Theme of redemptuon

• • Dickens explores strong emotions during Scrooge's time with the Spirits such as regret, sadness and fear.
  • Through each supernatural experience Scrooge's emotions build and intensify until they reach a crescendo in the final stave where the reader is able to witness Scrooge's transformation.
  • In this way, it could be argued that this theme is vital to Dickens' dramatic plotting.
• • Dickens also increases the dramatic tension through his use of foreshadowing.
  • • In the opening of the novella, he describes Scrooge to be as "solitary as an oyster".
  • in Stave Two, Fan informs Scrooge that their father "is much kinder than he used to be" perhaps to highlight to the reader that Scrooge too will be able to change.
  • In both of these examples, Dickens uses foreshadowing to increase the tension as the reader eagerly anticipates Scrooge's transformation.
• • Charity collectors:

  • opening scrooge dismisses everything that the gentlemen have to say to him. informs them that the suffering of other people in society is not his "business" •
  • final stave Scrooge runs after the gentleman, "quickening his pace"
  • Highlights the active nature of his redemption presenting we should be more forthcoming in their own redemption, glorifying Scrooge's behaviour.
  • donation includes "many back-payments".
  • reveals that he is not only improving his behaviour in the present but is also making amends for his past mistakes
  • portraying his redemption as thorough complete.
• • Narration:

  The voice in the opening stave is utterly unsympathetic, epitomised by the relentless list of verbs which describe Scrooge as "squeezing, wrenching”

  • tone dramatically changes by the final stave which reflects on Scrooge's transformed character.
  • Instead of a disapproving tone it adopts an increasingly positive and optimistic voice allows Scrooge's change to become more apparent.
• Narrative:

  • Stave Five opens with the exclamation "Yes”! establishing the change in tone from the very offset of the stave.
  • This is followed by descriptions of Scrooge's "good intentions" and a detailed analysis of his laugh.
  • The narrator outlines that his laugh was a "splendid... most illustrious laugh"
  • This provides the reader with a sense of hope as it implies that Scrooge's change is permanent due to the prediction of more laughs.
  • This ultimately creates the impression that Scrooge's redemption is convincing and comprehensive.