A Christmas Carol: Themes
Poverty
Isolation
Responsibility/Society
Greed & Money
Poverty is commonly seen in A Christmas Carol
The Cratchits, the families seen in the ghost of Christmas future and present's visits
Common for the time period
It is a key theme and referenced to frequently
Scrooge refuses to help a poverty charity at the start of the novella
Christmas
The whole novella is a metaphor of the generosity and compassion of Christmas
This theme is shown in various parts of the novella
The title and structure (take place over Christmas)
Scrooge's nephew, Fred, as someone who embodies the Christmas spirit
Tiny Tim as someone who is generous and kind
Responsibilty
Society
Society is seen differently to a regular Victorian image
Society is seen as one which could be a link to the togetherness of Christmas #
Society is usually seen as separate in Victorian times because of the divide between poor and rich
Responsibility is seen in two ways in this novella
Take care of yourself the most
Take care of others the most
Scrooge, Marley
Fred, Bob Cratchit, The Porterly gentlemen
Isolation is seen in Scrooge
Scrooge chooses to isolate himself on Christmas instead of going to his nephew's
He sits in a lone office, separate from the rest of the building
Greed and Money is arguably the most important theme of the novella
Scrooge is driven by his wealth and greed for it
He loses his love interest due to it
He loses his friends due toit
He becomes unpopular because of it