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A Christmas Carol - Final Exams - Coggle Diagram
A Christmas Carol - Final Exams
Themes
Money and Class
A majority of Dickens' readers would be middle class; they would likely be employers themselves and so Scrooge's decision to increase Bob's wages is a message to them directly [I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now] + [I'll raise your salary and endeavour to assist your struggling family]
At the time of writing ACC, Dickens was in dire need of funds due to a tour in the US. Before this, however, Dickens wished to write a political pamphlet: "An appeal to the people of England on behalf of the poor man's child".
Ignorance is stated to be the most dangerous of the two; Dickens uses this to convey the idea that if the poor are denied education, they will revolt.
Dickens shows us that even criminals who are forced to steal religiously are not making enough money in this society. This may be reversed if a fair wage was paid. ["The parlour was the space behind the screen of rags"]
The book was priced at 5 shillings. This prevented Dickens from making true profit.
"Nothing!" --> "whispered" - Virtue signalling seen as shameful. Charity seen as auxiliary compared to salary increases.
"the happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune".
Fred suggests that Scrooge will have to double Bob's salary in order to lift him out of poverty ["50 pounds"]
"Twice the size of Tiny Tim" - Effects of poverty shown here.
"intent upon his reading" - We are introduced to Scrooge's younger self in this way + ["Wonderfully real" suggests that education and literacy is transformative]
Bob referred to as "my friend" + "I am not going to stand for this thing any longer".
Fatherhood
["[she] might have called him father"] + ["Father is so much kinder than he used to be"] + ["Second father]
Pattern of attachment depicted when Scrooge exhibits cruel behaviour towards the carol singer. ["I should like to have given him something"]
Marley's "pigtail" helps emphasise how old he is as the pigtail was outmoded by the year 1800. This, again, suggests that Scrooge has chosen a partner that will abandon him (pattern of attachment).
Religion
Dickens is seen to challenge the conventional Christian view that salvation can only be achieved after death. This almost acted as a scapegoat that allowed the government to ignore the poor.
'Memento Mori' - Reminds Christians to live good and moral lives as this will dictate their fate after death.
Marley intentionally speaks to Scrooge in Christian allusion; he refers to a "blessed star" and the "wise men".
Ali Baba is a tale that has largely Islamic origins; this shows that Dickens is not so concerned with the idea of conveying a Christian message.
"Home's like heaven" - God in old vs new testament alluded to (great change) + Salvation on Earth.
Scrooge's job has connotations to John 2:13-16 (Cleansing of the Temple).
Psalm 135:15 - "Idol has displaced me" + "Gold"
The representation of the GOCPast as a candle reflects Christian tradition, with candles being used in church to symbolise salvation and God's light. This candle could also symbolise the brevity of life also (carpe diem - seize the day).
"Clasped his robe in supplication" - Jesus given robe before trial with Pontius Pilate and crucifixion. (Salvation and sacrifice + mockery as Jesus thought himself to be King of the Jews).
Marley is a state of purgatory (7 years)
Change
"yet may change these shadows"
"flint"..."no steel had struck out generous fire" - Implies that his purpose is to deliver generosity but he has not fulfilled it.
"old sinner" <--> "baby"
Dickens explores the idea that Scrooge is dead to begin with "No warmth could warm him" to establish a Christian allegory.
"his heart and soul were in the scene" - Apprenticeships typically lasted 7 years.
"If you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it".
"he could not hide the light"
Audience and Structure
"No warmth could warm him, not wintry weather chill him" - Use of repetition and anaphora in his description highlights that this is a story that is meant to be enjoyed and read aloud.
"Oh but he was" use of past tense "was" suggests redemption immediately.
The structure of a Shakespearean tragedy is mimicked; Hamlet is also referred to in the first stave.
The narrator's obsession with food acts as a proxy for Christmas, a time that promotes plenty; he uses lists to emphasise this further ["turkeys, geese, game, poultry" + "solitary as an oyster"]
The narrator's love for food contrasts the Cratchits' lack of food ["pudding singing in the copper"]. This allows the reader to compare themselves to the narrator.
The narrator's eccentricity, common digressions and suggestive comments allows the readers to criticise the narrator, laughing both at him and with him ["made to be kissed"].
"more conducive to that end" - Scrooge is shown to be a man of courage and certainty; this is used to both allow the audience to have a rapport with Scrooge. Dickens attack the audience's feeling of self-worth and complacency.
Context
In Victorian England, 1 in 6 children died before the age of 1 and the average life expectancy was 29.
By 1830, the cost of looking after the poor population reached ~£555 million.
1834 - The Poor Law Amendment Act is introduced. This meant that the poor could only receive help if they were willing to work.
Prince Albert brought the tradition of Christmas trees from Germany to Britain in 1841.
Dickens' father was imprisoned for his debts when Dickens was 12. + ragged school movement
Original copies of the novella would cost 5 shillings, a third of Bob's wage.
Dickens was familiar with the effects of childhood trauma due to his experiences at Warren's Blacking Factory in his youth.
Scrooge
"hard and sharp as flint" - Assonance used here for harshness.
