In His Biography of Charles Dickens, Edgar Johnson Writes ‘a Christmas Carol’ Is a Parable of Social Redemption and Scrooge’s Conversion Is the Conversation for Which Dickens Hopes Among Mankind’ Discuss

793 Words4 Pages
Charles Dickens novella a Christmas Carol is a parable of social redemption where the main character Scrooge a working class man who has profited largely from the industrial revolution. Is visited by several Christmas ghosts promote change. Dickens’s criticism of the Utilitarian society is expressed through his characterisation of Scrooge. In the novella Dickens uses other characters such as Tiny Tim a sick little boy, and Scrooges nephew Fredrick as examples of his ideal society. Towards the end of the novella Scrooges conversion represents the conversion that the Author Dickens wishes society to undertake to forget the utilitarian way. Dickens’s criticism of the Utilitarian society is expressed through his characterisation of Scrooge who embodies all that the author despises. Scrooge is descried as a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. He is miserly and not willing to spend a dime on the surplus population. He is opposed to the idea of the generosity that is expected at Christmas time and claims ‘Every person who goes about with Merry Christmas on their lips should be boiled in their own pudding’ this wretched attitude is the attitude Dickens despises. Scrooge’s obsession with money has led him down the path of utilitarianism where he has dedicated his life to making money and not spending it for the greater good. Scrooges obsession with money even loses Belle his beloved "another idol has displaced me” “a golden one” Scrooge has replaced all of his joyfulness with money, and the fear of being poor. This is what Dickens fears for mankind .People getting caught up in utilitarianism. There is a big difference in the middle class and the lower

More about In His Biography of Charles Dickens, Edgar Johnson Writes ‘a Christmas Carol’ Is a Parable of Social Redemption and Scrooge’s Conversion Is the Conversation for Which Dickens Hopes Among Mankind’ Discuss

Open Document