key quotes, analysis

• another idol has displaced me -belle

  this can be seen to represent how scrooges obsession with the golden idol/money was a catalyst for his downfall-over time, money replaced every genuine relationship he had
• the cold within him froze his old features

  the coldness symbolises the misanthropic traits within scrooge- they are so deeply rooted that it would make it difficult for him to change, but this only makes his transformation more impressive and inspirational as he does indeed change.
• i will not shut out the lessons that they teach!

  first person pronoun shows that scrooge is talking to himself. almost convincing himself that he vows to learn from the lessons the ghosts taught him- he is also holding himself responsible for his own actions as the ghosts previously did with him

  -this also shows that the "OYSTER" is no longer covered- scrooge refuses to "shut out" the lessons he learned, showing that his change is genuine
• Boy is Ignorance. Girl is Want.

  this metaphor is represented by children as children reflect the most vulnerable group in society-they are affected the most by the poor conditions that they are forced into. they represent the poor working class. scrooge is just a microcosm for the ignorant victorian upper class-dickens uses this metaphor to criticise society as a whole, not just scrooge.

  -the 2 short statements implies that they are simply facts- society is desperate in need of change so that the reproduction cycle of an ignorant class doesnt continue forever
• i wear the chain i forged in life

  -the verb forged means to make/create suggesting marley admits it is his own fault that he has ended up like this- so a warning to scrooge to change his ways or else

  -the verb "wear" enables scrooge to actually see the physical fruits of his sins- a constant punishment of wearing a heavy chain made up of links that accumulate to symbolise each of his bad choices in life and now weigh him down forever
• a squeezing, wrenching grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!

  -asyndetic listing to show the extend of scrooges greed

  -the verbs show him as miserly and selfish, making him an unlikeable character and difficult for the readers to empathise with- this also makes the unsympathetic reader clear
• "ruddy and handsome"

  "all in a glow"

  these light-hearted descriptions of fred causes readers to instantly warm to the character of fred, especially after the contrasting descriptions of scrooge

  -fred arriving all in a glow associates with the motif of the novella of light-symbolising innocence and goodness, which presents fred as an exemplary character whom readers should look up to
• he tried to warm himself at the candle

  the pitiful verb "tried" creates a sense of hopelessness causing readers to sympathise with bob and acknowledge his powerlessness beneath scrooge

  -the anticlimactic "candle" highlights the cruel conditions in which bob is forced to work under which evokes a sense of sympathy from the reader as it is clear that he is too frightened to threaten scrooge in fear of losing his job at a time in which he was lucky to even be employed.
• mankind was my business- marleys ghost

  reflects dickens urge for social responsibility and that it is our duty to help one another. also, dickens highlights the importance of being socially conscious as marley realises he should have focused on mankind (relationships e.g) rather than business and finance
• What does the oyster symbolize in the context of Scrooge?

  Capitalism and greed
• How is Scrooge similar to an oyster?

  He hoards precious items like pearls
• What does the oyster symbolize about Scrooge's personality?

  He is hard to crack but has beauty inside
• What does the adjective "solitary" suggest about Scrooge's condition?

  Involuntary loneliness like a prisoner
• How does Scrooge's loneliness relate to capitalist beliefs?

  He has become a victim of those beliefs
• What does the idea of involuntary loneliness foreshadow for Scrooge?

  His breakthrough and ability to change