Loneliness, Isolation and Time

• Themes in "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens:
• Loneliness and isolation:

  • Scrooge rejects offers to spend Christmas with family, chooses isolation
  • Scrooge preoccupied with making money, no desire to look out for others
  • Scrooge's childhood memory of being a lonely child neglected by friends affects him emotionally
  • Scrooge learns that love and compassion bring happiness, joins Fred for a family celebration
• Time:

  • Structure of moving from present to past to future and back to present can be confusing
  • Jacob Marley's visit clarifies the structure, the three spirits are not reincarnations but time travelers
  • Scrooge is reminded of his past and warned about his possible future by the spirits
  • Pace of the novella increases with the threat of Tiny Tim's death and Scrooge's own lonely death
  • Clock strikes emphasize the urgency for Scrooge to change his ways
  • Time manipulation by Dickens allows Scrooge to return to Christmas Day and put his new caring attitude into practice
• • Scrooge learns that time with family and friends is most important for a happy life