Charles Dickens’ ‘a Christmas Carol’

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Similar to the ‘finale’ of the extract, the 4th paragraph states the level of anti-socialness Scrooge really is. Dickens uses a peculiar, interesting way of expressing this. In of mentioning an example of what Scrooge would do to prove his worthless role in society, he tells the reader what Scrooge wouldn’t do. This technique used itself provides a different emotional change to the reader, allowing the sympathy. Therefore paragraph changes the reader’s emotional state from hating the character, to feel sympathy for his subjects. As an addition, the weak and animals are included in comparison with Scrooge. “No beggars implored him to bestow” uses language to set the dull and frightened mood in the reader. The mentioning of the weak is normally seen as an impolite subject to discuss in modern day society, since it is valued as a cautious taboo. Obviously, at the time of Charles Dickens, poverty was a common fundamentality to the community. The reason why Dickens inserts this aspect of comparison in probably lies in the fact that reflecting on financial struggles often lead to depression. As with the reference to animals, obviously less enhanced in terms of intelligence, Dickens once more exaggerates to get across his point: Scrooge is so evil, even the animals know it. Ultimately, the negativity thrown at Scrooge seems quite sad, but it must be supposed this was how the ways were in the story.

The last paragraph explores the reaction of Scrooge to all of the above. The fact this point has not been made before is pretty surprising, probably purposefully saved till last for the granted effect. It starts with as simple rhetorical question: “But what did Scrooge care?” It places a question to the reader, what did Scrooge care? Why? This entices the reader to read more, gripping him/her to find out what happens next. The following lines are mainly to do with Scrooge’s personality in depth. The fact that he liked it further adds to the list as ignorant and morally damaged. Supposing that an event before had changed his perception of the world, of course. Did he used to be like this? What was he like before? Questions that scream inside the reader’s mind.

To conclude, Scrooge is inhuman in every aspect possible. Hated by his peers and the world, it seems his moral conduct cannot get any worse. But there may be a hidden message in the extract. All those negative words seem to route the reader away from the potential real reason the author wrote the extract in that particular manner. The fact that Scrooge cannot get any worse, can only mean he is to become better. Not many realise this after reading the start of the novel, as it is indeed extremely subtle to spot. Surely enough, this is what to become of the storyline.