Because the novel is set during Christmas, the reader expects certain themes, ideas and connotations: generosity, love, happiness and forgiveness. However, Dickens contrasts these positive emotions with greed, poverty, sickness and sadness. What a clever man!
Examples of Christmas Spirit:
Scrooge's effect on Christmas Spirit:
Scrooge's revelation
Examples of Christmas Spirit:
- Stave One: Fred enters Scrooge's place of work to give Christmas Greetings; “A merry Christmas Uncle. God Save you!” and invites Scrooge to Christmas dinner, despite his lack of Christmas cheer.
- Stave Two: We are introduced to Mr. Fezziwig who gives his friends and family a lavish Christmas party. The Ghost of Christmas Past remarks that it is a small thing that he does for his employees. Scrooge replies that, although it is a small thing to do it brings so much happiness.
- Stave Three: The Ghost of Christmas Present displays Christmas Spirit as demonstrated by his jolly, jovial and charitable character.
- The Cratchits: This family seem to epitomise Christmas spirit as they enjoy and cherish the time they have together, despite their rather humble circumstances.
- Tiny Tim in particular is a great example of Christmas spirit because of his selflessness and bravery, despite being ill and in pain.
Scrooge's effect on Christmas Spirit:
- Scrooge's interaction with the charity collectors shows his lack of Christmas Spirit, “Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew.”
- At the Cratchit's Christmas - Bob raises a glass to his employer for providing the feast, but his wife is not so willing to forgive Scrooge for the low wages he pays her husband. This shows how Scrooge has a negative effect on Christmas Spirit.
- At Fred's Christmas – Although he is a source of humour to the guests during the parlour games, he does effect the joyfulness as Fred points out that Scrooge should be pitied and that he “feels sorry”for Scrooge as he is totally alone.
Scrooge's revelation
- Stave Four: Scrooge promises to honour Christmas in “the Past, the Present and the Future” and promises to undo all the heartache he has caused.
- Stave Five: Scrooge wishes “A Merry Christmas!” to all that he encounters, spreading Christmas cheer to all with his words, as well as his actions.
- Scrooge's generosity and kindness extends beyond Christmas as he raises Bob's salary and keeps his promise to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. He shows that everyone can change for the better.