Key facts

Ignorance (the boy)

represents the lack of education, awareness and moral responsibility among the privileged classs who turn a blind eye to suffering .

want (girl)

symbolises extreme poverty, hunger and destitution reflecting the desperate physical deprivation of children in 1840s london who lacked basic shelter and clothing

dickens message towards ignorance and want

social responsibility: when scrooge asks if the children have any refuge the spirit throws scrooges own callous words back at him . “are there no prisons? are there no workhouses? “ this forges scrooge and the trade to realise that society’s neglect creates monsters

transformation of scrooge

scrooge transforms from a cold greedy miser into a warm generous joyful man . in stave 1 scrooge only cares for money hating christmas and calling it humbug. (staves 2-4 ghosts), in stave 5 he wakes up a changed man and reconciles with family and friends - enjoying christmas

poverty and social injustice in a christmas carol

charles dickens uses acc as a powerful critique to expose harsh realities of poverty and deep rooted social injustices of victorian england

key elements of poverty and social injustice in acc

ignorance and want, the cratchit family : bob cratchit and his family represent the deserving poor - hardworking honest and dignified yet they suffer immensely due to low wages paid by wealthy employers. tim’s vulnerability highlights how poverty threatens lives of innocent children

The ghost of christmas yet to come

a silent, sinister spirit in a black hooded cloak who represents death .

ghost of christmas present

a jovial spirit resembling traditional father christmas who represents generosity and christmas spirit

the ghost of christmas past

a shape changing spirit who has light steaming from the top of its head. represents memory

fezziwig

scrooges generous former employer

belle and scrooge

belle breaks of their engagement because scrooges growing greed and obsession with money has replaced his love for her. the spirit later shows scrooge that belle married another man which depends scrooges regret and sorrow over the path he chose

differences between scrooge and fezziwig

scrooge is a cold greedy isolated miser who only cares about money. treats his clerk bob with harshness and refusing to provide fair treatment. however fezziwig is scrooges warn jovial employer who uses wealth to spread joy , shutting down work early on christmas eve to throw a lavish inclusive party