Applying Motivation and Emotion Theories in an Analysis of Scrooge's Behaviour
Motivation and Emotion Theories 1 Applying Motivation and Emotion Theories in an Analysis of Scrooge's Behaviour Markeeta-Lee Johnston University of Southern Queensland Motivation and Emotion Theories 2 In the past many theories have been put forth in an attempt to understand the motivations of an individuals behaviour and the emotions involved. According to Reber & Reber (2001) emotional states tend to have motivational properties and the elements of a motivation will often have emotional ties. In addition, theorists have identified that physiological structures usually appear to exist in a motivational and emotional context (Heilman & Bowers, 1990; Reber, 2001; Strongman, 1973; Weiner, 1985). Some of the more well known ideas put forth by theorists include locus of control, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and opponent process theory. Whilst some of the concepts concerning emotions are the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory and the cognitive arousal theory. One way of understanding how these particular theories work is to apply them to the motivations and often accompanying emotions of an individual, in this case, by the use of a fictional character such as Ebinizer Scrooge from Charles Dickens' 'The Christmas Carol.' Developed by the theorist Julian Rotter, locus of control refers to a set of beliefs about the relationship between behaviour
Scrooge as a redeemed socialist. A Christmas Carol as a capitalist tale.
SCROOGE It is not generally appreciated that Dickens was a bought and paid for flack for Victorian Capitalism. Admittedly, this is not obvious; his reputation, after all, is that of a critic who highlights the absurdities and cruelties of the age. All is not as it seems, though. As Orwell points out in his essay on Dickens there are two reactions, two advocacies that can be made in response to the evils of the world. One is to urge humanity to have better hearts; the other is to urge humanity to change the system by which it orders its affairs. Dickens, Orwell writes, chose the first course. There is much to be said for such urgings. Systems constructed by men with evil hearts rot from the centre out; their evil taints all that they touch. Good will is not enough, though; it cannot redeem a bad system. The flaw in Dickens was that he appealed to good will in men, but no good will could have redeemed the evils of Victorian Capitalism. Indeed, the reverse is true; the good will that he appealed to was no such thing; rather it was a mawkish sentimentality and, as such, served as gestures which glossed over the brutality of the system. Whether Dickens was a conscious agent of Victorian Capitalism is not to be known; whether or no he was such, he was its de facto agent. His readership was the good people of wealth, the beneficiaries of the system; his appeals to sentiment
What do you see as Dickens' social aims in 'A Christmas Carol' and how does he go about achieving them?
What do you see as Dickens' social aims in 'A Christmas Carol' and how does he go about achieving them. Dickens' main social aim in 'A Christmas Carol' is to portray the terrible conditions and problems that are faced by the poor, in the hope of creating a kinder, more charitable attitude towards them so that they would be treated with more compassion. It is a story designed to evoke the readers' consciences to convince them of the need to reform the existing social conditions. He aimed to change the way society was developing, and reduce greed and its damaging effects on human behaviour. In order to achieve this, Dickens must re-enlighten those with the money and power to change things, and does so by using the character of Scrooge to personify the willful ignorance of those in power. Dickens also utilizes the theme of Christmas throughout the story to emphasise the desperation of the plight of the poor. He perceives education as the most crucial means by which attitudes can be altered, and uses this to force the reader to become aware of the negative effects of want and ignorance. Dickens uses the tool of Scrooge to symbolise the harsh treatment and attitudes towards the poor at this time - a caricature of the problems. Dickens describes Scrooge as a "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner". These adjectives have a strong effect on the
Compare two versions of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'.
Media Coursework Jess Gascoigne 10s For this media piece of work, we have been asked to compare two versions of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'; * The 1951 version, Alistair Sim film 'Scrooge', which is more on the Christian theme of Christmas. * The Ross Kemp, ITV version, which is multicultural, more modern to this day. The theme of the 1951 version was all around an abstract image of 'want and ignorance', a metaphorical image. The theme of the 1951 was also around the Christian side towards Christmas, remembering the birth of Christ. Going to church and based around faith, hope and charity. As the film follows the book accurately, there are hardly any differences, so the message from this film was expressed exactly the same as Dickens would have wanted it to, to remember what Christmas is about, and that you can't make an excuse not to celebrate Christmas even if you are poor, lonely or isolated. This is 'in keeping' with the book. The theme of the 2000 edition of a 'Christmas Carol', is somewhat different from the 1951 version. This version is multicultural, which is more relevant to today's lifestyle. There are direct images of the poor and homeless, which are 'want and ignorance', working together and helping. Unlike the 1951 version there is less religion/Christianity involved although there is a message, that no matter what
What techniques does Dickens use to present the aspect of change in Scrooge throughout the book?
What techniques does Dickens use to present the aspect of change in Scrooge throughout the book? In this essay I will attempt to show how Scrooge, the main character in A Christmas Carol, changes as the book progresses. I will show what causes him to change, in order of what happens, and how the reader (present day and contemporary) feels and is affected by this change. In the beginning of the story, we see immediately that Scrooge is a grumpy old man who hates Christmas. However, the reader is also told that Marley, Scrooge's "sole friend", is dead. This interests the reader into thinking this may be the cause for Scrooge's cantankerous nature. But we cannot be sure because we do not know what he was like before his good friend's death. Many people dislike Scrooge because of his ill-temperedness. He does not have very good relationships with the people around him and he is an outcast of society. He "edged his way through the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keeps its distance" and was a cold hearted man. This makes the reader all the more curious about why he is like this, and possibly sympathetic towards his loneliness. We see him interact first with his nephew, and we see what an irritable man he really is. He says "What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry?" This shows that he dislikes happiness around him and would prefer it
With reference to context, language and structure, consider some of the factors that have contributed to the enduring popularity of A Christmas Carol.
