A christmas carol - the supernatural Flashcards
“like a child, yet not so like a child as like an old man”
“purest white”
“A bright clear jet of light”
Dickens describes the Ghost of christmas past to be “like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man”. It could be argued that the true supernatural quality of the Phantom is its effortlessly paradoxical nature. To be an “old man” but also a “child” is only possible through “some supernatural medium” which the narrator freely admits. ○ The Spirit is also presented to have a certain quality of innocence. Dickens details that he wore a tunic of the “purest white” which is heightened by the “bright clear jet of light” that the Spirit emits. This could be symbolic of the truth which is found in Scrooge’s memories.
“deep black garment which concealed its head, its face and left nothing visible except one outstreched hand”
Dickens draws parallels between the ghost and the Grim Reaper who is a personification of death. He outlines that it wears a “ deep black garment which concealed its head, its face, its form and left nothing visible except one outstretched hand”. The reaper is a well-known symbol of death and so by likening the two characters Dickens establishes a sense of doom through the spirit. This heightens the tensions before the climax of the novel, adding gravity to the situation that Scrooge is in.
“Marley was dead”
“cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers”
The narrator repeatedly emphasises the fact that “Marley was dead”, perhaps to heighten the effect of the appearance of his Ghost. Marley’s Ghost is described as being chained with “cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers”. This is significant as the things that Marley created in his life become the things which keep him trapped in the afterlife. This has a didactic purpose as Dickens is trying to illustrate to the reader, through supernatural means, that the way they live their lives dictates their eternal resting place.
context
Dickens branded ‘A Christmas Carol’ as a ghost story, perhaps because it was a popular tradition to read ghost stories during the festive time. The supernatural is a key theme in the novella as it provides a logical structure to the plot. This is achieved by the three Ghosts who ultimately enable Scrooge to change. It could therefore be said that Dickens uses the Ghosts as catalysts to Scrooge’s transformation. The Ghosts also serve to heighten the dramatic effect of the novella. This effective because they introduce a greater consequence to Scrooge’s actions, increasing the importance and urgency of his redemption.
