bob and say that they should all try to remain happy and not forget Tiny Tim. They should remember how happy he always was and never cry over his remembrance. ‘…although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves, and forget Tiny Tim in doing it.’ ‘I am very happy said little Bob, ‘I am very happy!’

Scrooge believes it is time he returns home but is once again vanished from this scene by the spirit but this time finds himself in a church yard. Where on a fresh stone was engraved the name Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is trembling, he pleads to the spirit for his life and one more chance to change. He vows to stand by all the lessons the ghost of past, present and future taught him. He cries and begs to the spirit and suddenly the spirit collapses and disappears. Scrooge finds himself in his room and everything is back to normal. Everything has returned to how it was.

Scrooge now knows that he has to change if he is to lead a good life. Once he has died just like any other ordinary person he wants people to remember his good side. His accomplishments and the differences he made to life, people and society. He wants his family to always be there for him as well as his friends. He wants Tiny Tim to not die so he can actually live his life just like every person should. He knows his outcome as well as Tiny Tim’s and others and knows he has to change that. He must listen to the ghosts and become a changed man, a more generous, gentle, loving and caring man. He has to help others and understand Christmas and the poor. If he does not want a terrible death then he must change otherwise he will not be given a second chance.

Dickens in this part of the novel wants his readers to know what the consequences are if you lead a bad life. How you are remembered once you die depends on how you lead your life. The impact you cause on the people around you may also depend on the way you lead your life. Dickens wanted to show that Scrooge was stingy when it came to giving which is Tiny Tim died. The family could not afford the operation because of Scrooge. He was remembered as a cold hearted, dreadful man that only cared for himself. He wanted to show his readers that those that follow in Scrooges footsteps may face the same fate that he almost did.

Scrooge at the end of the story has learnt from his mistakes and is trying to become a good Christmassy person. ‘He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call.’ Once he returns back to his home it is Christmas day and he now believes Christmas and its true meaning.

Scrooge pays a young boy to go and buy a Turkey and tell the delivery men to come back here so they know where to deliver it to. He also tells the boy that if he comes back with the delivery men he will pay him extra. This Turkey is intended for the Cratchit family so they can feast on it during Christmas dinner. Scrooge then tells the delivery men not to tell the Cratchit family who sent it.

Scrooge goes out to the open air to witness the cheerful atmosphere that strikes him with a delighted smile. He then purposely comes across two gentlemen that he knows work to help the charity funds. He tells them to come see him so they can receive a large money payment to help the charity. The gentlemen accept this proposal in a gratified way by shaking Scrooge’s hand. Scrooge is very thankful for them agreeing to this. ‘Thank’ee,’ said Scrooge. ‘I am much obliged to you. Scrooge is beginning to be more giving and thankful. He is trying to prove to the ghosts that he will take this second chance and he will change for the good.

He then decides to go to his nephew’s house for the party and arrives just before the party starts so he can surprise his nephew. His nephew accepts his Uncle Scrooge’s arrival and Scrooge notices how everything looks exactly the way the Ghost of Christmas present showed him. ‘Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, wonderful happiness!’ Scrooge wanted to show how much he cared for his nephew and how we wanted to make up for lost time, by coming to this party. Scrooge is becoming more cheerful and caring. He wants to share his happiness with other people.

The last good deed Scrooge does in the book is he rewards Bob Cratchit. Scrooge arrives early in his office the next morning just so he can hope that he catches Bob arriving late to work. Once Bob arrives 18 minutes late, he feels threatened by Scrooge. He has an excuse for his lateness which is he was enjoying Christmas day to much. ‘It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.’ Scrooge pushes Bob and he is staggers into the tank. Scrooge tricks Bob into thinking that Scrooge will shout or threaten him but instead rewards Bob by increasing Bob’s salary. Scrooge wishes Bob a merry Christmas and feels that he wants to help Bob’s struggling family. Scrooge shows more consideration by telling Bob to get more coal to light more fire. ‘Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another I, Bob Cratchit!

Tiny Tim does not die and Scrooge becomes a second father as well as a close friend to him. He turns from the old Scrooge to the new Scrooge which a kind, caring, loving, devoted, compassionate man who knew how to keep Christmas well. A man who felt devoted to the poor and wanted to make a difference to society, humanity and life. Christmas to him turned from a fraud to a joyful season that deserved to be celebrated by everyone including the poor.

Dickens at the end of the story turned Scrooge from an evil character to a good character. He did this to show his readers that anyone can change and if you change for the good it will turn out better for everyone including yourself. In my opinion this was also a good technique because the book finished with a happy ending for all the characters e.g. Marley, Tiny Tim, and Scrooge and so on and it the book also leaves its readers happy to.

I feel Dickens message in this book was that his readers were to care for the poor and also celebrate the time of Christmas. I think he wanted the rich to understand that life is hard for the poor and that they should try to their best of their ability to improve life for the poor. He wanted his readers to understand that Christmas was a time to be happy and joyful, not cold and dreadful. This book did have an impact on society and life for the poor because the poor were being treated better. Prices for items were dropping and they were gaining more benefits. This book allowed people to learn a lesson of equality.

I think a book can influence a person changing just like screen based media however; it can’t cause a person to change quickly even though it can affect people in the long run. Violence can be inherited by the use of media and books but it is also decided by you. Real life aspects may decide how quickly you change for example you may be more considerate if you saw a person get shot however if you read about it in a book you may not even be affected by it. The more you reed the more you are influenced by books. Scrooge changed very quickly but that was because he had a real life witness of the poor and Christmas and he also changed quickly because he was threatened that he would face the same fate his best friend Marley did if he didn’t change. People will change as they grow up because they will begin to understand life better. Your attitude towards changing may decide whether you want to change. How quickly and whether you change may also be decided because of the situation. You might have to rob houses if you are poor because that may be your only way of gaining a living. As you can see how quickly and whether you change can be decided by many things. One thing that has to be remembered is that you yourself decide whether you change and that may decide the outcome of your life.

The final thing that I am going to be talking is about whether the poor need charity. I feel they do. If you are poor because of your health or lack of family, I think you need the charity. I think those that are trying to earn a living but are still poor deserve charity. They earn it by their hard work. If you are lazy and can’t be bothered to earn some money then those people should not receive charity. No matter how poor you are you should always try your best to make something of yourself just like Charles Dickens. You may need charity but you shouldn’t rely on it because you never know when you’re going to stop receiving it. Charity will always be there to help you but you should always look beyond it and find the path to a better life.