Social Injustice

• 'squeezing,wrenching,grasping ... covetous old sinner.' Stave 1

  1. Asyndetic Listing: Dickens uses asyndetic listing to describe Scrooge who is portrayed with ongoing immoral characteristics, which present him to be unrepenting.
• 'squeezing,wrenching,grasping ... covetous old sinner.'

  2. Religion: He is described with a total of 7 adjectives which could symbolise the 7 cardinal sins. These were the foundational fact of life in the Victorian Era because Christianity was a major religion. By contrasting Scrooge with the 7 deadly sins, Dickens suggests how the upper class are more likely to be inclined to moral transgression compared to the lower classes.

  3. Dickens critiques societal structures, like the 1834 Poor Law, which is supposed to ironically perceive the laziness and sins of the working class.
• squeezing,wrenching,grasping ... covetous old sinner.'

  4. ZOOM IN: The diction 'squeezing' and 'wrenching' connote ideas of struggle which illustrates how Scrooge is struggling to see the detrimental causes of his frugality

  5.ALTERNATE INTERPRETATION (OPTIONAL): Dickens could imply struggle to the lower class is a direct cause from the capitalists like Scrooge.
• 'yellow' and 'wolfish' (Descriptions of ignorant and want)

  1. ALLEGORICAL CHARACTERS: Dickens uses Ignorant and Want as allegorical beings to demonstrate the abuse of children in society by being neglected by the frugal and oblivious upper class men, who decide to stay ignorant about the negligence of children in society.
• 'yellow' and 'wolfish' (Descriptions of ignorant and want)

  2. The adjective 'yellow': This shows the physical sickness of the children in society as they are pale from malnutrition.

  3. Dickens was a victim to child labor and these descriptions could reflect upon his health as a boy as well as the other children who were working there with him.

  4. This is caused by the negligence of children and social injustice of society.
• 'yellow' and 'wolfish' (Descriptions of ignorant and want)

  5. The interaction between Scrooge and the marginal children imply how the direct cause of suffering amongst the purest forms of life is because of affluent people in society.
• 'yellow' and 'wolfish' (Descriptions of ignorant and want)

  6. The use of animalistic imagery: described as 'wolfish' and 'scowling' which indicates how poverty strips them away from their identity and it dehumanizes them
• ' "My little little child" cried Bob. "My little child!" '

  1. REPETITION OF LITTLE: Frugality and innocence of Bob makes us feel sympathy towards him. Furthermore, Dickens suggests how often children fall victim of the relentless cycle of poverty.
  2. WRITERS MESSAGE: Dicken's message is that he critiques societal structures and advancements because defenseless members of society get caught up in these unfortunate aspects. Therefore, Dickens implies immediate social reform.
• ' "My little little child" cried Bob. "My little child!" '

  3. THOMAS MALTHUS/CONTEXT: Tiny Tim is portrayed as angelic,coupled with Bob's kindness, although they are still exploited by the upperclass and stay defenseless. Despite their growing morality, according to Malthus and the society, they are economic burdens as Scrooge refers them to the 'surplus population.'
• 'Quite a baby' 'merry as a schoolboy' Stave 5

  1. WORLD VIEW/INFANTILE: Scrooge uses infantile language when he brands himself as 'baby' and 'schoolboy' in his self description. This suggests how the ghosts have made him able to be regain his youth and innocence and by describing him as the most pure form of life - 'baby' he is now able to view the world with an untainted light.
• 'Quite a baby' 'merry as a schoolboy' Stave 5

  2. RELIGION: The Christian idea of rebirth indicates significance because it implies that Scrooge has undergone metamorphosis and spiritual renewal.

  3. ALTERNATIVELY: Jesus also re-birthed as a path of salvation for humanity and perhaps Scrooge has also strived through this path and now he will save the lower class.

  4. This is evident through Scrooge's paternal role to akin to being a 'second father' to Tiny Tim which shows how he is embodying compassion.