During the Industrial Revolution in London, the poor were treated as inadequate citizens. Most worked just so they could have food and shelter. In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens uses Ebenezer Scrooge to convey his critiques of Victorian society. Dickens uses the character Scrooge to express his judgements of Victorian society, greed, and the treatment of the poor. He also suggests a reform to these problems, charity and the spirit of Christmas. Greed is a recurring theme in A Christmas Carol. It is depicted most notably by Ebenezer Scrooge. “‘And yet,’ said Scrooge, ‘you don’t think me ill used, when I pay a day’s wages for no work.’ The clerk observed that it was only once a year. ‘A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth of December!’ said Scrooge” (Dickens 18). This quote shows that Scrooge is so greedy, that he can’t even part with a day’s wage. Scrooge also shows greed in many other places throughout the novel. “‘[A] few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is as time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?’ ‘Nothing!’ Scrooge replied” …show more content…
“‘I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s!’ ,whispered Scrooge rubbing his hands and splitting a laugh. ‘He shan’t know who sends it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim.’ (Dickens 77) This quote counteracts the greed suggested in Stave 1. Also, when Bob Cratchit comes into work the day after Christmas, instead of firing Bob, Scrooge gives him a raise. “‘Lord bless me!’” cried the gentleman, as if his breath were Gone. ‘My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?’ ‘If you please,’ said Scrooge. ‘Not a farthing less. A great many back payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me the favour?’” (Dickens 78) This quote symbolizes how over night Scrooge realizes how the poor should have been
Charles dickens uses insults to portray Scrooge 's unpleasant personality. This can be alluded from Stave 1 in the novel where Scrooge can be seen snubbing the charity workers who came seeking for a donation. "If they would rather die, [...] they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.", such insult allows the reader to comprehend that Scrooge is nothing more than a greedy man who solely believes that the peasants are just money scammers and that they should all be locked up in a "prison". Today 's audience will see Scrooge this way and agree that he is a misery, bitter old man, who doesn 't like giving away however back in the 19th century the audience would not be shocked to see a wealthy man as selfish as Scrooge. It was common in London at the time to see factory workers exploiting children who worked in hard conditions by hurting them with the most dangerous work and the cruelest words which is why I can only but say that Scrooge is an unpleasant, old wretch.
The vivid images of the plight of the poor that are presented to Scrooge ultimately act as a catalyst for him to change his miserly ways in order to help the destitute and the needy in society. St the beginning of the novella Scrooge states “if they would rather die…they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. In contrast, at the end of the novella Scrooge is depicted as a benevolent man who is “so fluttered and glowing with his good intentions”, who wished to help the lest fortunate. The personified children “Ignorance” and “Want” act as a catalyst for Scrooge to change his derisory and self-interested nature as he shows interest in the plight of the poor as he is shocked by these two “ragged, scowling” demons by saying ‘ “are there no refugee or resource?” The Ghost states that “there is no degradation, no perversion of humanity” for these “wretched, abject, frightful,” children, which makes Scrooge realise that he needs to change in order to assist them as he “hung his head, overwhelmed with penitence and grief”. This, it is illustrated in the novella that Scrooge transforms his previous, pessimistic self, into an individual who is no just self-interested, but who becomes responsible and generous to the poor by the end of the novel.
Scrooge is changed from a humpy old man to a kinder nicer man, each stave represents a step in the transformation process. In stave one, two men come into Scrooge’s shop and ask for a donation to help poor people in need, Scrooge gives them no money and asks why these people are not in “prisons” or “Union workhouses” (Dickens 7). He feels by paying his taxes he has done enough to help the poor. Scrooge goes on to say “If they rather die…they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” (Dickens 7). But in stave 3, Scrooge sees that Tiny Tim, a young innocent boy, will pass away in the future. Scrooge begs the second of the three spirits to spare his life, but the spirit says “If
As it is shown in A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is a man that cares mainly about his wealth. In the beginning of the story he is asked to give money to the less fortunate and destitute, his response is shocking, Scrooge says,” … I can’t afford to make idle people merry… they cost enough”. The men are tremendously disgusted by his statement. Scrooge shows that he mainly cares about keeping his wealth to himself, he doesn’t feel the need to give to others who are less fortunate. After they continue to speak, Scrooge also states,” If they would rather die, they better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. Scrooge feels that if people are going to be poor and not have as much wealth as him, that they should be put to work in factories, or they should just go away altogether. He mainly cares about how much
Scrooge keeps the coal-box in his own room so the clerk is not able to
Set up against the rampant industrialization of the 18th century, Charles Dickens classic novella “A Christmas Carol” endorses the notion that all people have a responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of every member of society. By taking his seemingly irredeemable protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge on an other worldly journey. Dickens intends to convey to the complacent classes of the age, the necessity of various traits that are essential in life, such as the responsibility for those whom are less fortunate and other vital traits such as charity, generosity and simply caring for others. Dickens warns the reader of the consequences that will follow if these lessons are not taken into consideration.
A Christmas Carol is about a man named Ebenezer Scrooge.Who had a lot of greed. He even called Christmas a “humbug”. Ebenezer Scrooge had more greed than any other man in England. He worked all year long even through Christmas, The most happiest time of year, but not for Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge had parter, Bob Cratchit, he paid him only 15 shillings a week. Cratchit had 5 children and one of his children had a crippled foot, and walked with a crutch. That Christmas the Cratchit family had a small turkey because of Scrooge's greed.
In the first stave, Dickens tries to point out that Scrooge is a character that society considers negative. In the introduction,
'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens allow readers to be positioned to identify what he values in society and his beliefs of the consequences in life and in Christianity as shown through Scrooge's transformation. Scrooge was a coldhearted and frosty man who has been given a second chance in life to alter his view towards Christmas, and most importantly, the happiness in the world by becoming charitable, and positive while maintaining self respect and value. Through the teachings from the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, Dickens demonstrates a defiant and isolated character who transforms into a changed man imbued with Christmas
Scrooge's mean attitude was demonstrated when he said to his nephew, “What right have you to be Merry? You're poor enough" This is the first indication that Scrooge was not in the Christmas spirit as he was not joyful. This is also an indication that Scrooge was greedy and
Money really changed Scrooge into a different person and not for the better. This conveys how powerful the influence of money can be on anyone. Scrooge used to be very poor,
money to the poor. He thinks of them as idle and he states that if
Scrooge is taken to the present, he sees the Cratchit feast on there small dinner, but when Mr Cratchit makes a toast to Mr. Scrooge, Mrs. Cratchit doesn 't want to toast Mr Scrooge. Present takes Scrooge to see the places where the
and “If they would rather die they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. This evidence shows us that Scrooge is a cold-hearted miser who so far has no motivation for the redemption which he will need to go through. At the time this story was set, Victorian England, not much empathy was shown towards the poor. For debtors who could not pay their debts, debtor prisons popped up and workhouses were established
Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ presents a warning to society through the representation of characters and the journey and transformation of the notorious miser, Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens warns society of the grim future that awaits humanity if people fail to respond to the plight of the poor. Finally, if Dickens intentions weren’t made clear enough through these examples, his preface says it all. “I have endeavoured in this ghostly little book, to raise the ghost of an idea…May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and