G.C.S.E Prose Study Coursework: With reference to context, language and structure, consider some of the factors that have contributed to the enduring popularity of A Christmas Carol. A Christmas Carol, 1843, is set against the backdrop of the industrial revolution. It was a time when industry was thriving but the gap between the poor and the rich was growing. Dickens' London was an unpleasant place to live due to atmospheric pollution, filth on the streets and widespread disease and illness. The level of general education was poor and poverty was rife. Charles Dickens influence to write the novel came from his own situation as a young boy consigned to the blacking factory as a result of his fathers debts. Other financial pressures were exerted upon him as his wife was expecting their fifth child. Dickens central concern is about children. Christmas symbolises a time of happiness in particular for children but this is not so for those living in poverty. Dickens wanted to highlight the plight of the poor and their social conditions. In A Christmas Carol Dickens combines the misery of the poor with the joy of Christmas. He felt that the only time the rich seemed to show any awareness of the suffering of others is during the Christmas period it's a time "when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely and to think of people below them as if they
How does Charles Dickens present the character of Scrooge In the opening chapter of A Christmas Carol
How does Charles Dickens present the character of Scrooge In the opening chapter of A Christmas Carol? A Christmas carol was written to be released around Christmastime 1843 by Charles Dickens. I this essay I will be discussing how Charles Dickens presents the character of Ebenezer Scrooge in the opening chapter of the popular novel. The opening paragraphs of a Christmas carol give us an insight into Scrooges personality. They appear to be written by someone who knows Scrooge fairly well and we are made aware of the opinions of others around him by the personal way in which the story is narrated to the reader. The character of Scrooge is initially presented as being quite isolated. The use of the word "sole" when discussing the relationship between Scrooge and Marley informs the reader that Scrooge is lonely in all aspects of his life. Dickens does this by repeating the word next to different titles given to Scrooge such as "sole administrator", "Sole assign" and "Sole friend". He is also described as being as "solitary as an oyster" which adds to the isolated imagery which the author effectively creates. Charles Dickens then goes on to describe Scrooge as being a "Tight fisted hand at the grindstone". This means that Scrooge is miserly, unwilling to spend. This is one idea already introduced to the reader earlier on in the page when Marley's funeral is being described.
Annie's charter
Annie's character in this short story is represented as a girl who had spent her whole of her life previous to her marriage as a poor person. Then she married a young working-class man called Bob. Because she wanted to use Bob so she could escape from poverty. Annie married Bob so, so she could have an income. Bob's father called, Old Thompson, had lost his wife in winter. As a consequence of this, Annie and bob had to live with bob's father. Annie was pleased at first, but soon she started to feel resentment for Old Thompson. Annie soon realized that she could get rid of Old Thompson. So Bob didn't have to buy a house of their own. But what really Annie wanted was to get rid of Old Thompson and live a good life with a house of her own. She wanted to take advantage of Bob's father so she could take every thing, she felt he didn't need. Old Thompson lives in deep shock because of the death of his wife. One winter he sat on his chair in front of the fire and thought sometimes he went and took a walk on the park and sat on the bench with the sun light on his face. This was great for Annie because she could clean the house and remove old things and clean them. She loved to clean the house but she only did it when Old Thompson wasn't in the house. This shows that Annie moved with freedom in the house when Old Thompson wasn't there. Another reason why Annie wanted to achieve her
Hello dear friends, This is the ghost of Marley; I'm Scrooge's old business partner and best friend.
Hello dear friends, This is the ghost of Marley; I'm Scrooge's old business partner and best friend. I am here on this particular day partly as it was the night of my death seven years ago but I am really here as I have a chance to tell and warn Scrooge that he's heading down a bad road and that he's living a selfish, horrible and wicked life. If he's does not change he will condemned to wander for eternity and witness what he cannot share. I knew Scrooge well as he was my best and only friend and he was my business partner. We had a lot in common. We were selfish and greedy with no feelings for the poor or needy. We just wanted more and more money. We may have been rich but we were certainly poor in sprit and no joy in us. Yes, Old Scrooge is definitely a humbug but he was still my best friend. Earlier this day Scrooge's nephew arrived and wished scrooge a merry Christmas and surprise, surprise Scrooge's reaction was "Bah! Humbug". His nephew thought he didn't mean that but then Scrooge said to him "What right have you to be merry, you're poor enough". I cannot believe he said such a thing to his nephew, he treats his family no better then other people. Scrooge assumed that his nephew was just there to visit him for a present of some sort like money but in reality he only wanted to catch up on scrooge and hear what's been happening in his life? Basically he wanted to be
How does dickens' use of colour help to set the scene and help the reader understand the transformation that Scrooge undergoes
Corinne West How does dickens' use of colour help to set the scene and help the reader understand the transformation that Scrooge undergoes? Introduction Charles Dickems was born in Portsmouth 1812. He had a tough childhood which is potrayed in many of his novels. With the serialization of oliver twist (1837-9) dickens began his indictment of the cruelty that children suffer at the hands of society. Dickens began work as a reporter and followed his dreams to become one of the most well known victorian authors and wrote as many as 178 stories. Dickens sadly died in 1870. In 'The Christmas Carol' Dickens uses both overt and sublimenal colour to set the scene and establish the characters. The book was set in winter were there are not may varies of colour, but the colours Dickens does use are significant because they are important and predominant because they are Cold, bitter and frosty which compliment scrooges personality. Paragraph one One of the first characters Dickens describes in the novel is Scrooge. He is described as " ...a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, coretous old sinner!" Theis sums Scrooge up to the T for the readers, it is everything he is and nothing that he is not. He is also potrayed as " hard and sharp as flint" Flint is cold and grey which is the same as Scrooges exterior. Dickens use of overt colour helps to back up everything he has