a christmas carol

• Marxist critics would highlight that...


  ...Bob Cratchit and his family are the downtrodden proletariat who suffer at the capitalist bourgeoisie, represented by Scrooge.
• Marxist critics would highlight that...


  …capitalist Victorian society is based upon profit, Marley's realisation - only after his own death - that 'mankind was my business' reveals the errors of embracing the prioritisation of profit over people.
• Feminist literary critics might argue that...


  ...The women in the novella are wives and mothers: we witness Belle with her husband and family, Mrs Cratchit with her family on Christmas day.
• The philosopher John Locke theorised that nurture has a more significant influence on human behaviour than inherent nature. Therefore, it could be argued that...


  ...as a child, Scrooge did not develop close family ties, so, as an adult Scrooge does not recognise the value of relationships.
• The philosopher John Locke theorised that nurture has a more significant influence on human behaviour than inherent nature. Therefore, it could be argued that...


  …the neglect Scrooge, who suffered as a child at Christmas, is the root of his present deep-seated loathing of the season.