Use of Ghosts to Change Victorian Society in A Christmas...

Use of Ghosts to Change Victorian Society in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol is a novel by Charles Dickens, written in the Victorian era about a man named Ebenezer Scrooge. The book was written to remind people that we should all be kinder and more generous towards one another, and keep the spirit of Christmas all the year, not only in the Christmas season. Scrooge is a representation of most of Victorian society, and he is used by Dickens as a literary device. He is described as squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scrapingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ a reflection on the Victorians, many of whom were selfish and did not care to help those less fortunate than themselves. In Scrooges own words, Are†¦show more content†¦The first thing the reader notices about A Christmas Carol is the title. It brings to mind the idea that the novel is like a song, backed up by the way that it is split into sections called staves, and staves are how pieces of music are split up. A carol is generally thought to be a joyous piece of music, associated with Christmas, the jolliest season of the year. Having the word Christmas in the title reminds the reader of the idea of Christianity, how we should love and be generous towards each other, as Jesus Christ was the forgiver of all men. The introduction of Scrooge in Stave I brings an immediate sharp contrast between the safe feelings we get when reading the title, as if the title portrays the whole novel as being very jolly and seasonal, to the description of Scrooge we read initially, and we realise at once that Scrooge is a man who least of all people knows the meaning of Christmas. The audience is instantly intrigued as to why a man like Scrooge will play such a significant role in a novel with a title representing ideas so different from his character, and will eagerly wait for the next instalment to find out. We first come across Ebenezer Scrooge near the beginning of Stave I, after we are firmly assured that Scrooges old business partner Jacob Marley is Dead as aShow MoreRelatedA Lack of Charity Essay example1718 Words   |  7 PagesIn Charles Dickens’s books, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, the theme of lack of charity is pronounced. Throughout Oliver Twist, society turns a â€Å"cold shoulder† to those in need of help (Miller 30). The Victorian England society prohibits inhabitants of the lower social realms from moving up in society. Rarely do lower class members receive attention, and the attention they do receive is far from par (Reeves). Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character of A Christmas Carol, learns to be charitableRead MoreAlthough It Is a Ghost Story, a Christmas Carol Is an Uplifting Tale.745 Words   |  3 PagesAlthough it is a ghost story, A Christmas Carol is an uplifting tale. To what extent do you agree? 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