THEME - Family & Isolation Flashcards
Fred, Scrooges nephew, stave 1: I want nothing of you/ why can we not be friends?”
‘Nothing’: Shows fred is bit asking for material things or favors from scrooge. It is him showing he has absolutely zero materialistic gain from this, purely desiring a emotional connection and a simple respectful relationship, also directly addressing him “of you” showing a personal connection with no external benefit.
“can”: The modal verb indicates possibikity, but no pressure. He isnt demanding they be friends, but reflects freds optimism and hope despite scrooges reluctance.
“Friends”: An abstract thing, a friendship. No material profit. Not expevting scrooge to be drastically changed or affectionate, just mutual respect and companionship. This word directly juxtaposes scrooges cold isolated life.
INFO
Fred is trying to reconcile with his uncle, dickens is showijg the importance of closeness in families. The rhetorical questions underscores freds frustratioj at scrooges unwillingness to bond, due yo his greater obsessioj with wealth. Freds persistence in trying to forge a bond despite scrooges rejection emphasises the value and significance of family, that relationships should be nurtured not neglected.
Stave 2, Fan: “Father is much kinder than he used to be, thats homes like heaven!”
“much kinder”: Adverb ‘much’ intensifies the ‘kinder’ implying a dramatic improvement in his attitude. The idea of his father’s drastic change in behaviour symbolises potential for growth and change. No matter how harsh and selfish someones been, they can change.
“used to be”: Highlights the contrast between the past and present, showing a newfound warmth. This shift could symbolize scrooges change as he begins to understand the value of kindness and familial bonds. It also creates understanding from the audience as to why scrooge became so cold and harsh to humanity; he was never treated nurturingly or lovingly, so he struggles to open up.
“Heaven”: Simile of the home being like heaven suggests the family now experiences a sense of ideal and love, and oeace, contrasts their earlier struggles. It shows the emotional fulfilment family serves, surpassing material wealth.
INFO
This quote emphasises dickens message for social change, believing kindness and compassion cnaan vreak down societal barriers and heal broken relationships. It highlights the moral and social improvement.
Cratchitts Stave 3- “They were not a handsome family, but they were happy and grateful”
“Handsome”: The fact they arent handsome, directly addresses physical appearance suggesting they did not fit conventional or superficial standards of beauty. By focusing on their looks, Dickens downplays the importance of external appearances and outward qualities. He withdraws the audiences attention from this towards more meaningful qualities. Theyre humble and not seeking validation. Theyre imperfect but valuable.
“But”: Shows that they can be poor, and have little financial assets, but still be happy and live a good life. This is to criticise scrooges arrogant belief that he only needs himself and money to be happy.
“Happy”: Emphasises positive family emotional state, they find joy in one another and the small things in lifr. Despite having lacking facilities and materialistic items, love and warmth keeps them happy. It shows that contentment is what forms true happiness, not riches or status.
“Grateful”: Attitude towards life is optimistic, thankful for one another and what they have. It preaches the message to appreciate lifes blessings.
DICKENS
Physical appearance and material wealth are not what defines or makes a person truyl valyable. It critiques the victorian societal focus on wealth, especially as embodied as scrooge, whod consumed by wealth and greed. Encourages looking deeper, for the human connection.
Cratchitts, Stave 4 - “My little, little child! My little child”
“My”: Repetition of personal pronoun expresses a deep personal connevtion and ownership, showing the emotional bond begween father and child. The word indiicates a sense of pride and protection, a deep affection and care. It shows the sense of belonging thay family brings.
“Little”: Repeated adjective emphasises tims vulnerability, innocence and youth. Suggests the child is dependent on bob, evoking a sense of tenderness. Deep desire to nurture and protect cild, showing how strong familial bonds can be.
DICKENS
Dickens emphasises the fragility of tiny tim to ynderscote the theme of familial responsibility, and how loving and the sensenof duty runs in families. Scrooge feels guilty and responsible, as he didnt pay bob enough to support his famoly. It shows scrooge the consequences as a result of his parsimony, the direct impact of his greed and apathy. His wealth coukdve contributed to shaing a childs life. Dickens shows this harsh realisation to show scrooge, and the victorian readers, how important family is through cratchitts. It depicts how family is more important than materialistic things, through bobs emotion here.
