A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Thread

[mikehepro]

Hi guys. So I was doing a little background of this novella, looking at his this novella is a critique of the Victorian society of Dickens' time.

When John Dickens, the father of Charles Dickens, was imprisoned, Charles' mother arranged for seven of his siblings to go into jail with their father. Charles, however, lived outside the prison and worked in a blacking factory, pasting labels on the bottles of shoe polish. During these few months of hard labour, he witnessed the poverty and hardships endured by the underclass.

Following the industrial revolution, society's attitude to agriculture, social and cultural aspects of life changed. The middle-class of Victorian society became more wealthy, whilst conditions for the poor and destitute worsened. The middle-class began to acquire Malthusian and Benthamite ideologies, which further compelled them to agree with the Poor Laws, and assignment of the poor in work houses that were in poor condition.

Witnessing the poverty played a paramount role in forming the character of Dickens. The novella, A Christmas Carol, is intended to draw the attention of the middle-class to the plight and mistreatment of the poor. Through Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation, Dickens insinuates that if one individual is able to alter their perspectives and address the plight of the poor, then society as a whole is able to do so. Through the medium of this novella, Dickens stealthily combines a somewhat indirect descriptions of the hardships faced by the poor, with a heart-rendering and sentimental celebration of the Christmas season.

Benthamite philosophies: the belief in "the greatest happiness of the greatest people".
Malthusian economics: the belief in disease and famine being natural intervention to decrease surplus populations.


Thought we could start a discussion on this. Thanks

Very good research here. It is also to be noted that Dickens felt class and intellectual superiority when he was working in the shoes factory. He felt grief and humiliation when his father let him continue working even when he was released from the debtor's prision. Since then he had the psychological conflict which he both loved and demonized his father. I guess this might linked to how Scrooge is a money lender and have split personalities.
Just some random facts. :d
Oh and there's a few symbolism in the text.
Tbh I actually really enjoyed reading A Christmas Carol.

[brenden]

Sa-HOOOOOOOOOOOOO (so) much symbolism lels. (and metaphors etc)

[charmanderp]

Sa-HOOOOOOOOOOOOO (so) much symbolism lels. (and metaphors etc)

many symbolism. very metaphor.

I feel as though ACC is one of those texts that couldn't be appreciated in the time it was written/published. Only now can we look back and marvel at how well Charles Dickens has represented the historical social environment, as well as explored the moral state of people at the time.

[brenden]

Not appreciated in the same sense that we can appreciate it, to be sure - but I think that's part of the novella's creative genius. The rich people weren't meant to feel attacked by the novella (or he would hardly have gotten the reaction he might have hoped for) - rather, it was written in a way that they might feel as if it were their own idea to feel guilty and start giving lol.

(I'm actually doing the powerpoint's for AN's vTextbook for ACC at the moment and my mind is so jelly)
(I want to start a band called "Fezziwig's the Bad Guy" and we would play alternative-pop-rock. Our first song would be "iView your Values")

[Yacoubb]

Not appreciated in the same sense that we can appreciate it, to be sure - but I think that's part of the novella's creative genius. The rich people weren't meant to feel attacked by the novella (or he would hardly have gotten the reaction he might have hoped for) - rather, it was written in a way that they might feel as if it were their own idea to feel guilty and start giving lol.

(I'm actually doing the powerpoint's for AN's vTextbook for ACC at the moment and my mind is so jelly)
(I want to start a band called "Fezziwig's the Bad Guy" and we would play alternative-pop-rock. Our first song would be "iView your Values")

Dickens intended to draw the attention of the middle-class Victorians to the plight of the poor, and to demonstrate the importance of addressing the state of the poor and destitute. Dickens is able to intertwine this moral message with the Christmas season to reinforce the essence of goodness in humanity.

I love this text! & great idea Brencookie! Haha

[brenden]

This is where my procrastiresearch has brought me

Many learnings. Such analytic insight. Very tired Brencookie.

[Yacoubb]

Hey guys
Could someone check my plan for this essay question. Thanks

Scrooge is initially represented as callous and miserly. How does Dickens show Scrooge's transformation to kind and compassionate?

Because this is a 'how' question, I need to address the ways that Dickens constructs an element of the novella, in order to show Scrooge's transformation from a calloused character, to a kind and compassionate one. The following ideas spring to mind:
- The internal structure of the novella reflects Scrooge's vow to "live in the Past, the Present and the Future". The novella begins with Scrooge's past. Scrooge has alienated himself from society, and is too preoccupied with accumulating wealth and trivial possessions, such as "a pencil case" and "two old-fashioned silver teaspoons". The novella then launches into Scrooge's pilgrimage to the Past, the Present and the Future. Finally, the novella's resolution returns to Scrooge's present. However, in this present, Scrooge is rectifying all the faults of his past. So, by utilising this internal structure, Dickens shows Scrooge's gradual transformation to kind and compassionate.
From the above, I've gathered these arguments:
1. Dickens juxtaposes Scrooge's "Present" at the novella's exposition, with his "Present" at the novella's resolution, to reinforce his transformed nature from an apathetic miser, to a pleasant, caring individual.
2. Dickens constructs a pilgrimage through which Scrooge is taken to his "Past, Present and Future", in order to revive the innate goodness and prosperity that he has supressed for so long.
3. Dickens characterises various one-dimensional characters as embodying traits that Scrooge endeavours to acquire, to substantiate that his metamorphosis is encouraged by the characters he observes.

Are these good arguments that I will then substantiate, of course, with textual evidence? Thanks

[Yacoubb]

Could someone please check if my ideas for this question are good?

‘A Christmas Carol begins with a realistic portrayal of the harsh Victorian world and finishes with an unattainable dream version of that world’. Do you agree?

