The ghosts / the supernatural analysis

• ‘I wear the chains I forged in life’

  Dickens uses Marley to show Scrooge what will happen to him if he does not change his ways

  A metaphorical punishment in both the literal term where the ghost carries carries the chains and in the metaphorical sense: weight of regret and wrongdoings
• ‘Of cash-boxes, keys padlocks, ledgers’

  Resonate with Scrooges day-to-day capitalist lifestyle

  Making Scrooge see the permanent effect of his self interested actions

  AO3: Dickens highlighting the selfishness of the rich in society and the needs of the poor
• ‘Mankind was my business’

  Arguably moral message of hole. Novella - shows Marley realised caring for others is more important than money

  Should have been what he was or king for and wants to teach Scrooge
• ‘ask me who I was’

  emphasises he is not the same as he was when he was alive as he has realised the importance of social responsibility

  shows potential for change in Scrooge as Marley changed
• ‘like a child’

  has properties of youth as he is the ghost of scrooges past

  simile describes as young suggesting it will grow with scrooge as reminding him of his past

  ‘child’ has connotations of innocence - Scrooge once was + can revert back to kindness
• it wore a ’tunic of purest white‘

  symbolises innocence of childhood

  Associated with goodness and purity - suggests ghost is a benevolent spirit + will bring out the goodness in Scrooge through his childhood innocence
• ‘From the crown of his head there sprung a bright clear jet of light’

  light associated wit goodness, purity and truth

  Ghost has come to show Scrooge the truth about the man he has become and the man he could be

  Scrooges reaction to the light might suggest he realises the difference between his approach to life when he was young and his approach now
• ‘it fluctuated in distinctness‘

  Already seen mirror youth of Scrooge

  Flickering connotes candlelight and may suggest there i good to be rekindled
• ‘and he sobbed’

  frost which is part of charter begins to melt because of ghost
• ‘He could not hide the light’

  In spite of efforts to quench it the metaphorical light of goodness and truth persists

  Shows Scrooges transformation has begun
• ‘turkey, geese, game, poultry’

  embodies abundance

  opposes scrooge’s earlier command to decrease the surplus population

  contrasts Malthus’ theory

  personifies generosity, spirituality ad material - showas what Scrooge can become
• ‘come in! And know me better man!’

  Imperative and exclamatory sentences show excitement to see Scrooge and urgency to change him

  Joy shows he is happy and willing to change anyone - un discriminative
• ‘Tell me if Tiny Tim will live’

  Ghost shows Scrooge the consequence of his low pay to Bob

  Imperative shows urgency and scrooges increasing awareness and empathy for others as a result of ghosts
• ’If he be like to die he had better do it then and decrease the surplus population’

  echoes Scrooge’s words

  Scrooge feels immense amount of guilt - evidence of changing

  sees real surplus population
• ‘look, look, down here’

  ‘ignorance and want’

  forcing Scrooges attention to foot through list of imperatives

  ‘down’ - adverb shows

  ‘down’ - adverb shows hidden away / no one wants to look at

  neglect - responsibility of mankind to look after vulnerable, Scrooge didn’t - result

  cling onto spirit as he represents the charity they need

  dickens belief about power of eduction to break poverty - friend + ragged schools
• ‘behold what I shall be, in days to come’

  spirit shows scrooge he needs to act to change the future not just vow
• ‘phantom, slowly, gravely, silently approached’

  rule of three conveys ominous appearance and the final season to be taught to Scrooge

  Silent so Scrooge must work things out for himself now - acceptance of this shows change that has occurred already
• ‘I am prepared to bare you company and do it with a thankful heart’

  emphasises progression

  now showing gratitude for lesson he will be taught

  wants to be better
• ’it shrunk, collapsed and dwindled down’

  rule of there shows reader Scrooge has fully transformed and is a changed man

  emphasises