Deep Analysis

• Marley's Ghost: "Scrooge and he were partners for I don't know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner."


  Interpretation: At his partner's funeral, the roles of "friend" and "mourner" only come after a list of official terms; the link that held Scrooge and Marley together was business.

  
  

  Analysis: The noun "partners" could suggest a sense of companionship - instead, it has a formal business tone as opposed to a personal human connection. The repetition of "sole" emphatically emphasises the isolation of Scrooge from all aspects of the world. "Was" makes clear any human interaction is in the past. The list of "executor", "administrator", "assign" and "residuary legatee" is official and formal - there is no personal intimacy or closeness. Whilst he was a "friend", the sentence structure ends with "mourner"- Scrooge is alone.
• Marley's Ghost: "The only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys."


  Interpretation: Fred depicts Christmas as a time when people come together, a time of openness and companionship, and where equality for all within society is possible.

  
  

  Analysis: Victorian life was hard- "shut-up hearts" indicates one had to be emotionally cold to survive the death and poverty that frequently occurred within society. However, "open" and "freely" suggests mankind naturally wants to be part of a wider community, working with "one consent". "Fellow passengers to the grave" is a metaphor for Scrooge's journey. Without change he ends at his own "grave". In the end he joins his "fellow passengers".
• Marley's Ghost: " 'Business!' cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. 'Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!' "


  Interpretation: It is only after death that Marley realises "mankind" is more important than any financial dealings- it is too late for Marley, but Scrooge can still be saved.

  
  

  Analysis: The repetition of "business" emphasises the foolish notion that man's "business" should be financially driven. It is ironic that "mercy" (implying leniency), "benevolence" (emphasising kindness) and "forbearance" (highlighting patience and fairness) don't cost anything- mankind Money is depicted as a metaphorical "drop of water", juxtaposed with mankind, shown as a "comprehensive ocean". Mankind's value dwarfs that of operates around "common welfare", not "trade". money.
• Marley's Ghost: "He became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory."


  Interpretation: Scrooge is blind to the problems of his conduct towards others, but Marley has begun to awaken his senses to the possible consequences of his behaviour.

  
  

  Analysis: Scrooge still can't see the consequences of his actions, but "noises", "sounds" and "wailings" begin to penetrate his "shut-up heart". His incomprehension of the scene is emphasised by "confused", "incoherent" and "inexpressibly" - whilst he is "sensible", meaning aware, he doesn't understand, and it is up to the three Spirits to help him see. "Lamentation", "sorrowful" and "regret" are painful concepts, but "self- accusatory" is most distressing - these phantoms have no one to blame but themselves.
• Marley's Ghost: "He had been quite familiar with one old ghost, in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below, on a door-step. The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever."


  Interpretation: Scrooge, and the reader, are given a clear indication of what the afterlife holds for those who do not act kindly on earth - an eternity of misery and helplessness.

  
  

  Analysis: The alliterative "white waistcoat" depicts a "white" emptiness, and the image of wealth as nothing but a useless external appearance- it has no substance. The dark tone of "wretched woman" is accentuated by the pitiful, helpless associations of "infant". Both are "upon a door-step", an image of the poor being denied the comfort of a place to stay. A "monstrous iron safe" symbolises money that gives comfort in life but is a burden in death; gives power whilst alive but he "lost the power" in the afterlife.
• The First of the Three Spirits: "He had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap, and begged him to be covered. What!" exclaimed the Ghost, 'would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give?' "


  Interpretation: Scrooge is about to learn some painful lessons, symbolised by the light pouring from the Spirit. He is afraid, desperately trying to conceal what may come.

  
  

  Analysis: Usually Scrooge is dominant and forceful. Here, "begged" highlights his internal vulnerability and a desire to avoid the lessons he is about to learn. "The light I give" metaphorically depicts the fact Scrooge is blind to his faults. Earlier he had to "grope" with his hands through "the fog and frost" and "black old gateway", all images of blindness- now the spirit provides "light". "Worldly hands" suggests Scrooge only considers the idea of a mortal life, when he should consider the consequences of his behaviour in a spiritual afterlife.
• The First of the Three Spirits: "A long, bare, melancholy room, made barer still by lines of plain deal forms and desks At one of these a lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire; and Scrooge sat down upon a form, and wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be."


  Interpretation: The emotion from Scrooge is moving, and we get a suggestion that his adult life is perhaps shaped by these painful childhood memories - it is not all his fault.

