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A Christmas Carol: Key quotes/analysis - Coggle Diagram
A Christmas Carol: Key quotes/analysis
Stave 1
"hard and sharp as flint"
The adjective "hard" suggests that he lacks warmth, and compassion. The adjective "sharp" suggests pain, implying that Scrooge has no mercy for anyone
"solitary as an oyster"
This simile suggests that he is closed up and will not be prised open except by force. However, some oysters contain beautiful pearls, suggesting there may be good buried deep inside him, waiting to be discovered
"What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough."
Scrooge does not believe that anyone poor can be satisifed as they are. Scrooge is dehumanising Fred by questionning his human "right" to be merry, suggesting that he is immoral
"I can't afford to make idle people merry"
He believes that poor people are lazy, and his callous tone suggests that he is disgusted by this. We know he has plenty of money, emphasising his selfishness
"Are there no prisons?"
Scrooge is oblivious to the plight of the poor, he believes that as long as there are prisons and workhouses, they don't need any help.
"...the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal"
Emphasizes his greed for money - he is very rich but would rather hoard his money than use it on essentials such as heating
"If they would rather die...they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population"
Scrooge believes that the poor people ought to die as they are a burden to society and cannot support themselves. Dickens uses shocktactic to encourage the reader to reject Scrooge and all that he stands for.
Stave 2
"A solitary child, neglected by his friends"
The word "solitary" was used in Stave 1 to describe Scrooge now, suggesting that his childhood is the reason he is the way he is now. He was neglected by society as a child and feels he can't join society now out of fear of being rejected again
"The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune"
In this moment, Scrooge is beginning to realise that his wealth could provide him with the power to make other people happy, if he uses it right.
"Another idol has displaced me...a gold one"
Scrooge idolizes money and places it on a pedestal, above Belle. This obsession, however, drove her away, causing Scrooge to become more isolated.
"I should like to have given him something, that's all"
Scrooge expresses regret over his past lack of generosity. Through witnessing his sad, lonely, younger self, feelings he repressed come up.
"like a child, yet not so like a child as like an old man"
Lots of juxtaposition suggests that our past could inform, and influence our present and future self. Could also suggest that it is never too late to change your ways, regardless of your age
Stave 3
"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both"
These are symbolic of the root cause of problems in society.
The children remain in ignorance because they have no access to education, and want because nobody looks after them. Dickens is using the children as a warning to Scrooge about the dangers of neglecting the poor.
"Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this spirit"
The adverb "timidly" contrasts his confident rejection of the philanthropists at the start, suggesting the change in him has started.
"Oh no, kind spirit! Say he will be spared.
If Scrooge does not change his ways, the weaker, poorer people in society will suffer the consequences. This is a strong message from Dickens about the unfairness in Victorian Society, and he is imploring people to change, after coming from a difficult background himself
"Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself, always.
Fred is not angry at Scrooge, but he thinks he should be pitied, as he is only creating more suffering for himself. However, some may argue that the short sentence suggests that Fred is tired of Scrooge's ways.
Stave 4
"He frightened everyone away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead"
If he continues his miserly ways, he would have ended up even more isolated and alone, and he needs to change his ways to escape this future.
"Every person has a right to take care of themselves. HE always did."
The lack of emotion from those around Scrooge makes the reader appreciate the failings of only thinking of yourself.
"Gasping out his last there, alone by himself"
The onomatopoetic verb of "gasping" allows the reader to explicitly imagine his struggling, painful death.
"I will honour christmas in my heart..."
Through the visitations of the ghosts, Scrooge can now recognise the importance of Christmas, and he wants to honour it. Change is possible
"slowly, gravely, silently approached"
Dickens uses this list of adverbs to create the impression that as the phantom approaches, so do Scrooge's fears. Scrooge cannot see the phantom, but rather feel its presence, which is more effective
Stave 5
"I'll give you a shilling."
Scrooge is now willing to give away money to help others, contrary to in Stave 1 where he refused to spend any money on his clerks' fire.
"I am as merry as a schoolboy."
This simile emphasises how happy he is, considering his sad childhood. The word "merry" contradicts the words that described Scrooge in Stave 1, such as "solitary", to indicate how far he has come, and tell the reader that you can change at any age if you put your mind to it
"The Spirits of all three shall strive within me"
Scrooge is so relieved to wake up and be given a second chance, that he emerges with a newly found passion and resolve to do good. Furthermore, Scrooge has embraced the "Spirits of all three" as a collective group, suggesting that he has learned a lesson from each ghost, and they all live metaphorically within him.
"God bless us, every one!"
Tiny Tim is kind, and offers equal love to all people of mankind. He has embodied the spirit of Christmas, and is a symbol of hope and the positive outcomes that can be achieved through reformation
"I'll send it to Bob Cratchits"
Scrooge decides to send a turkey anonymously to the Cratchits, showing a willingness to help the poor. Furthermore, we are told that he was
"rubbing his hands"
, suggesting that he got great pleasure out of this act of kindness, and encouraging the Victorian reader to do the same (which was the purpose of Dickens writing the novel)