Point: consequence of exploiting others and mistreating others

f

Old Joe is introduced in Stave Four of the novella, when the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come takes Scrooge to witness the aftermath of his death. He is a pawnbroker who owns a shop in a “foul” area of the town. The three thieves bring Scrooge’s stolen belongings to his shop to try and make a profit. Dickens uses a harsh and blunt tone during his descriptions in this passage which heightens the immorality that occurs in ‘old Joe’s’ shop.

b a

a t t b i a l

Members of Scrooge’s staff are introduced to the novella in Stave Four where they all unexpectedly enter “old Joe’s” shop together. Their initial response is described as “blank astonishment”, highlighting the coincidence in the situation, but this causes “all three to burst into a laugh”. Their laughter juxtaposes the dismal tone of the stave, creating a perverted and immoral atmosphere. Dickens makes it clear that all three people have independently stolen things from Scrooge and that they intend to sell these things to old Joe. It is interesting that Dickens chose to have three people carry out this same action, perhaps to reinforce the extent of Scrooge’s corruption. This eventually heightens the effect of his transformation, as the reader can appreciate how much he has changed. Alternatively, he may have used three people in order to reflect the extent of the desperation of the lower-class, as they have all been driven to theft in order to make money. In either case, Dickens uses their characters to explore the themes of morality and poverty, using chilling descriptions in order to heighten the effect this has on the reader.

w o s

Dickens then uses the insult “wicked old screw” to highlight that one of the reasons the thieves feel justified in their actions is the way Scrooge behaved when he was alive.

i h w t k ‘e a h w d

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Dickens also uses the characters to explore the concept that actions have consequences. This is emphasised by the charwoman’s assertion that “if he wanted to keep ‘em after he was dead” then he should have been more “natural in his lifetime”. This establishes that their theft is a direct consequence of Scrooge’s apathetic behaviour. By allowing the three individuals to justify their actions, the reader is given the opportunity to empathise with them despite the harrowing descriptions.