In 'A Christmas Carol', Charles Dickens represents Scrooge as an unsympathetic man who is offered the opportunity to redeem himself. What can the reader infer is the author's message in the following passage: "They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from waterproof; their clothes were scantybut they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time" And what is that upon. Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow. My dear, was Bobs mild answer, Christmas Day. Ill drink his health for your sake and the Days, said Mrs Cratchit, not for his. Following this bitter blow, the Ghost of Christmas Present leads Scrooge on a tour of two more families: that of his nephew and of his clerk. The Waltons they ain't. Both have a history of mental illness. Gentlemen of the free-and-easy sort, who plume themselves on being acquainted with a move or two, and being usually equal to the time-of-day, express the wide range of their capacity for adventure by observing that they are good for anything from pitch-and-toss to manslaughter; between which opposite extremes, no doubt, there lies a tolerably wide and comprehensive range of subjects. The spirit tells him bluntly, "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die." That 's all." G It can be seen that his new found way of life is derived from the desire to be a good man of the community and to assist others such as Tiny Tim. For, the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball better-natured missile far than many a wordy jest laughing heartily if it went right and not less heartily if it went wrong. Oh, a wonderful pudding. He felt that he was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time, for the especial purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger despatched to him through Jacob Marleys intervention. There was nothing of high mark in this; they were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scant; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a Pawnbroker's. Sit ye down before the fire, my dear, and have a warm, Lord bless ye. No, no. precious father. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us. Scrooge promised that he would; and they went on, invisible, as they had been before, into the suburbs of the town. There were ruddy, brown-faced, broad-girthed Spanish onions, shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars, and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the girls as they went by, and glanced demurely at the hung-up mistletoe. S3 Mrs Cratchit (regarding Bob): love for her husband: your. Later on in the novel we find out that the young son of the Cratchit family is going to end up dying and, because of the love that his family shows, we feel much more emotion towards him. Also, how she had seen a Countess and a Lord some days before, and how the Lord "was much about as tall as Peter"; at which Peter pulled up his collars so high, that you couldn't have seen his head if you had been there. The popularity and timelessness of this play is representative of how deeply human being want to believe in the possibility of change, even radical change, and that it's not too late to change one's life. There never was such a goose. Finally, if Dickens intentions werent made clear enough through these examples, his preface says it all. The First of The Three Spirits. You know he is, Robert. What has ever got your precious father then. said Mrs Cratchit. The Second of The Three Spirits. 27 Oct. 2016. Fred's insistent invitation highlights the hollowness of Scrooge's wealth. The spirit orders Scrooge to "touch [his] robe," and instantly they leave the decorated room and are standing in the middle of the street on Christmas morning. In, The journey to his childhood results in visible signs of emotion in Scrooge, which we do not associate with him to start with, as this one of the first ways that Dickens presents the change in Scrooge. oh the Grocers. work ethics activities for high school students . S God bless us every one. said Tiny Tim, the last of all. Or, at least, for most people. Dickens uses the scene when the ghost of Christmas past, "a child-like old man" uses flashbacks to show Scrooge of the memories he once made to show the nature of the much younger character. The use of had hugged his emphasizes the word hugged as the alliteration surrounds it, causing it to have a bigger impact and be more valuable/important and highlighting the love between family. Not coming, said Mrs Cratchit. It was not alone that the scales descending on the counter made a merry sound, or that the twine and roller parted company so briskly, or that the canisters were rattled up and down like juggling tricks, or even that the blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose, or even that the raisins were so plentiful and rare, the almonds so extremely white, the sticks of cinnamon so long and straight, the other spices so delicious, the candied fruits so caked and spotted with molten sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel faint and subsequently bilious. When Scrooge first sees the spirit, it and the room are decked out in traditionally British holiday dress: green, red, and gold are the dominant colors; greens and ivy (hung traditionally before Christmas trees became popular in the mid 1840s) surround the spirit; and he sits in front of a huge feast of