A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

1. Context

   • The background
     • Prince Albert popularised 'family christmas
       • Christmas trees - 1841
       • shortly after, Christmas Carol = published 1843
         • showed merry atmosphere, games - christmas spirit
         • encouraged rich to give to poor
     • 1840s - midst of industrial revolution
   • The Hungry 40s
     • difficult time
     • poverty widespread
       • working class
     • industrial revolution - slum cities
     • workhouse = only relief for poor
     • poor wanted vote
       • = feared by rich
   • Children
     • generally treated badly
     • Dickens believed measure of any society = way treat children
   • Father Christmas
     • Father christmas + Santa = different
     • Father Christmas - old english mid winter festival, sign of returning spring
     • Santa Claus - from dutch settlers

2. Themes

   • Redemption
     • idea of being saved from sin/evil
     • Scrooge transformed from miserable to good natured
     • whole novella = humans have chance to be kinder and better
     • miserable - ""christmas a humbug uncle!" said Scrooge's Nephew. "You don't mean that I am sure!"
     • Redeemed - "His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him"
   • Isolation
     • only cares about money, has no friends
     • Marley's death, hardly affected him
     • repetition of word "sole"
       • suggests Marley had no time for family/friends
         • too focused on business
       • "solitary as an oyster"
         • suggests scrooge closed up
           • yet pearl inside
   • Poverty
     • The Cratchits
       • "brave in ribbons"
         • trying her hardest
       • full at end of meal yet told that "small pudding for a large family"
     • charity collectors
       • "many thousands are in want of common necessities"
     • Old Joes Shop
       • "reeked with crime filth and misery"