Context Flashcards
How is Dickens’ negative aspects of his childhood mirrored in the novella?
The negative aspects of Dickens’ childhood is mirrored through his character Scrooge. Through the Ghost of ‘Christmas Past’ the reader is able to witness Scrooge’s own childhood. He is described to be “a lonely boy” who “read near a feeble fire” which portrays him as vulnerable to the reader and causes them to be empathetic to him.
The purpose of this was to show the reader how his childhood experience shaped him. While education might have been a dark time for Scrooge it also enabled him to have a successful career, something that the working class could not get the opportunity to.
Dickens’ Journalism
Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol’ not only because he was a victim to the troubles of poverty but also because as a journalist he had to inform people about what was going on in London.
‘A Christmas Carol’ outlines Dickens’ own beliefs on society perhaps because he felt its troubles should be handled in a way which was accessible to the public - that is, in the form of a novella.
Fanny
Dickens had a sister named Fanny which also happens to be the name of Scrooge’s sister. In the novel Fanny is a symbol of goodness.
Tiny Tim
Another inspiration for a character which comes from Dickens’ own life is the character of Tiny Tim. Dickens’ sister Fanny had a son (Dickens’ nephew) who was crippled similar to Tiny Tim.
In the novel Tiny Tim is used as a tool for Scrooge to discover empathy. For example, at the idea of Tiny Tim’s death Scrooge felt an “interest he had never felt before” which is significant as this is one of the few times we see the vulnerability of Scrooge, signposting his character development
Education
It is clear Dickens would not have been able to become a novelist if he had never been to school. Dickens’ value of education is a clear recurring theme throughout the novel, illustrated through his linking of “Ignorance” and “doom”
Workhouse
It can be argued that the reason ‘A Christmas Carol’ brings to light the dark side of the workhouses is because Dickens lived very close to them and so would have been familiar with the stories of people inside. This closeness would enable him to be empathetic to the plight of the working class.
Though the two charity workers at the beginning of the novel explains that “many would rather die” than attend the workhouses, this is not hyperbole as it was the very scary truth for many
How does Dickens voice his criticisms of the 1834 Poor Law?
Through Scrooge’s happiness to hear that the “prisons” and “union workhouses” were in “full vigor”. Scrooge’s tone here is cruel, and Dickens uses him as a voice to reflect the apathetic beliefs of the rich and how truly problematic they are, challenging the law and reader’s own views surrounding the workhouses.
How does Dickens highlight the ignorance of the upper-classes?
A common attitude among the rich was that the lower-class deserved to live in poverty because they were lazy. This is highlighted by Scrooge’s assertion that he cannot afford to make “idle people merry”. The adjective “idle” encompasses this prejudice as Scrooge uses it interchangeably with the word ‘poor’, implying that they are the same thing. Another belief that many had was the notion that they wasted any money they had on drinking and gambling. Due to this, many thought that the poor should not be given any sort of charity.
What did Dickens see as the solution to poverty?
Some people, like Dickens, believed that the only way to eradicate poverty was through education. Due to this, ragged schools were set up to provide basic education; this was done through social policies (read more about this in childhood and education).
How does Dickens describe poverty?
'’q——- reeked with c—, w— f—- and m—-‘’
“quarter reeked with crime, with filth and misery
Triplet illustrates how blatant povery was in society, creating a negative image in our minds as the words encapsulate the impact povery has had on the city
What are Ignorance and Wants used to portay?
- The effects that a lack of education have on the poor
- They are children - Dickens emphasises they suffer the most from soceity’s issues
- Therefore, Dickens tries to underline the fact that education is a solution to society’s issues.
How are the Victorian views of Christmas reflected through the Ghost of Christmas present?
'’a k—- of t—–’‘
The Ghost is the ultimate symbol of Christmas as he is described as sitting on “a kind of throne” made up of “turkeys, geese…juicy oranges (and) luscious pearls”.
Here Dickens uses listing to show the overflow of food, a common association with Christmas.
However, the food displayed is very extravagant which only the rich could afford, a stark juxtaposition (contrast) to the Cratchit family and their modest meal which all the children helped to prepare: “Master Peter mashed the potatoes…Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce”.
