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A Christmas Carol (Themes (Goodwill / generosity (Scrooge's changes…

- - - - "They were not a handsome family...but they were happy, grateful, please with one another"
      - Make do with the little they've got - but they seem to be perfect, which could attract critisicm
        
        Mrs Cratchit is very proud of her appearance despite the little money she can spend on it
        
        Mrs Cratchit is a reflection of the increase in womens rights, due to increased ability to critisise Scrooge, who is in a position of power
      - Bob is devoted to Scrooge, despite his maltreatment
      - Tiny Tim could be seen as a symbol of the consequences of Scrooge's changes
  - - - His experience of genuine happiness from his charity
        
        "A pang across his heart"
        
        Emotive, showing pain, but also connotes hunger, which could demonstrate not only the unusual feeling he experiences (which he feels as pain - he wishes that he started doing this earlier), but also how he is now 'hungry' for this newfound feeling
        
        This transformation seems to surprising that, as the charity worker reflects in a primal simile - '"Lord bless me!" cried the Gentleman'
        
        Could also be a biblical reference - 'camel through the eye of the needle' would make it very difficult for Scrooge to enter Heaven, but having realised his wrong, he changes, and it more than willing to help others with his fortune
      - "He knew what path lay straight before him"
        
        Seems to borrow/echoes Christian phraseology ('the path of Righteousness'), so Dickens seems to bee subliminally reminding his readers of their religious beliefs/teachings
        
        Structurally, foreshadows the end of the extract, where he 'turned his steps towards his nephew's house, where he will enjoy and atone for his averice, in Fred's seemingly unquenchable goodwill
      - Circular movement in terms of innocence
        
        Marked by rising tension which each Ghost, especially with 'Yet To Come', who shows him his own grave, and the cold greeting with which his death is met
        
