Christmas Carol Essay Example

Christmas Carol Essay Charles Dickens, 1812 1870, wrote A Christmas Carol, published in 1843 and it is one of Dickens most loved works. It is a heart warming story which was very popular at the time of publication. The novel aims to educate and enlighten the reader, as well as entertain, with the story of a cold, grasping man, by the name of-Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is certainly a bad employer and Bob Cratchit, his clerk, would know. He is a poor-family man; time off for the Christmas holiday isnt an issue, especially when you work for Ebenezer Scrooge. As Christmas Eve approaches so does the ghost of Marley, who was dead to begin with! Marley warns Scrooge of three ghostly visits. The ghosts show Scrooge his past, present and a frightening future without love, not to mention disaster for the Cratchits. The purpose of the ghost is to teach Scrooge a lesson in order for him to become a better person. The ending of the novel shows Scrooge can change, pennies are given to charity and certainly the Cratchit familys spirits are lifted as Scrooge gives generously. Charles Dickens wanted his novel to have an important message. He wanted to show that no one should be as selfish and money grasping as Ebenezer Scrooge because if they are they will die lonely and their meanness hurts others. Dickens teaches us that in society the rich people can ease the lives of the poor and make things better for them even with simple acts and gestures! However, we see that characters like Scrooge are unprepared to do so. Life in Victorian England was very difficult, if you were a poor person. Industrialization had bought factories, but unfortunately the working conditions were awful. The poor who worked there didnt get paid a lot at all and would really struggle. If you didnt get employment, then the work houses would be a last resort. This was better than being in prison though and was a warm shelter for Britain. Charles Dickens saw what conditions in the work houses were like and wrote about this in his famous novel Oliver Twist. Dickens was very aware of the poor conditions around, when he moved down to London. He realised (and was shocked at) how badly the rich treated the poor. He was determined to do something about it. We will write a custom essay sample on Christmas Carol specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Christmas Carol specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Christmas Carol specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer By writing about London society and the conditions in which the poor lived, even though these characters were fictional, Dickens was able to raise awareness of poverty and injustice. Dickens wanted to show that rich people should be charitable and help the poor. These charities could make a difference. This relates to A Christmas Carol as Ebenezer Scrooge is a tight fisted and an uncharitable man. The workhouses during Dickens time were in bad condition; they were a last resort to families. Indeed the charity workers inform us that, Many cant go there and many would rather die. This reveals the plight of the poor. Scrooge has money and if he gave to charity he could make a difference and perhaps save a family from the work house. We can see from the changes he goes through and learning from the ghosts, that by the end of the novel he can help save a life by being thoughtful of others and charitable; he can make a difference. In the first scene of A Christmas Carol Dickens gives the readers an impression of Scrooge in just the first few lines. We are told about Scrooges business, the firm was known as Scrooge and Marley and that Scrooge, Answered to both names. This tells us that Scrooge is just a business not a person who lives a proper life. The text states that Scrooge is tight fisted which gives the impression that scrooge is a mean and hard person. The simile hard and sharp as flint tells us that Scrooge is cold and brittle with no warmth in him at all. Flint was used to spark up a fire but theres no fire or warmth in Scrooge! Dickens says from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire. We see how Scrooge lives on his own and enjoys this when Dickens uses the simile, solitary as an oyster. This is odd because oysters make beautiful pearls but there is nothing lovely about Scrooge!