what are the symbols and motifs in a christmas carol Flashcards
how are chains in stave 1 a symbol in a christmas carol
When Jacob Marley appears to Scrooge, he is weighed down by a chain made up of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel—that is, the chain around his middle consists of things he valued while he was alive, and now serves as a means of eternal punishment. The chain symbolizes his regrets, and the fact that it’s something Marley himself “forged in life” confirms that he is the one responsible. The ghosts outside the window are wearing their own chains symbolic of the sins they committed in life, and Marley tells Scrooge that he is currently forging his own.
how are the children of ignorance and want a symbol in a christmas carol
The Ghost of Christmas Present introduces Scrooge to a pair of children sheltered beneath his robe, both of them starving and pitiable. They are, according to the ghost, called Ignorance and Want, and clearly symbolic of the consequences of the very concepts for which they are named. That is, ignorance of the suffering of the poor and relentless desire for material gain leads to income inequality and, as exemplified here, starving children.
how is light a symbol in a christmas carol
The light coming out of the Ghost of Christmas Past symbolizes the memories Scrooge wishes to forget, and the knowledge he would gain from experiencing and processing them. Indeed, Scrooge attempts to extinguish the light by using the ghost’s hat as a candle snuffer. However, the light appears inextinguishable—even when Scrooge forces the cap on his head, light still filters out from the bottom, suggesting Scrooge can’t deny, forget, or ignore events of the past; instead, he must bear witness.
how is weather a motif in a christmas carol
The weather reflects the state of Scrooge’s heart, tracking his journey from cruel to kind. In the beginning, prior to his meeting with Jacob Marley, the weather is “cold, bleak, biting,” sometimes “piercing, searching,” the fog “dense.” Scrooge himself is similar; his demeanor is described as cold, so even though the weather is bitter, Scrooge is bitterer still. After Scrooge vows to change, the fog lifts and the temperature, while still cold, is now “clear, bright, jovial, stirring.” The sunlight is “golden,” the sky “heavenly,” the fresh air “sweet.”
how is time a motif in a christmas carol
References to time recur throughout the story. First and foremost, Scrooge is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, and the story is divvied up accordingly. Their presence disrupts the flow of time, reflecting the spirits’ supernatural nature—Jacob Marley says the ghosts will visit his friend over the course of three nights, but when Scrooge wakes on Christmas morning, a changed man, after going sleep a penny-pinching miser on Christmas Eve, it seems no time has passed. Further, clocks and church bells continually chime the hour, inserting a sense of urgency into the story and underscoring the idea that for Scrooge, time is running out to make amends.
how is poverty a motif for poverty in a christmas carol
Poverty dominates the novella from beginning to end, with Scrooge’s lack of empathy for the poor setting up the novel’s inciting incident. Dickens uses poverty to shine a light on society’s ills, suggesting the fortunate have a moral responsibility to help those who have less. Through poverty, Dickens also espouses the ideals of charity and generosity, and posits that wealth does not equal happiness.
