Act 2

• "A solitary child ,neglected by his friends"

  • had a profound impact as he "wept" and "sobbed"
  • "There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something"
  • Relating again to his own younger self, he now remembers the boy who recently tried to sing him a Christmas carol, a boy he dismissed violently.
  • Whether his empathy with the boy results from the boy’s solitary status or his poverty, the incident rekindles Scrooge’s instinct for kindness.
• -Dickens was born into a middle- class family with a good fortune of being sent to school then endured the appalling working conditions and cruelty at only 12 of being sent to Warrens Blackings factory to live and work
• "A solitary child ,neglected by his friends"

  • repetition of "solitary " emphasises scrooges loneliness and how it followed him from childhood to adulthood
  • emotive language gives the reader a chance to see scrooge in a vulnerable state and the major impact it had on him
  • helps us to explain his present - day demeanour as a isolated and and miserly adult
• • "A solitary child ,neglected by his friends"
  • the neglected and loneliness he experienced in his youth may have contributed to his cyclical and selfish outlook on life ;suggests scrooges lack of empathy and compassion towards others may stem from his own feelings of abandonment and detachment
• “Remove me! ...I cannot bear it!” a lot of grief.

  • When the Ghost takes Scrooge to see Belle in her current home with her family
  • gets a glimpse of the loving, family life he could have had.
  • the impact of realization is profound as it serves as a wake - up call , forcing him to confront the consequences of his selfishness and greed
  • through this scrooge comes to recognize the emptiness and loneliness that his obsession with money has brought him
  • this becomes a catalyst for his transformation, prompting him to revaluate his priorities
• "Another Idol has displaced me... a golden one"

  • his fiancé bell uses the metaphor that an "idol , " a golden one" implying Scrooge worships money ;meaning it has became a priority instead of nurturing the relationships he has in his life
  • "golden" also emphasises the symbolic significance of wealth ; suggests it has became like a false God
• "The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune"

  • deliberately links happiness to money as scrooge is starting to challenge his own views about the value of money ;
  • suggests that true riches is not from the amount of money one acquires but the true value of wealth is how you benefit society as a whole and even small acts of kindness and generosity can have a significant and lasting impact on lines ,regardless of momentary value
  • Fezziwig creates a joyful atmosphere which are invaluable quantities enriching lives
• "in came"

  • Parallelism & mirror sentences - highlights movement & energy in the party
  • Each repetition of "in came" emphasizes the continual flow of people entering Fezziwig's establishment, creating a vivid image of a bustling and lively atmosphere.
  • repetition of "in came" suggests a sense of warmth, hospitality, and inclusivity surrounding Fezziwig's character.
  • opens his doors to all, regardless of their social status or background.
•  “should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk”

  • suggests a shift in scrooges character and foreshadows his transformation
  • the desire to communicate with his clerk suggests that Scrooge is starting to recognize the importance of interpersonal connections and empathy, qualities he previously disregards
  • Dickens wanted the political view towards the poor to change
  • Fezziwig is important in conveying the message of the didactic novel as he is a employer such as scrooge towards Bob a Cratchit
• "Leave me! Take me back. Haunt me no longer!"

  •  He cannot bear to live through any more memories, or to relive the consequences of his actions
  • the short sentences express his anger, frustration and maybe even fear
• “like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man”.

  • "yet not so like a child as like an old man" suggests that the ghost also possesses qualities associated with wisdom, experience, and maturity.
  • Unlike a child who is carefree and naïve, an old man is often seen as wise, reflective, and contemplative.
  • This duality in the ghost's appearance suggests that it embodies both the innocence of youth and the wisdom of age.
• “purest white” ,“bright clear jet of light
• “of purest white”

  • emphasises the status of the Spirit through its appearance and mannerisms.
  • wears a tunic “of purest white” which emphasises its purity and innocence.
  • impression of moral authority which highlights its didactic purpose within the text.
  • The white tunic alludes to the biblical image of Jesus who wears white and acts as a moral compass for Christians, transmitting the Christian message of goodness to humanity.
  • acts as a reassuring force for Scrooge as its voice was “soft and gentle”.
  • gentle description and calm demeanour contrasts to the suffering of Marley
• the role of the Ghost is to guide Scrooge towards his redemption by choosing to take him to significant and provocative moments from his past