  
  

  Analysis: The tri-colon "long, bare, melancholy" painfully mimics the childhood of Scrooge, tedious ("long"), lonely ("bare") and sad ("melancholy"). The alliterative "feeble fire" makes it sound pathetic. Whilst we sympathise with young Scrooge, he does the same to Bob Cratchit, who is left with "one coal". Setting stresses characters' traits. Earlier Scrooge was amongst a "dingy cloud", Fezziwig was "snug...warm...dry", and outside Cratchit's house is a "brightness of the roaring fires". Scrooge is amongst "lines of plain deal forms and desks" he was taught life is about facts, not emotions and human connection.
• The First of the Three Spirits: "Putting her arms about his neck, and often kissing him, addressed him as her 'Dear, dear brother.' I have come to bring you home, dear brother! said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and bending down to laugh. To bring you home, home, home! Home, little Fan?' returned the boy,"


  Interpretation: Family, intimacy and love were once part of Scrooge's life - this tender memory suggests Scrooge was not born full of hatred, but that it grew over time.

  
  

  Analysis: The repetition of "dear", implying a great love, "brother", suggesting close family bonds, and "home", offering an image of sanctuary and welcome, signify that Scrooge did experience love during his childhood, however brief. Scrooge becomes a "second father" to Tiny Tim. Much of Tim can be seen in Fan who is "tiny", "little" and kind-hearted, always thinking of others. Fan's goodness is evident in Fred, with "clapping" and "laugh" suggestive of his behaviour. After his visitations, Scrooge treats Fred and Tim as Fan would have.
• The First of the Three Spirits: "He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count 'em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune."


  Interpretation: Scrooge is beginning to see the wisdom in the teachings of the Spirit. He appreciates that Fezziwig had power over others but used it for good, not personal gain.

  
  

  Analysis: The repetition of "power" links Scrooge to Fezziwig - Fezziwig is "happy", "light" and has "pleasure", juxtaposed with Scrooge, who is "burdensome", "unhappy" and makes work a "toil". It is ironic Scrooge suggests it is "impossible to add and count 'em up"- his whole life has become a series of mathematical additions and subtractions. "Words and looks", "slight and insignificant" might seem vague and empty, but Scrooge's growing awareness shows they can be worth "a fortune".
• The First of the Three Spirits: " 'It matters little', she said, softly. 'To you, very little. Another idol has displaced me; and if it can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do, I have no just cause to grieve.' "


  Interpretation: The sensitivity, tenderness and warmth of Scrooge's former love makes his descent into isolation and misery even more painful for the reader to comprehend.

  
  

  Analysis: The sibilance of "she said, softly" conveys the gentle tenderness of Scrooge's fiancé, yet he chooses the path of "Gain"- she ends with a "bold up young brood" and Scrooge is found "quite alone in the world". The symbolism of "idol" suggests Scrooge worships money as if it were a religion - the use of "displaced me" infers people are simply a commodity that Scrooge can trade or replace. The irony of "cheer and comfort" is painful- it is at Christmastime, with its associations of "comfort" and "cheer", that Scrooge is most angry.
• The Second of the Three Spirits: "But soon the steeples called good people all, to church and chapel, and away they came, flocking through the streets in their best clothes, and with their gayest faces."


  Interpretation: Christmas is a time of collective worship and togetherness, a time for positivity and optimism. Despite the hardship of the era, people still found hope.

  
  

  Analysis: The sentence structure stresses "good people all", suggesting a collective identity, reinforced by the alliteration of "church and chapel", two symbols of togetherness and community. The idea of community is emphasised by the repetition of "they" and "their", with "best" and "gayest" highlighting the positivity within society at Christmas. "Steeples", "church" and "chapel" are explicitly religious terms, but "flocking" alludes to the congregation, God's flock, protected by his love.
• The Second of the Three Spirits: "Its tenderness and flavour, size and cheapness, were the themes of universal admiration. Eked out by the apple sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family; indeed, as Mrs. Cratchit said with a great delight (surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish) they hadn't ate it all at last!"


  Interpretation: The dinner scene shows all that is good about the Cratchit family, with their positivity in the face of adversity and the vitality with which they choose to live.

  
  

  Analysis: Whilst explicitly referencing the goose, Dickens implies the "tenderness" of the family, with "flavour, size" emphasising the vibrancy of the gathering. The family's determination to use the meagre ingredients they have is admirable. "Cheapness" is juxtaposed with "universal admiration" and "great delight". The Cratchit family never complain and always make do- "Eked out" and "sufficient" show a stoical attitude despite reducing the bird to "one small atom", implying a great hunger.
• The Second of the Three Spirits: "The consequence of his taking a dislike to us, and not making merry with us, is, as I think, that he loses some pleasant moments, which could do him no harm."


  Interpretation: Fred asserts that Scrooge's behaviour only harms Scrooge- by choosing his isolated path, he does not gain anything, and only "loses".