Plan:
-The novella DOES begin with a realistic portrayal of the harsh Victorian world.
-The novella DOES NOT end with an unattainable dream version of that world – that is, the novella finishes and proposes the idea that this “dream version of that world” is in fact attainable.

Realistic portrayal of the harsh Victorian world:
- It is a realistic portrayal
* Even though people are indulging in goods at Christmas time, there are still the poor of the slum who are eating greasy offal and sepulchers of bones.
* Even though Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit are satisfied and happy, the children of men, Ignorance and Want, and the looters, are suffering a lot and are NOT satisfied.
- It shows the harsh Victorian world
* Scrooge is exploiting his impoverished clerk Bob Cratchit.
* Scrooge abides by the Malthusian theories which dominate society. It cannot be doused.

But it is an attainable world – the prospect of this world through individual reform illuminates beacon of hope.
- If Scrooge can be redeemed, then those akin to the miser can also change.
- If society changes, one Scrooge at a time, then a dream version of that world is attainable.
How do we see that this is attainable?
- Because Scrooge can change from an avaricious miser to a philanthropist.
- Because Scrooge practices spiritual and materialistic generosity (by representing the Victorian elite – Scrooge is actually showing that the Victorian elite can change).
- Because society is made up of individuals like Fred, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the reformed Scrooge, who embody attributes which can lead the Victorian world to this “attainable” dream version of the Victorian world.

[Rishi97]

What are some lessons/morals in Stave 2 of The Christmas Carol?
Urgent help needed, homework due on monday
Thanks

[Yacoubb]

What are some lessons/morals in Stave 2 of The Christmas Carol?
Urgent help needed, homework due on monday
Thanks

Stave 2: Journey with the Ghost of Christmas Past

• Scrooge is shown himself in his youth, reading alone by a feeble fire while the other students celebrate Christmas with their families. Scrooge finds a means of relating the abandonment which he has suffered as a young man, to the neglect he demonstrates towards others. This eventually leads him to pay the turkey boy 'half-a-crown' for bringing the 'prize turkey' in less than five minutes.
• The ageless spectre presents Scrooge with the scene of Fan, who informs Scrooge that their 'father is much kinder now', and that he has sent her to bring Scrooge back home. Being reminded of his sister also reminds him of the nephew (Fred) whom he has not shown any care for. After understanding the importance of family values, the 'tight-fisted' Scrooge dines with Fred on Christmas, indulging in festivities to venerate this 'kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time'.
• The 'hard and sharp as flint' miser is reminded of the prosperity generated by 'affectionate grouping' when he is transported to Old Fezziwig's banquets. Acknowledging the fact that Fezziwig attained the power to render Scrooge 'happy or unhappy', and make his service 'light' and a 'pleasure', enables him to revaluate his exploitation of Bob Cratchit. Accordingly, Scrooge raises his 'meagre salary', which ultimately saves Tiny Tim from premature death.
• The confronting revelation that being engrossed by the 'master passion, Gain' has denied Scrooge the love of his life, allows the recluse to recognise the ramifications of his apathetic ways. Belle culminates their relationship upon witnessing Scrooge's 'nobler aspirations' become surpassed by his endeavour to accumulate 'worldy fortunes'. Being reminded of the tender love which he had once experienced with Belle assists the misanthropist in recognising the paramount importance of indulging in festivities with family and friends.
• Overall, through the 'bright clear jet of light' protruding from the spectre's head, Scrooge is able to regain contact with the innate goodness he harbours, which he has repressed as a repurcussion of his fear of the 'even-handed dealing of the world'.

[Rishi97]

Thank u sooo much for that Yacoubb. That is so helpful.
I'd give u more than +1 if I could

[Yacoubb]

Thank u sooo much for that Yacoubb. That is so helpful.
I'd give u more than +1 if I could

No worries haha thanks for the +1!

[Rishi97]

Has anyone started making notes on "A Christmas Carol" ?
Could you please give me an idea of how you structured it and what must be included. I just want to write these notes/ analysis so that when it comes to sacs and eventually exams, I won't have to read the whole book again. These notes will also expand my knowledge on the book itself.
Thanks 

[Yacoubb]

Has anyone started making notes on "A Christmas Carol" ?
Could you please give me an idea of how you structured it and what must be included. I just want to write these notes/ analysis so that when it comes to sacs and eventually exams, I won't have to read the whole book again. These notes will also expand my knowledge on the book itself.
Thanks 

I suggest you make note of the following:
• How is ACC allegorical? - intended purpose, which characters are archetypes of what traits, how characters play a role in influencing Scrooge to mend his ways.
• Scrooge's faults. This is demonstrates throughout staves 1-4. By stave 5, Scrooge has been redeemed and he endeavours to rectify these faults, whether directly or indirectly. For instance, the Ghost of Christmas Past reminds Scrooge of how he mistreats Bob Cratchit, and following his journey with the spirits, Scrooge raises the 'meagre salary' of his impoverished clerk.
• Quotes. You don't need to learn long quotes. 3-4 word quotes are really good because you can then incorporate them into your pieces.
• Genre of the text. Well, ACC can be categorised as a morality tale, a Gothic fiction or a story about Christmas. For each of those categories, find textual evidence that demonstrates how the novella cam be regarded as that genre. (Eg. the presence of 'unearthly visitors' to guide Scrooge to redemption demonstrates the Gothic, supernatural qualities of the narrative).
 

[mikehepro]

I already done the SAC for it   Also, while reading the text,try to look closely to the narrative. I had a prompt which is "How does Dicken's narrative shifts between humor, realism and horror, Discuss." That was a killer.