Greed, materialism + wealth

• What is materialism?

  the preference of material things and physical comfort over spiritual values
• What does Dickens portray about wealth in the novella?

  Wealth has both positive and negative effects
• What does Marley’s Ghost's appearance signify about materialism?

  It highlights the negative consequences of a materialistic attitude
• What do the spirits in purgatory represent in relation to materialism?

  They represent the misery of wanting to help but losing the power to do so
• What does Dickens suggest is more essential than material things?

  Spiritual values, such as helping others
• How does Dickens portray materialism in Stave Three?

  • The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to Fred’s Christmas party
  • Fred states Scrooge’s materialistic pursuits are “of no use to him”
  • Materialism is depicted as purposeless and should be abandoned
• What does Marley’s chains symbolize?

  The consequences of his misuse of wealth
• What lesson does Dickens convey through Marley’s character?

  Wealth can lead to a person's downfall if misused
• Why does Belle leave Scrooge?

  Due to his eager and greedy attitude towards money
• What does Belle's departure signify about Scrooge's character?

  His fixation on wealth leads to the deterioration of personal relationships
• How is Fezziwig portrayed in relation to wealth?

  • Fezziwig uses money in a praiseworthy way
  • He makes people happy and ensures good working conditions
  • Represents the idea that one can be wealthy and moral
• What does Scrooge learn from Fezziwig's example?

  That happiness created by wealth is more important than the amount of money
• What altruistic actions does Scrooge take in the final stave?

  He donates to a charity and sends a turkey to Bob Cratchit's house
• What is the ultimate message Dickens conveys about wealth?

  • Wealth can honor spiritual values
  • It can help develop a better person
  • It is not inherently amoral
• Dickens uses Marley’s character to highlight the unfavourable effects of wealth. When Marley’s Ghost appears, Dickens writes that he was tied in chains. He details that they were made of “cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers , deeds, and heavy purses". This semantic field of money highlights how it is Marley’s misuse of wealth which has caused him to become trapped in purgatory. Through this Dickens presents a didactic lesson for readers, perhaps causing them to understand that wealth can cause the downfall of a person if it is not used properly.
• "Another idol has displaced me"

  • GCP reveals a conversation between Scrooge + ex-girlfriend
  • Belle tells Scrooge that she is leaving him due to his eager and greedy attitudes towards money
  • 'Idol-symbol of worship he loves money more than her, scrooge is a slave to his desires
  • This is a catalyst for the beggining of the downfall, beggining of the end, money replaced every relationship he had. Direct consequence on his fixation with money
• Bob is kept in a 'dismal little cell'...This imagery  implies an unpleasant, confined space , suggesting that Scrooge is almost imprisoning his employee because of his capitalistic mindset.

  • 'cell'-connotations of prison, Scrooge suffocates him, can't escape poverty due
  • 'dismal'- gloomy=reflects Scrooge's atmosphere
  • 'little'-suffocation is further reinforced, could be a metaphor for his insignificance, physically portraying social status
• "Hard and sharp as a flint"

  similie-adjective 'hard'= lack of compassion,kindness, empathysharp'=pain, no mercy towards otherscomparison with 'flint'=used to createpotential for a spark of warmth within him, foreshadows transformation/fire= danger, he is so unpleasant that he is dangerous to others.
• Are there no prisons?...Are there no workhouses?
• If they'd rather die they better dp it and decrease the surplus population