English Literature - A Christmas Carol Flashcards
Oh! but he was a tight fisted hand at the grindstone Scrooge! squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping , clutching, covetous old sinner!
Within this quote Dickens uses a series of both powerful and negative adjectives such as “wrenching, grasping, squeezing, scraping, clutching and covetous to emphasise just how miserly and selfish scrooge is. The repetition of harsh verbs creates a vivid image of Scrooge as a man who hoards money with a sense of cruelty showing how he values wealth more than human connection or compassion. the description of scrooge as a covetous old sinner highlights his greed and moral corruption suggesting how his desire for money has consumed him and he has gone morally bankrupt despite the money he has.
the word/phrase “tight-fisted” suggests that not only does Scrooge keep his money close but does so with a sense of cruelty refusing to give or share. This entire description is judgemental and Dickens uses this moment to set up Scrooge Character as the antagonist of the story as someone who has strayed far from the values of kindness and generosity that Christmas represents
by focusing on scrooges physical actions such as clutching and grasping this creates a sense that his greed is not only a part of his attitude but the very fibbers that makes up his living being as though his body reflects his inner character. His tight grip on money and unwillingness to help others creates a sense of suffocating selfishness and is key to the stories critique of greed
overall this moment serves to establish Scrooges negative qualities. Dickens does this to set up Scrooges character arc transformation and hints at the moral lessons Dickens intends to explore through the ghostly visits and change of heart
I don’t make merry at Christmas and I cant afford to make idle people merry
this quote reflects scrooges distain for Christmas and his belief that its a waste of time and money. the phrase in particular “I don’t make merry at Christmas” shows Scrooges refusal to embrace the joy and warmth the holiday represents. Instead of celebrating the season Scrooge sees Christmas as unnecessary and frivolous. this mirrors his general outlook of life as he prioritises work and wealth over relationships and enjoyment.
the second part of the quote “I cant afford to make idle people merry” deepens our understanding of Scrooges cold heartedness and selfishness. He implies here that those who do not work like his nephew and the poor are the “idle” and such do not deserve to enjoy themselves or be helped. Scrooges idea of “Affordability” ties directly only to money and financial stability, revealing how Scrooge only measures everything in terms of profit and loss, even human relationships. this shows how detached Scrooge has become from basic human virtues such as charity and compassion which are central to the Christmas spirit
Dickens use of the word “Idle” is particularly significant as it shows scrooges contempt to those who do not contribute to society in his narrow, materialistic sense. Scrooge associates Merrymaking with laziness and believes that everyone should work as hard he does to achieve happiness showing his flawed moral perspective seen as he believes that wealth is the only true measurement of worth disregarding kindness, generosity and goodwill
Dickens uses this moment in the play to criticise Victorian society as they often viewed poverty as a personal failing rather than the result of structural inequalities. Scrooges words reflect a callous attitude towards the less fortunate revealing his deep need for transformation. In contrast Fred embodies the Christmas spirit remaining cheerful and generous despite his modest means representing the opposite of Scrooges values.
overall this passage in the play was used to highlight Scrooges initial moral blindness and greed and set Scrooges character for redemption as he discovers the true meaning of Christmas
