A Christmas Carol Flashcards
The smooth…
“The smooth white sheet of snow upon the roofs… dirtier snow upon the ground”
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Snow - Symbol of Rich and Poor
Smooth + dirtier (Adjective) represents disparity between rich and poor how the rich look down on the poor and how tough their life is due to their exploitative nature
Juxtaposition - highlights contrast between the Rich and Poor (How society views them)
Pathetic Fallacy - Writer uses snow to reflect mood in the play
Solitary….
“Solitary as an oyster”
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Adjective Solitary - Forced to isolate himself
Oyster - symbolises capitalism, made him isolated
Quote foreshadows Scrooges change
(He is beautiful pearl who ghosts crack out to come out)
Scrooge although may have much wealth ultimately lives like a prisoner and doesnt even know it, Freedom is a fallacy.
Scrooge has everything material nothing sentimental.
I wear……
“I wear the chain i forged in life”
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Wear - Marley is a warning for everyone else as you physically see his chains, his moral sins weighing him down
Symbolism “Chain”- representing all sins linking together like the links of a physical chain intertwined
“I forged” Shows accountability and acceptance of guilt
Sigmand Freud (Id) where are desires are stored, Danger of not being able to control desires
Lack of Religion in Victorian Society due to Capitalist regime, no foundation of morals
Gothic genre - Intends to scare us, contemporary audience would be frightened, Forced to reflect as Fear is a catalyst for change
Boy is……
“Boy is ignorance, Girl is want”
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Metaphor - Microcosm for youth of the poor working class
Displays fruits of capitalism: How Dickens is trying to convey the rich cannot be ignorant to suffering. Capitalism teaches the opposite
Gender - Boy is portrayed as ignorance because of patriarchial society only men had the opportunity to change society
Girl is to be provided for but gets nothing because she is poor and thus neglected by the ignorance of rich
Dickens exposes problems deep rooted in society
Short sentences emphasizes seriousness makes the quote sound like fact shows there isnt much else these children have, ignored by society.
I will….
“I will not shut out the lesson that they teach”
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“I” (Personal Pronoun) - reflects accountability Scrooge takes, emphasizes moral metamorphosis his character undergoes
Ironic - Holding himself to account just like Spirits did shows their plan worked
“Shut out” - “Oyster” is no longer shut out displaying the immense effect the supernatural had as catalysts to Scrooges change
Foreshadows Hope - If such a bitter man like Scrooge can change then anybody can, links to Christian Idea of forgiveness + repentance,
Shows Scrooges personal conviction
If…
“If the course be departed from the ends will change”
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Metaphor ‘course’ - Presents how life is non linear and you can change for the better anytime
Links to Christian idea of salvation
Of now matter how bad of a person you are it is never too late to be a good person
Dickens trying to convey a Message to the Rich who at the time where his target audience that they had the power to change society
Verb - ‘departed’ emphasises the separation from his old miserable self as a result of the intervention of supernatural
The cold…
“The cold within him froze his old features”
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Symbolism “cold” - conveys his evil angry unsociable nature before Scrooge changed he was a dead man walking entrenched in his misery
‘Old features’ - shows how Scrooge is a victim of capitalist patriarchal society
Masculinity regressed overtime from strength + dominion do directly correlating with wealth
Dickens portrays how although Scrooge is at the pinnacle of the Capitalist Economic Ladder he lacks substance and happiness . Shown by his crude appearance
Good a friend….
“Good a friend , as good a master and as good a man”
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Rule of 3: ‘Good’ Dickens reminds. Us of Scrooge drastic change
Each 3 statements represent the 3 different qualities improved on from 3 ghosts
Repetition: ‘Good’ shows consistency of Scrooges change , he now prioritises all aspects of his life equally
Patriarchy of ‘man’ - In Victorian Society your masculinity defined you , by being described as ‘good’ we can infer his overall person changed for the better (to the core)
Another idol…..
“Another idol has displaced me”
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Catalyst of Scrooge downfall , he’s distancing himself from relationships + emotions replacing them with materialistic focuses
Slave to his desires - Freud ‘id’ dangers of chasing ur desires intensely
Gender: Scrooges ex gf wants absolute submission, goes against patriarchy . Wants Scrooge to worship her over anything
Mrs Cratchit…..
“ Mrs Cratchit made the gravy hissing hot, Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour. Mrs Dekindon sweetened up the apple sauce”
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Although the cratchits are poor they r richer then Scrooge bound together with love
‘ Incredible vigour’ - juxtaposes Scrooge misery shows compassionate nature of poor . Contrasts capitalist society narrative
Shrouded in a deep black garment
Glowing torch in light not unlike plenty’s horn
Xmas present
Bright clear jet of white purest
Xmas past
If he’d like to do it he had better do it and decrease the surplus population
Xmas present
