In this case, Dickens has some fun with the popular simile "dead as a doornail." ", "Spirit!" This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour. 1 Are there no prisons? How to Market Your Business with Webinars. When a charity worker laments that How does Dickens use Fezziwig to present ideas about responsibility in the novel as a whole? Out upon merry Christmas! Are there no workhouses? What Who said Are there no prisons in Scrooge? WebAre there no prisons? Plenty of prisons, said the gentleman, laying down the pen again. This line provides us a further glimpse into his character. Many people saw the law change as unfair, as it seemed to punish the poor, sick, and elderly, and only make conditions worse for those in need. Read the Study Guide for A Christmas Carol, Have a Capitalist Christmas: The Critique of Christmas Time in "A Christmas Carol", A Secular Christmas: Examining Religion in Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Perceiving the Need for Social Change in "A Christmas Carol", View the lesson plan for A Christmas Carol, Stave III: The Second Of The Three Spirits, View Wikipedia Entries for A Christmas Carol. Christmas Carol Analysis These two similes define Scrooge in three ways: First, he is portrayed as inflexible through the comparison to flint (a hard gray rock). Every one of them wore chains like Marley's Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. Up until now, Scrooge has tried to rationalize his encounter with Marley's ghost as something nonsensical and due to a tired mind or indigestion. The Queen of Sheba brought with her spices, stones, and gold, which led many people to wonder if trade was her main goal. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Since bells are nonliving things, this is an example of personification. And the Union workhouses? demanded Scrooge. The fog and frost so hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed as if the Genius of the Weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold. What does Scrooge say to the two gentlemen? While this could be a sign of Scrooge being facetious again, it is also indicative of how his mind works: deals and bargains have terms and conditions, so he believes the Ghost should have already completed what was owed. Marley's death is also firmly established so Scrooge's attitude towards it can be displayed, thereby giving readers an opportunity to see what kind of man Scrooge is. Dickens uses this expression to directly establish Scrooge as someone who jealously guards and hoards money. "They are Mans," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. The word "ruddy" means that something is a healthy, reddish color, particularly from outdoor life. In 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge spoke those words in Charles Dickens A Either way, Scrooges meal choice indicates that he values low cost and practicality above all. When Scrooge asks, the Ghost informs him that, unless the future is altered, Tiny Tim will die. He is so greedy that he does not make coals available to him employee, likely because he does not want to spend extra money heating the rooms. Additionally, Dickens, as the narrator, has told us how important it is that we know Marley to be dead, which adds a sense of suspense or anticipation as we wonder what will happen to Scrooge. But he couldn't replenish it, for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley's Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. "Kos" and "Daily Kos" are registered trademarks of Kos Media, LLC. He went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him in that extremity first. Analysis Why is Marley being punished in the afterlife? WebThey discuss Tiny Tim's good heart and his growing strength, then have a wonderful dinner. This paragraph creates a sense of tension, of anticipation, that something unusual is going to happen to Scrooge. Scrooge's nephew turns his uncle's logic on it's own head: why would Scrooge not be happy when he has so much wealth? It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful, to put his hands in his breeches pockets. Which of these is not a reason for Scrooge's refusing to contribute to charity? ", "Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink, and means of warmth. Dickens uses "nuts" to mean that Scrooge is very fond of, or enthusiastic about, being separate from other people. Scrooge knew he was dead? First Collector: Plenty of prisons. By doing so, Dickens provides hope for English Victorian society to close the chasm between the Haves and Have-Nots and overturn the unjust Poor Laws that keep the underclass enchained. I am not the man I was. said Scrooge in a broken voice, "remove me from this place.". Even people who are unfamiliar with the tale may have seen it used in that context. 19 Are there no prisons? Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going on at this rate, and began to quake exceedingly. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of A Christmas Carol.