Scrooge Flashcards
“As solitary as an oyster”
The ‘oyster’ is a symbol of closedness; Scrooge’s hard outer shell makes it impossible for others to know him, Scrooge’s extreme isolation, which is not only self-inflicted but also detrimental to his emotional well being. He is lonely and isolated, lacking
community support. Scrooge’s initial characterisation as cold, misanthropic and curmudgeonly. However, ‘oysters’ open up and contain pearls. This could suggest two things – Scrooge could opens up and becomes a kind contributor to society. Also suggests that generosity is what will help Scrooge be a better person-as ‘pearls’ are very expensive. Giving this ‘pearl’ to others in the world will allow him to be seen as a better person. Dickens highlights how wealth should be used for generosity rather than greed.
“I can’t afford to make idle people merry”
Scrooge considers the poor to be ‘idle’ or lazy. He believes clearly that the poor cause their own misery by not working hard enough, he does not view it as a misfortune, reinforcing his lack of empathy. The verb “afford” is ironic, as Scrooge is extremely wealthy. showing his reluctancy is a deliberate choice. He facetiously downplays the important role of charity. His dismissive tone reflects his cold-hearted nature and lack of understanding to those who are struggling.
