materialism / selfishness Flashcards
“the cold within him froze his old features”
the conceit of the relentless cold holds parallels to scrooges distant and cold attitude- his internal apathy and detachment is so omnipotent, it alters his physical appearance
“external heat and cold had little influence”
He is successful in his ostracisation of himself as even elements of nature, typically uncontrollable, he has managed to isolate himself from.
a “golden” idol has “displaced” Belle
As ‘golden’ connotes valuable and precious, this is used ironically to indict how Scrooge, a microcosm of the upper class, views materialistic items as valuable and precious over loved ones and other members of society.
‘ivy, turkey, geese, game, poultry. brown, meat, pigs, sausages, oysters…
The listing creates an image of abundance and excessive wealth. This could compound how Scrooge is in the financial position to afford these luxuries and yet takes them for granted. However, as these foods all “vanished instantly” it could allude to how these materialistic luxuries only provide an ephemeral (temporary) amount of joy.
What has he done with his money?”,
“cheap funeral”, “marketing the corpse”
Scrooge’s infatuation with money and materialism leads to others using economical language around his death. This is ironic as in Scrooge’s life his money caused him to treat the poor in a dehumanising way, however in his death he is dehumanised by only referring to him in economic terms- his value as a human is lost to his value as an emblem of money
“overrun by grass and weeds”
His neglected and abandoned death is a consequence of his selfishness. The image of neglect, paired with the image of death and decay, highlights how Scrooge in his death has
been devalued and forgotten- his uncompassionate nature is physically reflected in his uncared-for grave.
“The chain he drew was clasped about his middle”
As it was “clasped about his middle” it shows entire being cannot escape this sempiternal torture. Marley is a physical and metaphorical representation for how if making money and materialism main purpose to your life, then it will be the main reason for your eternal suffering.
“I wear the chain I forged in life…! made it link by link”
As chains have are made of links, which are all interconnecting, this is alike to how Marley is warning Scrooge that his
infatuation with money and abandonment of compassion for others, is directly connected to his anguish.
“It was a worthy place” (about his grave)
Dickens highlights that the neglection of others in turn will cause your own neglection in your death. scrooges decaying and uncared for grave serves as a warning to the reader that neglection is cyclical and will cycle back round to punish you.
Mrs Cratchit “dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons,”
The Cratchits are the antithesis of materialistic as they admirably make the best out of the little they have. The alliteration on “twice-turned gown” emphasises their poverty . mrs cratchit is not able to afford new clothes. the festivity of ‘ribbons’ being all over her dress highlights how the foundations of the Cratchits, alike to the “twice turned gown”, may be impoverished. However, they celebrate and glorify the little they have symbolised by the ribbons as they display gratitude and love for eachother
