A christmas carol - isolation Flashcards
“secret and self-contained and as solitary as an oyster”
In the beginning of the novel the narrator gives a describes Scrooge as “secret and self contained and solitary as an oyster”, the sibilance is similar to that of a snake which suggests something sinister. This is a Biblical allusion as it alludes to the snake in the tree which tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Dickens may be trying to say that isolation can be deadly. The phrase used also creates a semantic field of isolation, through this instantly the reader understands the kind of person that Scrooge is.
“A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still”
“external heat and cold had little influence on him”
“wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be”
In Stave 2 through the Ghost of Christmas Past, Dickens shows us how a misanthropic person like Scrooge is made. The reader is taken to see Scrooge in his schoolboy days as Scrooge witnesses “A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.” Through this the reader is shown that since his childhood Scrooge was “neglected”. This clearly had a big impact on him as he “sobbed” and “wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be.” The emotive language gives the reader a chance to see Scrooge in a vulnerable state and see the major impact that loneliness has had on Scrooge. While at the start the narrator tries to paint Scrooge as unfeeling saying that “External heat and cold had little influence on him”. This is the first instance which shows that Scrooge does have feelings, it also foreshadows more changes.
“an idol has displaced my golden one”
While in his younger school boy days he did not necessarily isolate himself, later into his young adulthood the reader sees that his isolation is caused by greed. His fiancée at the time Belle says that an “idol” has displaced her a “golden one”, this means that his need for money has become a priority instead of nurturing the relationships he has in his life. ● Belle says that she hopes he “happy in the life you have chosen!”, this is the moment in which Scrooge finally chose money and greed over everything else. Through these scenes Dickens intends to show the readers how choosing greed can lead to isolation.
