scrooges transformation

• scrooge at the beginning -'(covetous, old sinner!)hard and sharp as flint'

  • simile + chremamorphism - objectifies S shows he has no humanity.
  • adjectives show he is sinfully greedy, abrasive and useless to society. flint should provide warmth + light to society but S isnt doing his job. but comparing him to this could foreshadow how he is able to change.
  • 'sharp' - ppl can't approach him, he has imprisoned himself or ppl r scared to approach him bc they dont want to get hurt.
• S at the beginning '(secret, self contained and) solitary as an oyster'

  • S is drowning in his own isolation. D rlly emphasises S isolationist nature.
  • some oysters have a pearl in them - hints at his ability to change.
  • oysters were a cheap food source for the poor - D shows that S could help ppl/ keep them alive. but he chooses to not do so.
• S at the end 'I'm as light as a feather, I'm as happy as an angel, I'm as merry as a schoolboy'

  • rule of 3, repetition
  • similes + religious imagery contrast to the imagery in stave 1 where he was weighed down by a 'ponderous chain' now he is light. 'covetous old sinner' is now an angel. imagery of childhood to create the idea that S is reborn ready to begin a new life
  • 'schoolboy' - infantile lang - innocence +youth bc he is repenting his sins
  • rebirth - religion -Jesus rebirthed for salvation to humans S provides salvation for the poor
• Scrooge: 'I mean to give him a chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him'

  Fred doesn't visit S for his money bc he himself his rich and also he denys it
• Scrooge: 'His wealth is of no use to him. He dont do good with it.'
• Scrooge is financially richer than Fezziwig

  Fezziwig is morally richer than Scrooge
• Verb 'pity'

  Shows that Fezziwig's worth is more than gold, making Scrooge the poorer man
• Scrooge thinks people would respect him because of his wealth but really nobody cares as he doesn't even use it
• Money is most powerful when used well
• This scene happens after Scrooge sees the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come 'withered' by lack of fortune


  It is made clear what Scrooge could be doing with his money
• S beginning to change 'this boy is ignorance this girl is want'

  • vital turning point to S redemption+ core of D moral message
  • S (+ the audience)is forced to see the realities of poverty that he was ignorant to.
  • 2 big societal prob - want = poverty, desperation. ignorance= to the poor+ their problems, hiding them in workhouses - 1843 poor law, more context
  • imperative verb 'beware' probs will only get worse if nothing changes + consequences will be severe for all