Ghost of Christmas preent

• Purpose:

  • personification of Christmas spirit, a representation which is furthered by the scenes he chooses to show Scrooge which is different ways Christmas is celebrated, from the humble Cratchit celebration to the lively party at Fred's house.
  • highlight the importance of Christmas spirit to Scrooge. illustrated when Dickens uses the rule of three a "kind, generous, hearty nature"
  • exploring the values that are central to the idea of Christmas spirit, emphasising the moral and positive aspects in addition to religious themes.
• Apperance:

  • "jolly Giant" wearing a "green robe" and had a "holly wreath" on its head, drawing on traditional ideas of Father Christmas.
  • semantic field of generosity "open hand" "free as its genial face" the adjectives contrast earlier list of scrooge as "squeezing wrenching, grasping"
  • highlights generosity is key concept to Christmas spirt and scrooge needs to develop these traits in order to fully reform
• Apprance:

  • "glowing torch" which was "not unlike Plenty's horn" continues motif of light
  • presenting light as symbolic of positivity and Christmas spirit.
  • "Plenty's horn", also referred to as 'cornucopia', is a symbol of abundance in Greek and Roman mythology.
• Appearance:

  • carrying an "antique scabbard" which had "no sword in it" and was "eaten up with rust", suggesting it had not been used for a long time.
  • significant as it shows reader that there is no place for conflict during the festive time, instead appearing as a symbol of peace.
  • scabbard is present but empty suggests that while conflict may have existed it should be removed and forgotten.
  • ultimately presents Christmas as a time for love and happiness, a message that the Spirit foregrounds during his time with Scrooge.
• Purpose:

  • introduced to the reader as sitting on a "kind of throne" made of an excessive amount of food.
  • immediately acts as a challenge to the Malthusian view that there are not enough resources available to go around
  • instead highlighting that there is an abundance of supplies.
  • Spirit therefore presented as aware of social issues
  • mouthpiece for Dickens' views on social reform to guide Scrooge towards his redemption, but transcends this role in order to present a social commentary to readers.
• • aware of social issues seen when Scrooge questions the Spirit about the fate of Tiny Tim, to which the Ghost replies by mocking Scrooge's words about the "surplus population".
  • continues with a lengthy and somewhat vexed discourse about social injustice, challenging Scrooge on why he believed he had the authority to "decide what men shall live"
• Power dynamic:

  • Spirit first appears, tells Scrooge to come into the room. Dickens writes that Scrooge "obeyed", highlighting his strangely submissive attitude.
  • made more apparent by the Ghost's dominating behaviour. The first phrase he uses is the imperative, "Come in!" which he follows with the command "Look upon me"
  • " The use of exclamations and imperative commands allows the Spirit to assert his dominance.
• Power dynamic:

  • Ghost uses this power to teach and guide Scrooge towards his reformation.

  • seen when it mocks Scrooge's earlier words about the "surplus population", causing him to see the error of his ways.
  • This drives him forward towards his redemption
• Power dynamic:

  • Dickens highlights the effect that the Spirit has on Scrooge by describing his reaction to its message.

  • After the lengthy discourse about social reform, Dickens writes that Scrooge was "trembling" exemplifying his regret.
  • consequently reveals Scrooge is becoming more self-aware and socially conscience, highlighting the power and influence of the Spirit.