christmas carol theme

    Cards (15)

    • Themes of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
      • Family and isolation
      • Poverty, charity and greed
      • Redemption
      • Time
      • Christmas
      • Supernatural
    • Theme 1: Family and isolation
      Dickens valued family, but the character of Scrooge has chosen isolation over family to make more money, leaving him lonely, mean-spirited and disliked
    • Scrooge visits the Cratchits with the Ghost of Christmas Present
      He sees a family without wealth but filled with love and joy
    • Theme 2: Poverty, charity and greed
      The poverty of the working class is contrasted with Scrooge's greed, but there are many references to charity in the story
    • Scrooge dismisses the men asking for charity donations for the poor and destitute with cruelty created by greed
    • By the end of the novella
      Scrooge has become charitable and acknowledges the needs of the poor
    • Theme 3: Redemption
      Scrooge's transformation from sinner to benefactor completes his redemption, as Dickens suggests those who see the error of their ways should be forgiven if their change is genuine
    • Theme 4: Time
      Time is running out for Scrooge and Tiny Tim, and the past can influence our behavior, so we should live our lives to the full in the present
    • Dickens suggests the time we spend with our families is most precious, and the time we spend in this world must be spent wisely
    • Theme 5: Christmas
      Christmas is represented positively throughout the story, as a time to lift the spirits, especially for the poor, with food, kindness, singing, decorations, gifts, and the joyful Ghost of Christmas Present
    • Dickens suggests the fulfilling feeling of Christmas could be spread across the year by being more caring and charitable towards the poor
    • Theme 6: Supernatural
      Ghost stories were part of the Christmas tradition, and the supernatural elements in A Christmas Carol allow Dickens to explore themes and move between time and locations with ease
    • The ghosts are catalysts for change in Scrooge, providing dramatic tension and urgency for his transformation
    • The Victorian audience would have been familiar with the concept of Marley being in purgatory, as they were more religious than today
    • The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the joyous celebrations of Christmas, including the Cratchit family's feast.
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