A Christmas Carol Quotes, Christmas Carol Quotes

'As solitary as an oyster'

Scrooge is isolated because of his miserliness.

'External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge'
'No warmth could warm, nor wintry weather chill him'
'..and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas'

The writer uses pathetic fallacy to reveal the character of Scrooge and show the lack of influence the weather had upon his character

'"If they would rather die", said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population"'

It reveals his cold-heart; he would rather see the poor people die instead of helping them, and by dying, they would be doing a service to the world. Also, it reveals that Scrooge is a follower of Thomas Malthus who in 1803 published an essay titled "Essay on the Principles of Population." Men like Malthus and Scrooge believed that war, famine and pestilence were necessary in order to keep the population down, especially the poor people.

"Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it."

Indication of Scrooge's miserliness and links him with darkness and evil.

'tight-fisted hand at the grindstone'

Scrooge Stave 1: Here Scrooge is shown by Dickens as a stingy guy. The word "tight fisted" suggest that he was a very cruel mean character.

'Hard and Sharp as flint'

A simile to describe Scrooge. His "sharp" tongue when it comes to others and his "hard" exterior. Scrooge has harsh features to the point where he is almost inhuman. The adjective "hard" may be a reference Scrooge's tough exterior and how he has no sign of kindness in his face and appearance. The reader is positioned to feel negatively towards Scrooge as Dickens portrays him to be a highly cold character that we should interpret with caution.

'I wear the chain I forged in life'

A powerful symbol of how many can be weighed down by greed and lack of compassion.

'Mankind was my business'
'The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!'

Marley is upset that he didn't help mankind while he could

'Unearthly visitor'

To show that the ghosts are so abnormal.

'It wore a tunic of the purest white'

Superlative "purest" links to being sent from heaven. Colour symbolism of white eg innocence.

'A solitary child, neglected by his friends'

Surprising character exposition making him sympathetic to the reader. Context- neglected children common in Vic era, readers would relate.

"Your lip is trembling"

Scrooge feels emotion being taken back to his past.

"Why did he cold heart glisten, and his heart leap up as they went past!"

Scrooge is already changing witnessing his past, instead of his usual cold, miserly behaviour he feels "gladness" to see Christmas celebrations.

'a chilly bareness in the place"
"cold and vast"
"long, bare, melancholy room"

Describes the past

"heightened and excited face"

Would have been a surprise to his business friends in the city.

"poor boy"

Scrooge takes pity on himself

'There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should have liked to have given him something: that's all'

Shows Scrooge is starting to change for the better. Theme of Redemption.

"You are quite a woman little Fan!"

Expresses admiration for his sister, even though he gains nothing profit wise from her

"She had a large heart!" "So she had."

Scrooge agrees and acknowledges his sisters kindness.

"Why it's old Fezziwig! Bless his heart!"

Fezziwig was a good boss to Scrooge, even Scrooge adored him.

"No more work tonight, Christmas Eve"

Fezziwig encourages the young apprentices to close early for Christmas. He has a larger than life attitude and is the complete opposite to Scrooge as an employer- he embraces the joys of Christmas

His heart and soul were in the scene, with his former self"

Scrooge

'The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortunes'

Fezziwig spread joy at Xmas, so much, it didn't matter how much it cost.

'Another idol has displaced me...A golden one.'

Belle is upset that Scrooge's greed has come between her engagement to Scrooge. She believes he values money more than her.

'Jolly Giant'

Description of Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3

'an antique scabbard, but no sword'

Shows how the GOCPr is peaceful and their to teach Scrooge how to bring joy to others lives.

'To-night, if you aught to teach me, let me profit by it'

Again shows Scrooge's path to redemption starting to form.

'twice-turned gown'

Alliteration. Mrs Cratchitt has upcycled her dress. Shows how little money they have.

'There never was such a goose'

They are pleased with what they have, and do not complain about not having as much as some people.

'Scrooge hung his head...and was overcome with penitence and grief'

Scrooge feels terribly that the ghost has used his own "decrease the surplus population" against him. He starts to realise just ho cruel he has been.

'Scrooge, The founder of the feast'

Mr Cratchitt still thanks his boss, Scrooge for what he has despite the fact that he treats him so awfully.

'This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, but most of all beware this boy'

The two children symbolise societies greatest problems. Later in the novella we see Ignorance and Want as people, Ignorance being the people joking about Scrooge's "death" and Want being the people who steal from his corpse and house.

'It was shrouded in a deep black garment'

This makes the reader question what the ghost would look like to them. Dickens is making the reader question their faults, in an attempt to make them alter them.

'I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart'

Scrooge says to the GOCYTC that he's happy to go with it, showing how much he has developed form when he met Marley's ghost.

'happier house for this man's (Scrooge's) death'

Only emotions towards Scrooge's death are those of joy, which shows how awful he made people's lives.

'I am not the man I was'

Scrooge Stave 4: By this stage the final nail in the literal coffin is stated with the overall showing of Scrooge as a more open, caring, nice man. He is now able to understand that he must change from the "man I was."

'I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year'

Scrooge makes the promise to the ghost after seeing his own grave.

'The Spirits of all three shall strive within me'

He has learnt the ghosts lesson and will now try to be a reformed man

' I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy'

Weight of his past actions have now been lifted. Lots of positive similes to emphasise his change.

'I'm quite a baby'

He has been reborn as a new person.

'I am about to raise your salary'

Scrooge increases Bob's salary in order to help the Cratchits out. AO3- Money was one of the most important things in Victorian era.

'and to Tiny Tim...he was a second father'

Shows his new found compassion.

'He knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.'

After the events of the novella Scrooge learnt how to enjoy Christmas with those he loved.

A small matter...to make these silly folks so full of gratitude.

Spirit of Christmas Past speaking to Scrooge about Fezziwig and his party guests

I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you.

Belle to Scrooge's former self (as a young man)

Quite alone in the world...

Belle's husband to Belle about Scrooge's former self (from five years ago)

He hoped the people saw him in 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.

Bob Cratchit to Mrs. Cratchit about Tiny Tim

If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.

Ghost of Christmas Present to Scrooge about Tiny Tim

what right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be morose? you're rich enough

the good nephew

Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die?

Ghost of Christmas Present to Scrooge

He frightened everyone away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead!

Charwoman to Old Joe about future (dead) Scrooge

The only emotion that the Ghost could show him, caused by the event, was one of pleasure.

Narrator speaking of future Scrooge's death

Bob told them of the extraordinary kindness of Mr. Scrooge's nephew...

Narrator speaking of Fred's consoling future Cratchit on Tiny Tim's death

I am not the man I was.

Scrooge to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Scrooge was better than his word.

Narrator about Scrooge's promises to honour Christmas and to help Bob's family

And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well...

Narrator, about Scrooge

"I fear you more than any Spectre I have seen."

Having seen the other ghosts, Scrooge is truly afraid of his future

"Its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread"

Describes GOCYTC

"He frightened every one away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead! Ha, ha, ha!

The public after Scrooge's death.

"Grey-haired rascal."

The group describing Scrooge after his death.

"Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror."

Scrooge uncharacteristically is appalled by the lack of compassion by the people in stave 4.