game birds, fruits, and pastry. The two young Cratchits laughed tremendously at the idea of Peters being a man of business; and Peter himself looked thoughtfully at the fire from between his collars, as if he were deliberating what particular investments he should favour when he came into the receipt of that bewildering income. The nephew, in explaining to his family why he faithfully invited Scrooge to the celebration, said, I mean to give him the same chance every. And now two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, came tearing in, screaming that outside the bakers they had smelt the goose, and known it for their own; and basking in luxurious thoughts of sage and onion, these young Cratchits danced about the table, and exalted Master Peter Cratchit to the skies, while he (not proud, although his collars nearly choked him) blew the fire, until the slow potatoes bubbling up, knocked loudly at the saucepan-lid to be let out and peeled. There are some upon this earth of yours, returned the Spirit, who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now! They were not a handsome family, they were not well dressed, their shoes were far from being waterproof, their clothes were scanty, and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbroker's. At last, however, he began to think as you or I would have thought at first; for it is always the person not in the predicament who knows what ought to have been done in it, and would unquestionably have done it too at last, I say, he began to think that the source and secret of this ghostly light might be in the adjoining room, from whence, on further tracing it, it seemed to shine. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust. Mrs Cratchit said that now the weight was off her mind, she would confess she had had her doubts about the quantity of flour. Firstly, we discussed the Cratchit family and found out more about their respect for one another. The two young Cratchits laughed tremendously at the idea of Peter's being a man of business; and Peter himself looked thoughtfully at the fire from between his collars, as if he were deliberating what particular investments he should favor, when he came into the receipt of that bewildering Income. Tiny Tim drank it last of all, but he didnt care twopence for it. Dickens skillfully incorporates various pictures of family dynamics through all three of his spirits: The Ghost of, Interestingly, this scene powerfully portrays the overarching theme of the book by illustrating what can happen when we compromise our perspectives. Id give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope hed have a good appetite for it. My dear, said Bob, the children. I have endeavoured in this ghostly little book, to raise the ghost of an ideaMay it haunt their houses pleasantly, and. Fred is retelling the story of his invitation to Scroogewhich was met with a "Bah humbug! Martha, who was a poor apprentice at a milliners, then told them what kind of work she had to do, and how many hours she worked at a stretch, and how she meant to lie abed to-morrow morning for a good long rest; to-morrow being a holiday she passed at home. Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow. Suppose somebody should have got over the wall of the back-yard, and stolen it, while they were merry with the goose a supposition at which the two young Cratchits became livid. Tune in Monday for the sixth part of this inspiring story. _ Your lip is trembling. They were not a handsome family, they were not well dressed, their shoes were far from being waterproof, their clothes were scanty, and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbroker's. The way Dickens has structured the quote in small short sentences could show that small little things are just as good as huge expensive things. The huge spirit is dressed in a long green robe bordered with fur, wears a crown of holly around his head, and has a cheery voice. Next, Present shows Scrooge his nephews house and how everyone dislikes him, yet his nephew still toasts to his life. ^They were not a handsome family but they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another _ On the other hand, Dickens presents the greedy, miser Ebenezer Scrooge in a negative light. Joy is a choice, and that choice is made easier when we are surrounded by the ones we love. He had no empathy for others. However, this selflessness is only to an. First, Present takes him to his employees house where Scrooge learns how poor and sorrowful his employee, Bob Cratchit, is. ", "It should be Christmas Day, I am sure," said she, "on which one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge. Is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle from your torch. asked Scrooge. Terms in this set (13) "why bless your heart alive my dear, how late you are!" said mrs Cratchit kissing her a dozen time." "they were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scanty. I dont think I have, said Scrooge. Everybody had something to say about it, but nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family. They were not a handsome family, but they were happy showing us that you dont need to be rich to have a happy family. Suppose it should not be done enough. For they said, it was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day. Through use of language, the reader is positioned to view him