Stave 3 Flashcards
Who is the Ghost of Christmas Present?
Character: a ‘jolly giant’. The second of the three spirits who takes Scrooge to see the sights of Christmas Day.
‘Come in! exclaimed the Ghost, ‘Come in, and know me better, man!’
• Repetition is authoritative but friendly - conveys to the audience that the Ghost wants to form an amicable relationship with Scrooge - symbolises Christ, as despite all sins he shows agape to every individual. Reflects how we should also follow this teaching and show unconditional love to those less fortunate.
• foreshadows that Scrooge will be more aware of his Christian values after seeing the Spirit, and more aligned with Jesus Christ (beginning to redeem himself and earn heaven)
• address of ‘man’ is not specific to Scrooge but rather, ‘mankind’ - therefore Dickens highlights that in order for all of ‘man’ to form an amicable relationship with Jesus and Christianity, we must follow our values of benevolence and philanthropy
‘free’ ‘open hand’ ‘unconstrained demeanour’
• Dickens has created a semantic field of liberality, which contrasts the ‘chains’ of Marley and amplifies the impact of ‘free will’ on a person’s metamorphosis
• represents the alternate pathways which Scrooge may choose, also symbolic of the free will possessed by the reader and presents to them the choices they can make, portrays the action of ‘ignorance’ one we make ourselves
‘If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population’
• emphasises and criticises how the government’s investment in the Malthusian theory is harming innocent people, such as ‘Tiny Tim’ and the lack of regard for human life as opposed to money, references the Poor Law act which abuses the working class, due to avaricious views in society, and highlights how malevolent Scrooge’s views are when contrasted with the joy and festivity of the Day
Story Role of Ghost of Christmas Present
• By showing the universality of Christmas during the Victorian Era, several of the story’s key themes are emphasised (poverty, love, family, benevolence)
‘an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust’
• Ghost is a peaceful entity with no need for violence - emphasises the symbolism of Jesus Christ, who was never violent and believed you should ‘love thy neighbour’
• Ghost is demonstrating Scrooge’s path as Jesus does for the reader, towards pacifism and compassion
• Shows he can change, ‘rust’ suggests once used (but no longer) and is a parallel with Scrooge entering his metamorphosis at a time of non-violence (Christmas)
‘mistletoe’ ‘Holly’ ‘gleaming berries’
• personification of Christmas Day, foreshadows kindness extended to Scrooge and discerns the spirit as a positive force
‘the sight of these poor revellers seemed to interest the Spirit very much, for he sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch’
• spirit is generous and sympathetic to the poor - ‘to a poor one most’
• liberally spreads festive cheer
• the foil of Scrooge and is teaching him the value of benevolence and generosity - aligns with how Jesus would have taught and preached - provides a positive role model and pathway for redemption, parallel to how the novella also presents us with a pathway
• contrasts Scrooge’s ‘golden idol’ from Stave 2, and signposts character development