  
  

  Analysis: Scrooge's isolation is highlighted in the contrast between the repetition of "us", suggesting togetherness and family bonds, and the lonely associations of "he" and "him". "Making" is an active, positive action, a choice designed to create happiness- "taking" is a selfish action that leads to the loss of "pleasant moments". The alliteration of "making merry" has a joyous, lively tone, juxtaposed with the disagreeable associations of "taking a dislike". It seems a foolish decision as it "could do him no harm".
• The Second of the Three Spirits: "The Spirit stood beside sick beds, and they were cheerful; on foreign lands, and they were close at home; by struggling men, and they were patient in their greater hope; by poverty, and it was rich...he left his blessing, and taught Scrooge his precepts."


  Interpretation: The Spirit takes misery and makes it good - Scrooge takes potential happiness (such as the young couple we see in Stave IV) and forces pain upon it.

  
  

  Analysis: The Spirit makes people "cheerful", juxtaposed with Scrooge, who makes them "care-worn and depressed". The Spirit allows them to be "patient in their greater hope"- Scrooge is "merciless". The Spirit also allows the poor to feel "rich", suggesting wealth isn't always measured by money- however, Scrooge makes debtors become "quite ruined". This is a turning point in the novel. Scrooge is "taught...his precepts", implying that not only is Scrooge now aware of the error of his ways, but is actively seeking to learn from the Spirit.
• The Second of the Three Spirits: "It might be a claw, for the flesh there is upon it,' was the Spirit's sorrowful reply. Look here. From the foldings of its robe, it brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment."


  Interpretation: Scrooge has begun to learn his lesson, and is now faced with the brutal reality of what his "ignorance" leads to in mankind - "want" in those who are innocent.

  
  

  Analysis: "Want" and "Ignorance" are personified to help Scrooge see clearly. "Claw" suggests the ignorance of men such as Scrooge - his actions reduce children to nothing more than animals. Yet "claw" is also painfully human, creating an image of a thin, bony figure suffering the effects of poverty, clawing for food. Children are innocent, juxtaposed with what society does to them, destroying them physically ("wretched", "hideous") and mentally ("frightful", "miserable"). Their vulnerability is emphasised by "knelt down" and "cling" - many metaphorically kneel and cling to Scrooge, but he rejects them.
• The Last of the Spirits: "He knew these men, also, perfectly. They were men of business: very wealthy, and of great importance. He had made a point always of standing well in their esteem: in a business point of view, that is; strictly in a business point of view."


  Interpretation: Scrooge's false values, and those of society, are evident. For Scrooge, the value of a person stemmed from how much money they made, not their morals.

  
  

  Analysis: The repetition of "business" contrasts with Marley's earlier speech about mankind's "business"- "business" is nothing to do with being "very wealthy". Scrooge sees these men as being of "great importance", "standing" and "esteem". Ironically, Scrooge "knew these men" but they become the lost spirits he sees at the beginning of the novel that cause him so much fear. Scrooge sees relationships "strictly in a business point of view"- he rejects the personal relationships the likes of Bob, Fred and Fezziwig enjoy.
• The Last of the Spirits: " 'Who's the worse for the loss of a few things like these? Not a dead man, I suppose.' 'No, indeed,' said Mrs. Dilber, laughing. 'If he wanted to keep 'em after he was dead, a wicked old screw,' pursued the woman, 'why wasn't he natural in his lifetime?' "


  Interpretation: The treatment of Scrooge is disturbing, but his behaviour in life caused this terrible scene. However, it shows it is not only Scrooge who is driven by money.

  
  

  Analysis: The disregard for Scrooge is most emphatic when Mrs Dilber is seen "laughing", an action not appropriate for a discussion about death. The fact that at the end of this vision Scrooge is "shuddering" at their behaviour is ironic, as the question from Mrs Dilber is exactly how he used to think. Despite being thieves themselves, the women still consider Scrooge to be a "wicked old screw" ("wicked" accentuates his villainous characteristics)- the use of "natural" suggests Scrooge is unnatural and inhuman.
• The Last of the Spirits: " 'Nothing is past hope, if such a miracle has happened.' He is past relenting,' said her husband. 'He is dead.' She was a mild and patient creature if her face spoke truth; but she was thankful in her soul to hear it, and she said so, with clasped hands. She prayed forgiveness the next moment, and was sorry; but the first was the emotion of her heart."


  Interpretation: The fear of being in Scrooge's debt is so overwhelming that Caroline actively wanted him dead. We saw laughter at his death earlier- now we see relief.