adversely, but during the journey of morality lessons shown by three spirits, Scrooge recovers his sense of joy by undergoing a significant transformation. The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party, which was not dispelled for full five minutes. This idea taking full possession of his mind, he got up softly and shuffled in his slippers to the door. Tiny Tim is disabled and carries a crutch, but it does not dampen his joyful spirit. Y A great deal of steam. Avoid phrases such as linking to context. Thats all for today guys! They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbroker's. Upload them to earn free Course Hero access! . There is. Did you enjoy this article? You have never seen the like of me before. exclaimed the Spirit. They stop briefly at the deserted village "where Miners live, who labour in the bowels of the earth" to watch the workers enjoying a family party; then to the coast, where two lighthouse men exchange a Merry Christmas; then to a ship on the "black and heaving sea" where each sailor "hum[s] a Christmas tune." Despite this reference to Christ, A Christmas Carol does not have a religious message. Linking to context, this would strongly affect the everyday lives of people in Dickens time because they may not have seen love and family in the way that we do today, therefore, this may have led more people to see their own family and give to the poorer in order for them to see their family more. Plan your visit. (x2), S5 Bob: worry that Scrooge will punish him for being late: 'it's only, S5 Bob: shock at a 'raised salary' / thinking Scrooge has gone mad: calling to the people in, the court for help and a strait-waistcoat, The Cratchits - 'A Christmas Carol' Quotes, Bob Crachit and the Cratchit Family Quotes, A Christmas Carol - Ghost of Christmas Present, Unseen Poetry - Conventions / Links to love /, Drama - Acting / Staging / Lighting notes, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, Grade 7, Harold Levine, Norman Levine, Robert T. Levine, Vocabulary for Achievement: Fourth Course. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew Discuss Scrooges transformation in A Christmas Carol. Fred says, "His wealth is of no use to [Scrooge]. He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see. Bobs voice was tremulous when he told them this, and trembled more when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty. The sight of these poor revellers appeared to interest the Spirit very much, for he stood with Scrooge beside him in a bakers doorway, and taking off the covers as their bearers passed, sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch. The party moves on to the entertainment portion, with Fred's wife playing beautifully on the harp. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time; and when they faded, and looked happier yet in the bright sprinklings of the Spirits torch at parting, Scrooge had his eye upon them, and especially on Tiny Tim, until the last. Scrooge was the Ogre of the family. Tiny Tim drank it last of all, but he didn't care twopence for it. Autograph manuscript signed, December 1843Page 40, "The Founder of the Feast indeed!" D The pudding was out of the copper. Web. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. There was nothing of high mark in this. Use QuoteFancy Studio to create high-quality images for your desktop backgrounds, blog posts, presentations, social media, videos, posters and more. They are perhaps best known for their song "Far from Any Road" from the album Singing Bones, which was used as the main title theme for the first season of the 2014 crime drama True Detective. Throughout the story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, he shares a clear message about wealth or having an abundance of money. Eked out by apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family; indeed, as Mrs Cratchit said with great delight (surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish), they hadnt ate it all at last. This could be a key thread in your essay.). S1 Bob: tiny fireplace - representing the lack of warmth when with Scrooge + his lack of care for Bob's warmth: so very much, S1 Bob: warm despite being cold / kind compared to Scrooge: the clerk, who, S3 Bob: loyal / grateful to Scrooge: I'll give you, S3 Mrs Cratchit (regarding Bob): love for her husband: your, S3 Cratchits: grateful / poor but still happy: They were not a, handsome family [] But, they were happy, grateful, S3 Tiny Tim: religious (thinking of Jesus) / thoughtful / wisdom which contrasts to Scrooge's arrogance: He hoped the people saw him, in the church, because he was a cripple, and [] remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, S4 Bob: grief over Tiny Tim's death / change of mood in the Cratchits' house: He broke, down all at once [] 'My little, little child!' In 2022, women earned an average of 82% of what men earned, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbroker's. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time." Charles Dickens Charles Dickens Quotes The spirit finally pulls Scrooge away from the party, traveling past sick beds, foreign lands, "an almshouse, hospital, and jail" where every man celebrates Christmas is some small way, despite his poverty or misery. A Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!he'll be very merry and very happy I have no doubt!".