ghost of christmas present

• symbol of abundance and hope - motif of light

  • “ivy reflects back the light“/“sparkling eye”
  • Symbolises hope — Scrooge has opportunity of hope and promise
• symbol of abundance and hope - “glowing torch“

  • “glowing torch in the shape not unlike plentys horn“
  • plenty’s horn in latin is “cornucopia“ - nourishment and abundance
  • ghost holds emblem of the torch - shows scrooge there is an abundance of resources to be shared
  • no malnourishment should commence a plentiful society
  • direct criticism of malthusian views
  • rejects scrooge’s accusation that the spirits created sabbath closure
• symbol of abundance - “do deeds of passion”

  • “do deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, envy, bigotry in our name”
  • asyndetic listing highlights mankind commits injurious immoral acts - justified through religion
  • ghost scathed this in asyndetic listing of sin
  • reinforces ongoing abuse of religion
  • claims to uphold religious values yet don’t practice them
  • exchange about sabbatarians highlights Victorian hypocrisy and it’s detrimental impact on the poor
• god like figure

  • triple adjective “kind, generous, hearty” - allusion to trinity
  • allusion to the ghost bringing Scrooge back to religious moral foundation, guide him away from sin
  • Biblically “Ivy” symbolises gods gift - Ivy surrounds ghost
  • compound, God-like portrayal
  • recipient of God’s message - enlightening Scrooge morally, spiritually & religiously
  • presented jovial akin to Father Christmas:
  • “Jolly Giant” / “Green robe” / “bordered with fun”
  • Father Christmas is a symbol of festivity & giving - poignant as ghost’s function is to show Scrooge how there is abundance - should give more
• anti malthusian tale

  • construct the ghost as sitting on a plethora of enticing food
  • “turkeys, geese, game, poultry” forming a “kind of throne“
  • critiques Malthusian idea of supplies are scarce and. the poor are draining those resources
  • Ghost is a pivotal tool in Dickens’ social commentary - extension of dickens
  • didactic to Scrooge’s contribution to social ills and mistreatment of the vulnerable
  • emulates Scrooge’s heartless Malthusian view - “if he be like to die, he better do it, and decrease the surplus population”
  • allowing readership to reflect on Scrooge’s words and the detrimental impact he has on others
  • Scrooge is a microcosm of Victorian upper class
  • ensures his readers are reflective on if they inhabit the commencing mistreatment of the poor - significantly victimisation of children
• scrooges shameful reaction

  • appears submissive to ghost
  • open + welcoming to idea of moral + spiritual awakening
  • shows remorse and obedience to teaching for first time
  • “Scrooge entered timidly + hung his head”
  • turning point as he displays genuine remorse
  • emotional change is clear through imperative “tell me if Tiny Tim will live”
  • juxtaposing to earlier impolite use of imperative
  • now commanding to know about the wellbeing of others
  • developing benevolence and solicitude
• ignorance and want topic sentence

  Dickens’ allegorical characters are used to further his scathing criticism on the dehumanising, animalistic treatment of the poor. He deploys Scrooge as a microcosm of the upper class, and makes him directly face the impoverished children to evoke justice. the ignorant, rich are forced to face the consequences of their obliviousness
• ignorance and want - ”yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling wolfish“

  • “yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish”
  • skin colour does not resemble healthy - “yellow”
  • implies children are malnourished because of the neglection of society and obliviousness to social injustice
  • alternatively mirrors how the upper class believed poverty was almost alike to a contagious illness
  • felt it was easier to distance themselves from the disease of poverty, rather than helping
• ignorance and want- “yellow meagre“ part 2

  • feral and animalistic portrayal - “scowling” and “wolfish”
  • zoomorphism highlights how poverty dehumanises individuals, stripping them of humanity, reducing them to an animalistic state of being
  • could alternativly be an attack on rich’s dehumanising treatment of lower classes
  • Scrooge, an extension of ignorant rich, most dehumanised poor for a sense of justice - rich are forced to recognise they are perpetuating poverty
  • significant ghost of Present shows this
  • mouthpiece to criticise socio-economic poverty that pervades society
• ignorance and want- “beware of them both”

  • Dickens warns his readers to “beware of them both”
  • easy to be the plight of others and only focus on your “wants” for more
  • allegorical characters make reader reflection of social conscience