  
  

  Analysis: An act of kindness from Scrooge that created "hope" would be a "miracle". Only God could make Scrooge relent in his pursuit of debtors. "Mild and patient", "soul" and "heart" emphasise the purity and goodness of Caroline. However, when she hears "he is dead" her response is "thankful". There is a juxtaposition between "thankful", which suggests Scrooge's death is a gift, and "prayed", "forgiveness" and "sorry"- Caroline knows that her response is morally wrong, but it was "the emotion of her heart".
• The Last of the Spirits: " 'I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel casily among ourselves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it'...'I am very happy,' said little Bob, 'I am very happy!' "


  Interpretation: The brave, determined nature of Bob, and an insistence on remaining positive in the face of hardship, reminds the reader of the injustice within society.

  
  

  Analysis: The repetition of "little" emphasises the vulnerability of those who suffer from - it has associations with being both young and undernourished, and poverty "poor" references both poverty and his physical illness. Despite being a "little", "poor", "tiny" "child", Tiny Tim was still a role model for all. He taught people to be "patient" and "mild", and his memory makes Bob "very happy'". The aged can learn from children. Scrooge should have followed Fan and Fred's example, whereas "little Bob" implies Bob is following his son's teachings.
• The Last of the Spirits: "A churchyard. Here, then, the wretched man whose name he had now to learn, lay underneath the ground. It was a worthy place. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds, the growth of vegetation's death, not life; choked up with too much buryingg, far with repleted appetite. A worthy place!"


  Interpretation: In life Scrooge lived in an environment of darkness and depression- his burial place, somewhere to 'rest in peace', is just as melancholy and lonely.

  
  

  Analysis: "A churchyard" is a place of rest and peace, juxtaposed with the "wretched man" who "lay underneath the ground". The grave is a metaphor for Scrooge's life, "overrun by grass and weeds", like Scrooge is "overrun"" by negativity. Just as Marley's funeral was a "bargain", this a "worthy place" for Scrooge to lay. Scrooge is "walled in"- Tiny Tinm's grave was a place to "walk". Scrooge's grave is "choked up'-Tim's was "green". Behaviour in life follows you to the grave. Weeds thrive on "vegetation's death"-Scrooge thrived on other's misfortune.
• The End of It: "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!"


  Interpretation: The absolute joy within Scrooge in finding he still has time to redeem himself is clear- he is changed mentally, physically and socially, full of Christmas spirit.

  
  

  Analysis: Scrooge's language has always been of a formal and official register. The cries of "Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!" are human and natural, joyous and informal. Scrooge's lonely, isolated lifestyle is juxtaposed with the inclusive "everybody" and "all the world", with their associations of a broad, inclusive society. In Scrooge's similes, "angel" and "schoolboy" highlight his new-found innocence; "light" and "happy" infer a great burden has been lifted from him; and "merry" and "giddy as a drunken man" have associations with a love and appreciation of Christmas.
• The End of It: "No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious! Glorious!"


  Interpretation: The change in Scrooge is emphatic, and doesn't only alter his mindset, but also seems to influence the whole natural environment that surrounds him.

  
  

  Analysis: The use of pathetic fallacy is explicit-"no fog, no mist" is evidence that Scrooge can now see clearly, reinforced by the adjectives "clear, bright", juxtaposing the foggy, misty scenes of earlier chapters. Asyndeton (using commas, not 'and) signals the scale of change in Scrooge. His personality is "jovial", his mind "clear" and his body has "blood to dance to". Scrooge has not just been saved physically ("sweer fresh air") and socially ("merry bells") but "Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky" and the repetition of "Glorious" suggests a spiritual salvation as well.
• The End of It: "I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!"


  Interpretation: The consequences of the visitations are wide-reaching. Souls are cleansed, relationships are mended, and lives, in the case of Tiny Tim, are literally saved.

  
  

  Analysis: The use of "Bob", "Bob Cratchit" and "family" implies Scrooge now sces his clerk as a person, part of "mankind", rather than a clerk in a "dismal little cell". The tri-colon makes clear Scrooge still understands financial problems ("raise your salary") but also appreciates family pressures ("struggling family") and personal issues ("your affairs") as well. Images of indulgence emphasise change- "smoking bishop" and "fires" seem warm and inviting, an appreciation of indulgence and plenty, and Scrooge exhibits a joy in helping others.
• The End of It: "He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old: city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world."

  Interpretation: The novel ends with an image of togetherness, community and "good". The use of "city, town, or borough" suggests the impact of goodness on the wider world.

  
  

  Analysis: Whilst the key message of the novel is about the responsibility we have towards society ("friend"), as well as to employees ("master"), the tri-colon ends with. "man", suggesting our ultimate responsibility is to "the good old world". The repetition of "good" emphasises the simplicity and ease with which one can live a worthwhile, uplifting and enriching life. "Infinitely more" suggests the scale of giving on Scrooge's part, but it is he who gains the most from the visitations - by becoming a "second father" to Tiny Tim, he gains a family.