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A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THEMES (Family (Scrooge's isolation contrasted…
A CHRISTMAS CAROL - THEMES
Redemption
(saved from sin)
Scrooge changes from miser (un-Christian) to charitable giver (Christian)
3 ghosts (Holy Trinity) - lead him to redemption
Fred refers to "
sacred origin"
of Xmas & portly gentlemen appeal for "
Christian cheer"
.
Scrooge described as a "
sinner
" and his behaviour to others as unChristian.
Tiny Tim speaks of Christ's teachings on his return from church.
Dickens sweetens the pill by making us laugh as well as take things seriously - heartwarming Christmas story
Didactic literature
Christmas
Dickens chose Xmas as traditionally a time for giving & used the season to remind people of Christian teaching re caring for others & helping poor
Scenes - Stave 3
Cratchits' family Xmas
Fred's wealthy family at Xmas - laughter & plenty
Ignorance & Want at Xmas
End of year, time of change - emphasised contrast between poor & rich
Poverty
Ignorance & Want = personification of poverty - so degraded more like an animal than human
Cratchit family - happy
Scrooge & Marley - manipulative rich
Scenes
Cratchit Xmas Scene - Stave 3 - happy despite poverty
Old Joe's Pawnbrokers - Stave 4 - manipulative poor sell Scrooge's belongings
Ignorance & Want - Stave 3 - 2 dead children
Inspired by Dickens' visit to industrial towns of North England where saw plight of the poor
Class
No Upper-Class in novel - established old families owning land & property
Middle-class are businessmen & professionals - Scrooge, Fred, Fezziwig, Businessmen at the 'Change" & portly gentlemen.
Working-class/poor - manual labour - Bob has level of education to work in office so respectable working-class or lower-middle
Family
Scrooge's isolation contrasted with scenes of positive benefits of family life
Lonely young Scrooge Is rescued by his sister & returns home
Apprentice Scrooge is part of Fezziwig's Xmas party along with countless others "
full of gratitude"
Fred's Xmas includes games & music, key elements of traditional victorian Xmas
Cratchit's family Xmas
Bob is loving caring father "
he loved the child, and wished to keep him by his side"
Sister Fanny refers to Scrooge's father
"Father is so much kinder than he used to be"
implying a difficult relationship
Scrooge becomes "
a second father
" to tiny Tim at end to show past can be overcome
Greed
Love of money over family & people
Doesn't bring happiness - helping others does