Regret

• Regret


  Instrumental in 'A Christmas Carol' as it plays a crucial role in Scrooge's transformation
• Regret as a tool

  1. Dickens uses regret as a tool to move the plot along to its final denouement

  2. Regret is a negative emotion but Dickens manages to make it something that is used to initiate a positive transformation
• Emotions used to push Scrooge to his transformation

  • Regret
  • Other emotions
• Scrooge is taken to his past fiancée Belle


  Scrooge becomes overwhelmed with emotion, expressing anger, frustration and fear
• Scrooge becomes overwhelmed with emotion


  He takes action to end his time with the Ghost
• Regret


  • It is littered throughout the novel as Scrooge has many things in his life which he regrets
  • While regret may be a powerless emotion, we are able to use it and create actions to change our ways
• The Ghost of Old Marley


  • Old Marley demonstrates the extremity of regret as, unlike Scrooge, he is unable to change his ways and is therefore cursed to an eternity of regret
• Fanny


  • Scrooge becomes sad as he reveals that she "died a woman" leaving behind Scrooge's last surviving relative Fred
  • Scrooge becomes "uneasy in his mind", meaning he feels guilty for the way that he talked to his nephew earlier
• Belle


  • Belle expressed her disapproval of the man that Scrooge is becoming, one who is only concerned with money and wealth
• The Caroller


  • Scrooge realises that he should have "liked to give him something"
• The Portly Gentlemen


  • Scrooge regretted his interaction with the Portly Gentleman as "It sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met"
• A Christmas present Ignorance and Want

  • Scrooge was "overcome with penitence and grief" as he was able to see his words from another perspective and he was ashamed of them
• Ghost of yet to come


  • This is the climax of Scrooge's regret where he acknowledges his mistakes and finally commits to making a change, pleading to the Phantom how he "may sponge away the writing on this stone!"