"Speak comfort to me Jacob" + "I have none to give " - Irony used here: we may sympathise with Scrooge until we compare his vulnerability to that of the poor.
"sole mourner" - Homophone of "soul" used here introduces the idea of morality and Christianity early in the play. May also be humour to establish a light hearted narrator that can be laughed both at and with.
"A solitary friend, neglected by his friends, is left there still" - Pattern of attachment / abandonment established from an early point.
"I will not shut out the lessons that they teach" - Didactic purpose is to convince the readers to stay loyal to this message after Christmas passes.
"Squeezing, wrenching [...] covetous old sinner" - Use of emotive participles both suggests that Scrooge is still this way but also conveys humour through hyperbole, allowing us to laugh at Scrooge and, by extension, the wealthy.
"weigh everything by gain" - Scrooge constantly equates social and financial gain.
"let me profit by it" - "profit" is capitalist language and this suggests that a change has not yet transpired. (S3).
"tell me if Tiny Tim will live" - Completely contrasts Malthusian ideals: the most vulnerable are prioritised.
"begged like a boy to stay" - "boy" suggests that Scrooge has not yet understood the mature message being conveyed here while the contrast with "old miser" and use of "begged" suggest change.
"the case of this unhappy man might be my own" - Dramatic irony used here with "might" suggesting a continued denial.
Cratchits
"his clerk's fire" - Bob is not introduced by name but rather by occupation, suggesting that he is simply a medium through which Scrooge can make money.
"looked like one coal" - Bob is afraid to request anything from Scrooge, this is a classic employee-employer dynamic.
"Put on his white comforter" - White used to symbolise innocence and, perhaps, vulnerability.
"fifteen shillings a week" - Bob is not paid a low wage in comparison to other working class individuals, this may allow readers to acknowledge Scrooge's description as the worst type of man and the treatment of their employees.
"ran home to Camden town" - Bob's zest for life and innocence juxtaposes Scrooge's lost childhood.
"nobody said [...] it was at all a small pudding for large family" - "nobody" ironically suggests that the Cratchits know that the pudding is not sufficient in a material sense but their happiness suggest its sentimental satisfaction.
"pudding singing in the copper" - "singing" suggests that the occasion is celebratory and the sound of this pudding is simply mellifluous.
"Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast".
"Bob held his withered little hand [...] and dreaded that he might be taken from him" - Dickens uses this lack of joviality to deviate from the idea that Bob is a one dimensional character. "Taken" suggests a lack of control (memento mori).
"He's walked a little slower than he used to" [Peter referring to Bob]
Spirits
Past
"melted away" - Allusion to a candle; Christian and representative of salvation.
"light" + "unbroken flood" - Biblical allusion to the story of Noah: second chances and an opportunity to seek forgiveness.
"diminished to a child's proportions" - Childhood is important in discovering out psychological truth.
GOCP is similar in appearance to Christkindl, a German tradition. Dickens embraces this Christmas tradition.
The GOCP's constant fluctuations between youth and old age mirror Scrooge's transition from an "old miser" to a "baby".
The GOCP lays a hand "upon his [Scrooge's] heart" to help Scrooge reconnect with his past experiences and childhood self to better understand the source of his cruelty.
"haunt me no longer" - The only ghost that is said to "haunt" Scrooge; Dickens uses this to highlight that it is our past and experiences that we try to escape.
Present
The GOCP attempts to connect with Scrooge's humanity rather than his Christianity, he is not sent by God; he is sent by Scrooge only friend: Jacob Marley.
"if man you be in heart" - Scrooge lacks humanity due to his Malthusian ideas
"Scrooge reverently did so" - Counterpoint: Scrooge looks upon the GOCP as if he is some divine messenger.
"bare" (Repetition in description) - Lack of desire for materialistic possessions; implication that giving away these possessions is the best way to live. (Connotations to Jesus and simplistic lifestyle).
"holly wreath" - Holly is Pagan symbol of fertility and plenty (could be compared to Jesus). Wreaths were worn by Roman emperors to convey humility and success (Christmas overcomes annual misanthropy).
"scabbard" + "no sword in it" - Warning for 1848 rebellions. GOCP shows that there is no need for a sword if charity is prevalent in society.
"most of all beware this boy" - Another warning for rebellion, if the poor's destitution is ignored further, there will be unrest.
"it needs it most" - Poor are the most in need, they should be looked on as tantamount to ourselves.
"roaring fires" + "bowels of the earth" + "thundering of water" - Four elements from Greek philosophy: Christmas spirit reaches everywhere. Charity is fundamental and intrinsic.
"ring upon her finger" - Topper's expression of love comes through charity and the giving of material.
"know me better man" - The GOCP and Scrooge are together for 12 days. This highlights that it is not Christian belief that will change Scrooge, but rather experiencing Christmas itself and the charity it brings.
Tiny Tim
"might be pleasant"..."blind men see"
"iron frame" - rickets: opposes industrialism?
Turkey alludes to Johnathan Swift's "a Modest Proposal" - Satire. Wealthy feed on the poor.
Secular