A Christmas Carol Stave 2 Plot Overview 1

A Christmas Carol – Stave 2

Plot Overview- 1 The First Ghost takes Scrooge through his past. We see: v Happy images of countryside which echoes happier times in Scrooge’s life v Scrooge alone in the boarding school. It is a bit depressing v Fran his sister comes to get Scrooge and says that their “kinder father” has allowed him to come home. v We are told that she dies and that Freddie is her son. v We are shown a happy Scrooge among his books and his recollections from Robinson Crusoe v A few years later we see a young Scrooge as an apprentice to the genial Mr. Fezziwig

Plot Overview-2 These recollections show a happier Scrooge who is capable of enjoying life. We are shown an older Scrooge with Belle who talks about his growing greed as she calls off her engagement with him. The next image is about Belle with her family and her daughter. This makes Scrooge yearn for a family life. Belle’s husband says that Scrooge is “quite alone in the world” after Marley’s death Hearing about his indifference towards Marley makes Scrooge reflect on his life.

Plot Overview-3 Scrooge, unable to bear the experiences, asks the ghost to stop and the ghost replies “That, they are what they are, do not blame me. ” Full of despair Scrooge pulls the hat over the ghost’s head and ends the mystical experience Scrooge finds himself zipped to bed yet again and falls asleep.

Symbolism of the first ghost The ghost of Christmas past represents memory At one o’ clock Scrooge is woken up by this childlike figure that has an aura of wisdom The aged appearance of the childlike figure touches on the role of memory as a force that connects the different stages of a person’s life. This is why the strange figure is old and young at the same time The ghost represents the many Christmases Scrooge has lived through from his childhood till now, that’s why the Ghost says “Your Past” when queried by Scrooge. The light that emanates from the head of this ghost throws light on instances from the past. The ghost clearly tells Scrooge that the memories he witnesses are from his own life and that he cannot control or alter them. Like the chains forged in life these memories are created by Scrooge who has to take ownership for his past actions.

Scrooge’s growing transformation in Stave 2 First instance - Seeing his lonely childhood he wishes that he had been kinder to the boy who was trying to sing outside his door. (40) Second instance - He wishes to be “able to say a word to my clerk just now. ” (49) He experiences remorse when he sees how his former boss treated him with kindness and realizes that the “happiness he (Fezziwig) gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune. ” (49) Third instance - Seeing Belle’s daughter he wishes he had a child like her. “I do confess, to have had the lightest license of a child, and yet been man enough to know its value. ” (53) He is drawn to family life and wants to be a part of humanity. This is a departure from his past where he wanted to walk away from “the crowded paths of life. ” (3)

Dickens attitude to Christmas Dickens in this novel expresses the modern view of Christmas as being a joyous holiday and a celebration rather than being a solemn holy day. Dickens extols the virtues of Christmas as a season of happiness, sharing, caring and good will. Fezziwig, is a foil to Scrooge. The rich but generous businessman vs. the rich but mean businessman The underlying moral is that it is not immoral to be wealthy as long as you are willing to share your wealth with the lesser privileged especially during Christmas Mr. Fezziwig’s party highlights the role the rich can play in helping the poor, especially at a time like Christmas.

Explain the lines in your own words “The happiness it gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune. ” (49) Scrooge says these words when he talks about Mr. Fezziwig. He says that his old boss had the ability to make his employees feel happy with small words of encouragement or just a smile. Despite having the power to make their lives unpleasant, he tried to lessen their burden by his gentle nature. The happiness that he shared with his apprentices, according to Scrooge, is worth a fortune even though the acts themselves cannot be measured in monetary terms. This episode is significant as it makes Scrooge reflect on how he treated his clerk, Bob Cratchit and he wishes to make amends.

Explain the lines in your own words There was an … and where the shadow of the growing tree would fall. (49) These lines are used to describe the growing change in Scrooge in “the prime of his life. ” Even though his face is not hardened by care and avarice he is showing signs of becoming the person he is today. His eyes reflect the greedy selfishness that would characterize his later years. Greed here is represented as a tree that had begun to take root in Scrooge’s life. It was now obvious that the shadow of this tree (greed) would influence (shadow) all the actions that Scrooge would undertake. Greed which is growing in Scrooge like a tree would cast its shadow on Scrooge and influence all his actions.

Explain the lines in your own words “That they are what they are do not blame me!” (54) Scrooge is deeply affected by what he sees of his past and pleads with the ghost to take him back (to the present). The ghost of Christmas Past says that he is not responsible for what he is showing Scrooge as these scenes were from his past. Like the chains forged in life, these memories too are those that Scrooge has experienced in his lifetime and are of his own creation. The ghost of Christmas past says that he is the author of his own destiny and should take cognizance of his role in creating these events.

Explain the lines in your own words “I have seen your noble aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain engrosses you. Have I not? ” (50) Belle comments on the change in Scrooge. She says that his noble qualities are lost and that the only thing that governs his life is ‘gain’ or profit. She sees him becoming greedy and mean spirited as he has lost all the endearing and noble qualities that he exhibited earlier.