A Christmas Carol Brings Glimmer Of Hope For Selfish and Miserable Scrooge..

From Scrooge's encounter with Jacob Marley's ghost we learn that Scrooge is beginning to change. At first Scrooge tried to be rational and explain away the ghost by calling him an, 'undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato'. He then says, 'There is more of gravy than grave about you, whatever you are', showing that Scrooge is trying to joke about the situation. But at the end of the conversation Scrooge seems to understand what Marley is talking about and shows regret. The structure of, 'A Christmas Carol' is very effective. It can be enjoyed by anybody at an entertaining level or as a much more serious political message. The use of allegory in the novel really sends out a political message, for example, Scrooge represents business and capitalist men who make huge profits and exploit the poor, where as Bob Crachet represents the poor and needy at that time. The establishment of key themes in the first chapter really prepares the reader for the rest of the novel. The theme of poverty is introduced with Bob Cratchet and the talk of the workhouse, charity with the appearance of the charity collectors, supernatural with the appearance of Jacob Marley's ghost, Christmas and its spiritual nature with the settings, attitudes and events in the chapter, and social-responsibilities with the charity collectors and the ways in which Scrooge denies his social-responsibility. The themes of religion and the afterlife are also present with the references to 'Cains and Abels', 'Pharaoh's daughters, Queens of Sheba, angelic messengers descending through the air'. This shows that the theme of religion and afterlife is present in the novel and Scrooge's life.

First Chapter of Christmas Carol Sets Up Reader For Rest Of Novel.

One of the main themes is that of redemption. Scrooge has the chance to change himself to gain his freewill, but in a much different way of that in, 'Romeo and Juliet' where it is about religion and destiny from the Elizabethan age. The Victorian period was very scientific and Scrooge is trying to redeem himself from his lack of social responsibility to avoid his doomed afterlife. Overall I think that chapter one of, 'A Christmas Carol', sets the reader up very well for the rest of the novel. The use of allegory establishes the political messages displayed in the novel and the introduction of many key themes shows the reader the true reason behind the book. Also it shows a change in Scrooge as at first he was selfish and miserable but towards the end of the chapter we see a glimmer of hope for Scrooge as he shows signs of regret and understanding. This makes the reader become very involved in the novel and wants to continue reading.

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A Christmas Carol

'' (full title: A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas) is Charles Dickens' "little Christmas Book" first published on December 19,[1] 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. The story met with instant success, selling six thousand copies within a week. Originally written as a potboiler to enable Dickens to pay off a debt,[2] the tale has become one of the most popular and enduring Christmas stories of all time. In fact, contemporaries noted that the story's popularity played a critical role in redefining the importance of Christmas and the major sentiments associated with the holiday. Few modern readers realise that A Christmas Carol was written during a time of decline in the old Christmas traditions. "If Christmas, with its ancient and hospitable customs, its social and charitable observances, were in danger of decay, this is the book that would give them a new lease," said English poet Thomas Hood in his review in Hood's Magazine and Comic Review (January 1844, page 68).[3] Src: Wikipedia ''