As we know, A Christmas Carol shows us Scrooge: a character starting as a miserable old miser who eventually

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Shaheed Hasham Page 1

Coursework: English Litrature and English – Pre – 1914 Text.

Draft 2

As we know, A Christmas Carol shows us Scrooge: a character starting as a miserable old miser who eventually becomes a very caring individual. This novel also gives us an insight of the Victorian society. Religion, poverty, child mortality, employment, and Christmas activities are all detailed in the course of the novel. In particular, Dickens use of language seems to bring alive the scene were he describes the Christmas which helps us understand how Victorians celebrate in England.

In Dickens time, religion played a big part, at Christmas time and in normal Victorian Life style. Sabbath day, of which Dickens did not approve because the upper class used it as a social day. He was a Christian but felt that the bill being passed on was unfair because every Sunday was the only time the poor could relax. Dickens was disappointed with this form of social control. “ You could deprive them of their means of dining every seventh day.” Church played a big part in the Victorian life style. Most people in the Victorian times did go to church especially on Christmas day: “ But soon the steeples called good people to church and chapel.” Christmas Day was much more of a religious day. This shows that a lot has changed since then. As now we use this day named “Christmas” as a day of time off school and exchanging presents rather then spending time with family and going to church.

The poverty in the 1850s was very bad. There were many poor people as a large percentage of the population did not have any jobs. “ no beggars implored.” The word beggars gives us the impression that the had very little. There was no social security, they either begged or went to a work house. Even those men who did work with a wife and children were not paid a lot. “ My clerk, with fifteen shillings a week, and a wife and family.” This a very small amount of money. The poor law was also alluded to in the text, this was a law that was trying to solve the problem of poverty. This was so that people who were extremely poor and starving would apply for the for help from the authorities. There were a lot of workhouses for people who did not work or earn money. They were very unlivable, many would “ rather die. ” then go to the workhouses. The workhouses were terrible some of the work you may do was to crush bones to a powder for the farms. Although some were worried about the poor many did not care. “A few people used to try and a build up a fund for the poor to buy some food and drink.” This allowed many to sponsor the poor at Christmas, some did not even have the generosity to sponsor the poor. We know that Dickens had been affected by poverty as in his own life he also had a problem with his money as his dad was not there to provide any for the household. This was a point in the text the Dickens wanted to express and to explain the problems of poverty and change these during the Victorian time.

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There were many children in this time who had suffered various illnesses or were disabled. Child mortality was mentioned in the novel. The Crachet family had an extremely ill son who they knew was going to die young. This was expressed in the text by “will Tiny Tim live,” and the reply “I see a vacant seat.” Child death was very common in the 1850s as not a lot of people could afford medicine and also there were not many doctors at that time. A lot of children did not survive. This may seem like a surprise but in the Victorian times it as unusual to see a family that a child did not die in as it was so normal for at least one child to die. Deformity was also more common as at that time they did not have the equipment to check that everything was ok with the baby. Also poor nutrition contributed towards physical problems.

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The many people that were employed seemed to be well treated but some were not. Scrooge’s clerk was not well looked after at all “ His clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters.” There were no employment laws to protect the workers like there are today. As a result some were treated badly and were made to work in very bad surroundings. They were treated with very little respect and they were given only one paid holiday on Christmas day. A lot has changed since then as well as we have many more paid holidays at this present time; “ let me hear another word from you….and you’ll keep your Christmas by loosing your situation.” As we can see even the smallest thing could get you in trouble. In those days the rich also were able to afford a housemaid now a days this is not well heard of. “ in came the housemaid….the baker” Bakers were also very popular at this time. This shows that even employment has changed a lot since the 1850s. “The charwoman ….the laundress…the undertaker.” are a few that we still have in this present time and the Victorians time. Overall Employment was much different the people that did have jobs were not well treated they did not have any employment laws now there are many.

Christmas was one area that Dickens expressed to his greatest, he knew that Christmas was a day of togetherness and not receiving presents. Employed people got Christmas day off as a paid day. This was the only paid holiday so it was very special and used to its greatest ability. “You’ll want all day I suppose.” This shows that they had the whole day off. Christmas was much more important and playing games was one of the highlights of the day. There were many different games played at these celebration from “yes or no” and “blind mans bluff.” These may seem childish but was the one of very few positive points made in the novel. There were not any christmas trees but houses were still decorated as much as possible: “The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which bright gleaming berries glistened.” There was not just games but singing was part of the celebrations as well: “For they were a music family, and knew what they were about when they sang glee or a catch.” As we can tell their christmas is a lot more different then ours. The food was extremely good especially as it was not often to get such nice tasting food in a larger quantity. This really allows us as a reader to appreciate about their christmas especially as it is much more about family and not receiving presents.

The language used by Dickens in the text “A Christmas Carol.” was well written. He uses repetition mainly as a means of emphasis. “round and round” and “the grocers, o the grocers.” He uses these to add some lightheartedness to a very somber novel indicating the joy and peace the novel brings. It emphasizes fun and excitement of the christmas time. His modifying of nouns to add extra description “ Spanish onions” and “ yellow of the oranges and lemons.” This allows us as the reader to collaborate their own visions of what they are reading. These visions are important to allow us to understand the ups and downs of the novel and the characters and the sound and smells that the reader can relate with. He uses long lists to make it more interesting, with extra descriptions to make it more exciting and allows us to read on. He uses amazing language to give the best effectiveness. By using personification “ Spanish onions” were “winking” he gives life to the onions but also gives life to the text. “ Hot bellied baskets of chestnuts” also makes the text more interesting. This also adds suspense and excitement. Dickens also tries to explain the scents that are present at this time and in the text he uses many descriptive words to express this. “ scents of tea and coffee” and “ spices, onions and candy” allows us to understand the scents and smells at the christmas time the sweet the strong and the spice are only a few that have been explained in the text.

As we can see Dickens has conveyed his messages very clearly. It allows us to understand what it was like to live in the Victorian times in England. Especially during Christmas. Dickens language makes the text much more interesting and the facts that he wants to express are well received. He seems to want to try and change all these problems as many were to do with him and his whole family. He has brought to life topics that could otherwise become very boring.