        While young, he is still uncorrupted, and happy, but his isolation at school, and the importance of money to him polarise him, turning him from Belle to his 'golden idol' - but in the end, he has returned, but is now able to,please others with the large fortune he has collected
- - - - Foreshadows his later appearance due to the affirmative tone of the statement. Introduces the tone of the supernatural, and is further strengthened by the repetition of the phrase
    - - Both emphesises his cold, hard, unfeeling exterior and suggests he enjoys the isolation; however, as an oyster is typically associated with pearls, it could also suggest that there is precious inside of him; hope.
      - Assonance and onomatopoeia also 'hammer' down our impression of him; connotes harshness/cruelty
    - - Reflects how Scrooge lives true to his miser-ways, penny-pinching, and enjoying it at that. Would also again be typically associated with a cold heart, or the shell of the oyster, to imply he is uncaring of others opinion or even just unaware of it
    - - Pathetic fallacy; the progressive worsening of the weather reflects his mood - the severity and how no one's safe from it. Furthermore, it reflects the metaphorical coldness of his heart
      - The "fog" suggests Scrooge's inability to see his own ignorance #
    - - Pathetic fallacy contrasts with Scrooge, how he is unaffected by his miserness. Similarly, 'glowing' fits with the theme of light, which reflects Fred's kindness, and how Dickens himself agrees with his message; unwavering in his mission to spread Christmas cheer to everyone, particularly those most in need
    - - Displays Scrooge's intent dislike and misunderstanding of Christmas; he cannot comprehend why people enjoy wasting money at this time of year, especially those who cannot afford it - 'paying bills without money'
      - Graphic, almost comic, imagery, which reflects/ridicules Scrooge's absurd dislike
    - - Represents Dicken's views; he seems to have taken over Fred as a mouthpiece to appeal to his readers
    - - Historically, these were horrible places where people were locked up, and families split. The Poor Law, which Dickens disliked, forced people into them
      - Establishes Scrooge's social views, he is highly critical of those below him, and the interrogetory tone of the questioning indicates Scrooge's dislike of charity and what he sees as 'wasting money'
    - - Reinforces Scrooge's Malthusian views, that those useless to society were a waste of resources, and an ideal solution to the theoretical decrease in sufficiently supporting resources #
      - A popular opinion shared by industrial leaders/the upper class due to the strain on London due to the influx of workers from the industrial revolution
      - Demonstrates Dickens' view that Malthus' ideas were cruel and unreasonable
    - - Further emphesises his love of money, almost to an extreme stance
      - Also respresents the contrast of darkness which Scrooge represents, and light, a typical comparison, but also how Scrooge is choosing to stay blind/ignorant to the problems around him
    - - Portrays the theme of redemption, by suggesting that the chain is both girdable and 'un-girdable. It is also symbolic of the unseen cost of Scrooge's misdeeds; and of Marley's attempt to reform him, who has since come to terms with what his misdeeds meant
      - Girded by his 'own free will' also ensures that Scrooge fully understands that he will be fully at fault for this; therefore beginning to force Scrooge to open his eyes and become a better person
    - - Displays the contrasting interpretations of the word 'business'- Marley has realised/seen the heavy (social) responsibility he, as a rich businessman, bore, and how he should've focused on others, helping them and extending his generosity, instead of remaining rooted to his cashboxes and purses, which he is now bound to in the Afterlife
    - - Represents the first stage of his change/redemption; but also suggests that he is more changed/shocked by the visit than he allows himself to show
    - - A laborious and brutal verb represents Scrooge's personality
      - Suggests that Scrooge is "grating" on other peoples' spirits, chipping away at their humanity
    - - Fairy tale convention foreshadows magical element to the story and a happy ending
  - - - Connotations of supernatural, but also the theme of bells, which are associated with the Church, and thus redemption, forgiveness, and the irrelevance of wealth ('It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.')
    - - Our first sight/impression of the Ghost; and it is signalled by bright light, which contrasts with Scrooge's darkness, and such flashes of light would no doubt invoke angelic/heavenly images
      - The mixed images of age symbolise how this ghost will both reveal to him both his 'far' and 'close' past, but also how Scrooge has always been an adult in terms of maturity/lack of emotion/lonelyness (all associated with old age), even as a child
      - Represents youth and innocence, but yet ageless, in contrast with Scrooge's clear old age - suggests the Ghost is so old he cannot display it, or perhaps is aged so due to his experiences
    - - This portays the strong, emotional effect of the Ghost on Scrooge, particularly through Scrooge's reaction to these previously unexperienced/forgotten feelings/memories, as his reaction is one of bewilderment, not joy, and fond memories, perhaps suggesting that his childhood was not a joyous one. Scrooge is in stark contrast to his normal self, expressing emotion in such a way his normal self would've sneered at - and this is what throws him off so much
    - - Reflects the effect of the spirit upon Scrooge, he's reflecting on his former self already, and realising his mistakes, beginning to show compassion
    - - Displays Scrooge's regret at not having been able to really spend time/connect with her (and the rest of his family), also reminds him of Fred, and makes him reminisce about his treatment of him
    - - Scrooge's joy at encountering this memory reflects Fezziwig's role as Scrooge's foil; generous, kindhearted, "organ of benevolence", "A positive light", who became his father figure due to his lack of one otherwise.
      - Furthermore, he is represented by light, unlike Scrooge, who carries around a dark air, both metaphorically and in terms of the weather
      - Scrooge's modus operandum is to rule by fear, as portrayed by his cruel treatment of Bob, compared to Fezziwig, who throws a party for all of his workers. This is reinforced by the length of the narrative paragraph; it implies its overwhelmingness and flamboyance, much like himself.
    - - This illustrates Scrooge's realisation that unlike what he led himself to believe originally, that money isn't needed for happiness. This is a key message which is indicated most intently in the Cratchits
    - - Reflects how now that Scrooge has money, his love of Belle is insignificant - she cannot give him the money he now desires so much (her dowry)
    - - Illustrates the man Scrooge could've been; but it's something he's never experienced, having made his choice of money
      - Also reflects the central themes of family, and Christmas Spirit - even though he is clearly a prosperous businessman, he still remembers his family, and shows his love for them
    - - Compares him former self (before the effect of avarice, and greed took hold) to his present self, on which Belle can only show pity
    - - Reflects how Scrooge has not changed as much as he outwardly displays; he actively fights the Spirit to prevent himself from acknowledging the awkward truth
  - - - Huge list of an unnecessary amount of food directly challenges Malthus' ideas of there not being enough food to feed a growing population - DIckens believes that there is more than enough if we are all charitable #
    - - The ghost is non-violent and all-loving, as Scrooge should aspire to be
    - - Could suggest that the intense love of the Cratchitt family is healing Tiny Tim's disability, thought to be incurable
    - - Yet another reminder that money has no correlation to happiness. The Cratchitt Family also demonstrates the importance of family for happiness, as their sense of togetherness negates the fact that they barely have any money to spend #
  - - - Scrooge has now become remorseful for his doubts and is strikingly willing to accept the ghost's presence and teachings
    - - The fact that Scrooge's possessions are stolen by the lower class shows that no matter your wealth or place in society, we are all equal in death as we are all mortal
    - - Those who owed Scrooge money now did not have to pay it back - showing the his death actually brought pleasure to people. This makes his life worthless, to some extent, as he is not affecting people around him in a positive way.
    - - This is Scrooge's declaration of change and the climax of the novella - after a lifetime of greed, he has finally changed his ways
  - - - With his newfound epiphany, he fells like he is capable of anything - there are so many possibilities of things to do now that he knows that she should care for the poor, as we all should do
    - - Pathetic fallacy - Scrooge is no longer ignorant and sees how he has changed clearly and how this will benefit him and society
    - - The repetition of "good" suggests and idyllic and perfect ending as Scrooge has become the embodiment of goodwill and charity
    - - Dickens is inciting the reader (collective pronoun "us") to follow in Scrooge's footsteps and become the charitable and pleasant members of society as he did
- - - - Furthermore, economically speaking, he changes from the leech Dickens saw money-lenders as (sucking the poor dry, and condenming them to wickedness, trickle-down economics), to a kind, perfect consumer - spending as much money as he possibly can, an investment into friendship, his society, and charity, invigorating the economy once again
      - Having been shown past scenes, particularly Fezziwig's party, he realises that spending is a way of gaining power; not the amount, as he pointedly notes ("Is quite as great, as if it cost a fortune"), and being able to make others happy, and bettering life
      - Dickens here is referring to the rise of classical economic theory, and utilitarianism - at the start, he lives by a purely utilitisarian lifestyle, setting up society for the greatest good for the majority - albeit, regardless of emotions, the omission of which bothered Dickens, who believed more in Christian values.
        
