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Scrooge - Coggle Diagram

- - - - simile - 'solitary' highlights his isolation and presents him as hostile
      - the choice of an 'oyster' is significant as, despite an oyster being dark and hard on the outside, they can contain something beautiful and valued on the inside: pearls
        
        this suggests to the reader that there is something worth saving within Scrooge, implying that as the novel progresses the Spirits will destroy his hard exterior to reveal the good within
        
        similarly the simile 'hard and sharp of flint' connotes similar ideas
        
        'hard' suggests he lacks empathy and compassion, while *'sharp' suggests pain implying a lack of mercy towards others
        
        the comparison with 'flint' is significant as flint is used to create fire, implying there is a potential for a spark of warmth and empathy within him
    - - Dickens uses an extended metaphor in which Scrooge is likened to the weather - this presents him as a cold, hostile and unappealing character
        
        this description presents him as an archetypal villain
        
        'no warmth could warm him, no wintry weather chill him'
        
        he is presented as a man who cannot change, alluding to his stubborn nature - this focus on his initially unchanging and behaviour makes his transformation more impactful
    - - uses asyndetic listing to show the extent of his greed - the relentless verbs refer to him being miserly and selfish which immediately and undeniably characterises him as unlikeable
        
        this makes it difficult for the reader to empathise with him while also drawing attention to the unsympathetic narration
      - 'covetous old sinner' has Biblical connotations that reminds us of God's commandments, painting Scrooge as wicked and misaligned with God
  - - - repetition of Malthusian language which aligns the character of Scrooge with the views of Thomas Malthus
      - this implies he also believes the poor are poor due to their own laziness - 'idle people' - rather than lack of opportunity - he doesn't seem them as people
      - this is the point of view of many of the rich who now see themselves in Scrooge - Scrooge has been made to be a very unlikeable character, showing the rich how repulsive their behaviour is
- - - - 'then with a rapidity of transition very foreign to his usual character, he said, in pity for his former self, "Poor boy."'
        
        this allows the reader to empathise with him and begin to become invested in his redemption
      - he starts to show signs of changing
        
        Dickens implies that for us to change to create a better future, we must first accept the past
  - - - Scrooge has abandonment issues as he was left alone by everyone in his life - his mother died at birth, his father abandoned him, his sister died giving birth to Fred and his friends left him
        
        this caused him to retract away from people and he ends up all alone
        
        his dear sister Fan dying when birthing Fred seems ti be the reason that he isolates himself from Fred* as he is a sad reminder**