Materialism and Wealth:
Materialism and Wealth:
Materialism is defined as ‘the preference of
material things and physical comfort over
spiritual values’. It is a concept which Dickens
presents as wrong within the text. He explores
the idea of wealth in greater depth and portrays
it as having both positive and negative
effects within the novella.
Stave Two is central to Dickens’ message as
Scrooge points out the paradoxical nature of
wealth. He describes it as “the even-handed
dealing of the world”. He continues by
asserting that there is nothing on earth as
“hard as poverty” but the “pursuit of wealth”
is one of the things people “condemn” the most. This
belief is used by Scrooge to justify his actions;
however, Dickens may have included this perceptive observation to comment on the
attitudes towards wealth in Victorian society.
Dickens ultimately shows the reader that wealth is not exclusively amoral as in some areas
of the novella it is presented in a positive light.
Materialism as Wrong:
When Marley’s Ghost appears before Scrooge in the opening stave he insults him by calling
him a “man of the worldly mind”. This could be interpreted as alluding to Scrooge’s
materialistic attitude, a significant reference as it occurs in the first stave. This is interesting
as it highlights that Dickens wanted to establish materialism as wrong from the very offset of
the novella.
Dickens furthers this through the revelation that the other spirits in purgatory had a “misery
within them” because they wanted to “interfere, for good, in human matters” but had
“lost the power forever.'' Here, Dickens highlights that material things and physical
comfort are unimportant, challenging the concept of materialism. Instead, he presents the
idea that spiritual values, such as helping those around you, are more essential and
beneficial from both a moral and religious standpoint.
This viewpoint is reinforced in Stave Three when the Ghost of Christmas Present takes
Scrooge to Fred’s Christmas party. Fred observes that Scrooge’s materialistic pursuits of
wealth are of “no use to him” as he doesn’t “do any good with it (his money)”. Here
Dickens outlines that as materialism doesn’t benefit anyone, it is purposeless and should
be abandoned, solidifying its portrayal as a worthless concept within the novella.
Negative Presentation of Wealth
In addition to his negative portrayal of materialism, Dickens uses Marley’s character to
highlight the unfavourable effects of wealth. When Marley’s Ghost appears, Dickens
writes that he was tied in chains. He details that they were made of “cash-boxes, keys,
padlocks, ledgers (a book of financial accounts), deeds (a legal document for property),
and heavy purses”. This semantic field (a group of words with similar meanings) of money
highlights how it is Marley’s misuse of wealth which has caused him to become trapped in
purgatory. Through this Dickens presents a didactic (moral) lesson for readers, perhaps
causing them to understand that wealth can cause the downfall of a person if it is not used
properly.
This idea is furthered by the breakdown of the relationship between Scrooge and Belle. Belle
tells Scrooge that she is leaving him due to his “eager” and “greedy” attitude towards
money. She recognises that he no longer has any noble “aspirations” as “gain” is what
“engrosses” him. This highlights that the deterioration of their relationship is a direct
consequence of Scrooge’s fixation with wealth.
Positive Presentation of Wealth
Fezziwig, Scrooge’s employer when he was young, is present
Positive Presentation of Wealth:
Fezziwig, Scrooge’s employer when he was young, is presented as a character who used
money in a praiseworthy and exemplary way. Therefore, it could be argued that Dickens
uses his character to act as an example to readers, presenting the idea that it is indeed
possible to be both wealthy and moral.
● Scrooge recognises that Fezziwig uses his money to make people “happy”. He
ensures that the working conditions in the warehouse instil a sense of “pleasure” in
his employees. Consequently, Scrooge acknowledges that it is not the amount of
money a person has which is important but the happiness that they can create
because of it.
In the final stave, Scrooge also uses his money to benefit those around him. He makes a
donation to the charity collector from Stave One and sends a turkey to Bob Cratchit's house
for Christmas dinner. Following these altruistic (selfless) actions, the narrator repeatedly
uses the word “good” to describe his character. This shows how Scrooge has been able to
use his wealth to become a better person. The Narrator reinforces this by revealing that his
“own heart laughed” suggesting that he is content and happy. This ultimately presents the
idea that wealth can be used to honour spiritual values in order to develop into a better
person.