        Thus, at first, Scrooge is able to support society through the workhouses, and able to keep his pockets full, but he changes, having realised the importance of charity, and what such a mindset/lifestyle does to a person; being represented by himself, and the visions he is shown
        
        The problems of utilitarianism is that it abandons spirituality, emotion etc. for purely mathematical concepts - those not included in the greater good are left completely alone, and it argues that all should act in their self-interest, the situation of the poor being their own fault
    - - The peculiarity and assonance of the name "Ebeneezer Scrooge" is almost comical, emphasising his exaggerated and surreal wickedness
    - - Reflects the potential within him; with a bit of work (against the resistance), you get a flame, which adheres to the classic light/darkness symbolism within the novella - he will ignite, becoming a beacon within his previously occupied darkness
  - - - He is poor and happy, whereas Scrooge is rich and miserable
        
        This demonstrates the lack of correlation between money and happiness, but despite this, Scrooge continues to only worship the "golden idol" - money #
  - - - Antithetical to Scrooge - his direct contrast
  - - - The emphasis on a need for education provoked the setting up of Ragged Schools which gave free education, food and shelter to the poor. It is believed that Dickens' visit to Field Lane Ragged School in 1843 influenced him to write the novella as he was appalled at hardships that poor children had to face #
    - - A message that society will crumble under the poverty gap unless something is done
      - Could be a reference to the French Revolution 50 years earlier, where the destitute peasants rose up and slaughtered the aristocracy. In this way, Dickens could be telling the upper class that unless they change their ways, they will be destroyed by the mistreated lower class. #
  - - - The narrator's cheery attitude and comical rambling directly contrasts to Scrooge, who is then described by the narrator. The juxtaposition of the two attitudes makes Scrooge's attitude seem even more abysmal, thus making his transformation more siginificant
- - - - The focus shifted to towns, particularly in the North, away from typical land, and an agarian economy - this was reflected by a large movement of people to towns
      - Led to the development of popular economic concepts such as laissez-faire capitalism, 'freedom', and 'liberalism'
        
        This was, however, a warped sense of 'freedom', as it was freedom for the benefit of the rich/those in power - established at the top of the heirachy. This is best portrayed by Mr Birling, and Scrooge, who have the freedom to exploit their workers to maximise profit - they are the embodiment of laissez-faire capitalism
      - Capitalism v Christianity (Charity)
        
        As a mono-religious nation (Christianity), typical concepts of Charity began to interfer with capitalism, which was seen as justified due to Malthus' theory (the need to decrease the population to reduce famine etc)
        
        Increasingly, the need to look after the poor/needy was considered unnecessary, even counterproductive for a capitalist society - as reflected by the 1834 Poor Law, which reduced the already limited 'social net', instead replacing it with workhouses, which had the sole intention to seem as unappealing as possible in order to persuade the 'lazy poor' to work
        
        Furthermore, Dickens was also against the Church due to their seeming inability to help the needy - even ridiculing them for instituting the Sabbath (no work on Sunday), as it hit the poorest hardest; they often used the ovens of businesses such as bakerys in order to cook their main meal, with ovens being a rarity - 'you seek to close...on the 7th day?"
        
        This is also echoed in Blake's London - "every blackn'd church appalles", who himself was disappointed with the Church as a powerful establishment, due to their lack of help, particularly children during the development of child labour, while the ordinary people suffer, and its corruption
      - Thomas Robert Malthus wrote "An Essay on the Principle of Population" in 1798 which stated that as population grew, space for farmland would decrease so we would not be able to feed everyone - this led to ideas that there was a "surplus population" #