Scrooge’s Views On Christmas Flashcards
Paragraph 1 - Quotes 1,2 and 3
In the opening of the novella, Scrooge is presented as a hostile, hoarding man, who rejects all celebrations and morals around Christmas.
- Scrooge rejects the values of the holiday, emphasised through the quote “every idiot who goes around with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart”. The words ‘boiled’, ‘stake’, and ‘buried’ create violent imagery, reflecting Scrooge’s hostility, and his disdain for Christmas. His dismissal of Christmas also highlights his broader rejection of kindness, generosity, and social connection.
- This sense of extreme dismissal is further emphasised through the quote “What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer”. Scrooge’s focus on his nephew’s financial situation, which is displayed by the phrase “and not an hour richer”, reflects his worldview, where value and happiness is measured solely in terms of wealth. Furthermore this quote conveys his view of the Christmas holiday as an unproductive time which does not offer monetary benefits, presenting him as greedy and miser.
- Dickens uses such extreme statements to make Scrooge’s initial perspective clear, setting the stage for his eventual transformation.
- However, during the second stave of the novella, Dickens portrays Scrooge as increasingly reflective, beginning to question his earlier attitudes where he says “I should like to have given him something: that’s all”. The quote refers to a boy who had been at his door, however he immediately dismissed him. It evokes a sense of regret from Scrooge, marking the beginning of his recognition that his previous behaviour lacked kindness. This moment reveals his emerging understanding of Christmas’ true spirit - generosity, kindness, and social connection.
Paragraph 2 - Quotes 4,5 and 6
- As the novella progress, Scrooge’s character seems to become more willing to engage with others rather than isolating himself from society. This is evident in the quote “…and they all played, and so did Scrooge” which refers to Scrooge wanting to participate in the party games at his nephew Fred’s house. It suggests that Scrooge is beginning to embody true Christmas spirit, as he embraces the joy associated with Christmas.
- During Scrooge’s final transformation he states “i will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” This quote highlights Scrooge’s determination to maintain Christmas spirit and Christian good will throughout the entirety of the year. He now embraces the happiness and moral value associated with Christmas, which deeply contrasts with his earlier perspective upon it. the verb ‘will’ conveys a sense of conviction, suggesting Scrooge is genuinely dedicated to changing his attitude and actions. Furthermore, the quote encapsulates one of the novella’s key messages - that it is never too late to change - and reflects Scrooge’s commitment to repent for his past actions and live a new life of generosity and compassion.
- By the end of the novella, Scrooge’s attitude has completely changed. There has been a large shift from rejecting Christmas to celebrating it, which is emphasised by the quote “A merry Christmas to everybody!” The tone of the sentence is exuberant and enthusiastic, highlighting Scrooge’s genuine happiness which is further reinforced by the use of the exclamation mark. The phrase “to everybody” captures a sense of inclusivity and portrays his change from self-imposed isolation to connection and goodwill. This contrasts with his earlier disdain for those who celebrated Christmas, and the holiday overall. Dickens uses this moment as a vehicle to emphasise the transformative power of embracing the Christmas spirit and the great impact it can have on individuals and the society as a whole.
Overview
Dickens uses Scrooge’s redemption as a vehicle to convey the transformative power of embracing the Christmas spirit . His views of the holiday incrementally transform from a deep rejection of the celebration, to embodying true Christmas spirit and the Christian morals around it. Dickens uses this theme to connect with the predominantly Christian readership at the time.
