Generosity In A Christmas Carol
Dickens suggests that true happiness and fulfilment can only be found when one is generous to others. Discuss
The idea of happiness and fulfilment rising from generosity is a message present in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Dickens encourages and inspires his Victorian readers to change their views and support those around them, through generosity. Dickens emphasizes how generosity can lead to fulfilment and happiness through the construction of his novel. The prevalent concerns of life and death, isolation and togetherness and change allows Dickens to demonstrate to his readers the importance of generosity and seeing its effects on those around you.
Dickens creates contrasts in his characters to emphasise the importance of generosity …show more content…
His ill-treatment of Bob Cratchit and his cold, dark nature is then juxtaposed to that of the warm “lively” Fezziwig, Scrooge’s old employer. Fezziwig with his “Christmas party” and the generosity toward Scrooge and his other apprentice presents readers with the happiness brought about by magnanimous giving. Scrooge is longing to be a part of his memory once more with “his heart and soul in the scene.” The contrast of employee treatment allows Scrooge to see his skewed ways and allows readers to view how their generosity could lead to the happiness of others and a fulfilment of duty as an employer. The largest and most obvious character contrast is between the initial Scrooge and the final Scrooge. “Wheezing...” and almost machine-like Ebenezer Scrooge is loathed and on the outskirts of society, even the blind are seen as lucky for not having to “set eyes on evil himself”. However,
Scrooge’s transformation and journey allows him to recognise his duty to others and how helping those around him such as the
Cratchits and becoming “a second father to Tiny Tim” gives him joy and pleasure. This change demonstrates to readers …show more content…
The cold ‘bare, melancholy’ life of Scrooge with his cold house and ‘small fires’ adds to the idea of isolation and how much change is needed. This is contrasted with the warmth of Fezziwig’s ball with ‘fires heaped with fuel’ representing the happiness in the lives linked to Fezziwig. Dickens, with the metaphors of light and dark addresses a somewhat Christian value of generosity and fulfilment. The darkness and the ‘grim’ outlook of Scrooge’s death in Stave four highlights how not changing skewed priorities can lead to ‘pain’ and ‘incessant torture’.
The light, given off by the fires or general weather endorses the idea that light represents a change, a ‘good man’ who understands the importance of generosity. Fred, the nephew of Scrooge, has ‘red cheeks’ and a ‘glowing’ appearance, representative of his charity, his care for the welfare and well being of others, such as the Cratchits, and his views on how people, like Scrooge, should understand giving is a way of helping, not only others, but oneself.
The finality death brings allows Dickens to emphasise the need for change and generosity in life. The notion is clearly
The idea of happiness and fulfilment rising from generosity is a message present in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Dickens encourages and inspires his Victorian readers to change their views and support those around them, through generosity. Dickens emphasizes how generosity can lead to fulfilment and happiness through the construction of his novel. The prevalent concerns of life and death, isolation and togetherness and change allows Dickens to demonstrate to his readers the importance of generosity and seeing its effects on those around you.
Dickens creates contrasts in his characters to emphasise the importance of generosity …show more content…
His ill-treatment of Bob Cratchit and his cold, dark nature is then juxtaposed to that of the warm “lively” Fezziwig, Scrooge’s old employer. Fezziwig with his “Christmas party” and the generosity toward Scrooge and his other apprentice presents readers with the happiness brought about by magnanimous giving. Scrooge is longing to be a part of his memory once more with “his heart and soul in the scene.” The contrast of employee treatment allows Scrooge to see his skewed ways and allows readers to view how their generosity could lead to the happiness of others and a fulfilment of duty as an employer. The largest and most obvious character contrast is between the initial Scrooge and the final Scrooge. “Wheezing...” and almost machine-like Ebenezer Scrooge is loathed and on the outskirts of society, even the blind are seen as lucky for not having to “set eyes on evil himself”. However,
Scrooge’s transformation and journey allows him to recognise his duty to others and how helping those around him such as the
Cratchits and becoming “a second father to Tiny Tim” gives him joy and pleasure. This change demonstrates to readers …show more content…
The cold ‘bare, melancholy’ life of Scrooge with his cold house and ‘small fires’ adds to the idea of isolation and how much change is needed. This is contrasted with the warmth of Fezziwig’s ball with ‘fires heaped with fuel’ representing the happiness in the lives linked to Fezziwig. Dickens, with the metaphors of light and dark addresses a somewhat Christian value of generosity and fulfilment. The darkness and the ‘grim’ outlook of Scrooge’s death in Stave four highlights how not changing skewed priorities can lead to ‘pain’ and ‘incessant torture’.
The light, given off by the fires or general weather endorses the idea that light represents a change, a ‘good man’ who understands the importance of generosity. Fred, the nephew of Scrooge, has ‘red cheeks’ and a ‘glowing’ appearance, representative of his charity, his care for the welfare and well being of others, such as the Cratchits, and his views on how people, like Scrooge, should understand giving is a way of helping, not only others, but oneself.
The finality death brings allows Dickens to emphasise the need for change and generosity in life. The notion is clearly