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Introduction
Charles Dickens’ seminal novella A Christmas Carol depicts the character of Ebenezer Scrooge at the forefront of the frame narrative.¹ Portrayed as an opportunistic and avarice-driven old man, Scrooge’s bitterness may seem, on the surface, to derive solely from greed.² However, Scrooge’s isolating childhood, as well as his ignorance, also play a role in his indignant attitude. Dickens’ novella is set in the Victorian era at Christmas time, whereby a dichotomy between the rich and the poor is established, alluding to the great class chasm of the era.³ Dickens thus cautions against the perils of greed, yet he also posits that for characters like Scrooge, this avarice stems from more deep-rooted issues.⁴
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1. Mentioning the frame narrative in the novella engages with the notion of form. It is important to demonstrate your structural knowledge of the text. It is often easiest to do so in the introduction, where we lay out ‘foundational’ concepts.
2. This sentence directly engages with the prompt. We are developing our stance on the topic. In this instance, we are agreeing with the prompt, yet somewhat negating it by also emphasising that Scrooge’s greed plays a crucial role in his bitterness.
3. Here, we have established context. Whilst it is usually preferable to introduce context in the second or third sentence, sometimes, introducing later is warranted.
4. This sentence engages with ‘big picture’ ideas and authorial intent by considering what message Dickens wanted to convey to readers.
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PARAGRAPH 1
Though Scrooge’s harsh nature cannot be solely attributed to greed, this avarice nevertheless plays a significant role in his acerbic conduct.⁵ Scrooge is not only intrinsically frugal with others, but also with himself.⁶ By denying even himself any indulgence in his great wealth, he perpetuates a deep-seated discontent. Whilst the second, third, fourth and fifth staves serve to reveal Scrooge’s miraculous character development, the first stave elucidates the confronting extent of his greed. Scrooge chooses to fester in a literal and metaphorical dimness,⁷ refusing to provide his household or office with ample light, under the justification that “darkness is cheap.” Even his fire in his counting-house is “very small” – though his clerk Bob Cratchit’s is “very much smaller.” As such, Scrooge is not only “hard and sharp as flint” with others, but also with himself. Of course however, this desire to covetously hoard his own wealth extends to his conduct with others. The narrator reveals that Scrooge was “not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event” of the death of his long-term business partner Jacob Marley, but rather, mulled on the fact that “he was an excellent man of business.” The funeral is not an expensive one, despite his overwhelming wealth, but rather, is performed for an “undoubted bargain.” Moreover, his greed causes him to selfishly deny any monetary compensation for those less fortunate than he. Despite the evident poorness and economic struggle of his clerk, Scrooge staunchly refuses to raise his pay. Instead, he condemns Christmas as a “poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket” – though it only occurs once a year. Thus, Scrooge, a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner,” derives much of his bitterness from the ingrained desire to harvest his money at all costs. Yet, his more than deficient generosity to the poor, including Bob Cratchit, can also be attributed to his ignorance.⁸
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5. Our topic sentence makes it clear that we are challenging the prompt, but not dodging the question. Even though we’re arguing that greed isn’t the only motivating factor, we’re still focusing much of our discussion on greed (rather than veering off course to discuss other themes, which some teachers might penalise you for!). Always remember to stick to the scope of the essay question and build out your discussion from there!
6. Here, we’re expanding on the idea of greed by pointing out that Scrooge doesn’t just deprive others of things – he also deprives himself, which allows for a more in-depth discussion of his character’s psychology.
7. Remember than in this text, light and dark are often deeply symbolic.
8. This is a strong linking sentence, which links both backwards and forwards. In other words, it further clarifies what has already been discussed in the paragraph, whilst simultaneously touching on the argument which is yet to be explored in the second body paragraph. Linking sentences help in establishing an overall continuity in your essay, ensuring that the transition from paragraph to paragraph is not jarring or awkward in any way.
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PARAGRAPH 2
Ignorance also plays a significant role in Scrooge’s bitter character. In the third stave, the Ghost of Christmas Present warns against the perils of the two children which squander at his feet in misery: Want and Ignorance. Though he cautions against Want (or greed), he cautions even more so against Ignorance, suggesting it is one of the most fatal flaws prone to man. Scrooge, ignorant to the extent of the struggles of the poor and less fortunate, treats such individuals with impatient neglect, choosing to view his surroundings through his own narrow lens of wealth. As such, when Scrooge witnesses the scenes of those less fortunate than he in his voyage with the second spirit, his bitterness further collapses into empathetic understanding, Scrooge asks the Spirit why he “of all beings in the many worlds about us” would openly choose to “cramp these people’s opportunities of innocent enjoyment.”⁹ The spirit incredulously counters that it is the lack of sympathetic understanding of humans, which in reality contributes to their suffering. Scrooge, therefore, had failed to see his moral responsibility when he denied the portly gentlemen their donations, and Bob Cratchit his raised salary, in the first stave. As such, when he witnesses the humble nature of the Cratchit’s Christmas dinner – comprising a small turkey, some meagre potatoes and an even smaller pudding – he recognises the undeserved suffering of the working classes. Dickens therefore, elucidates the way in which ignorance can blunt sympathy and empathy, and perpetuate bitterness.¹⁰
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9. Notice that most of these quotes are less than ten words each, with paraphrasing to help keep quotes as concise as possible? This ensures the marker can see we’re being precise with our use of evidence.
10. This is an authorial statement. An authorial statement refers to any sentence or phrase which describes what the author is doing in writing the text (e.g. ‘Dickens highlights/ suggests/ illustrates...’ etc.). Authorial statements lend themselves towards discussing the overall message of the text, and are the perfect way to wrap up your body paragraphs.
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PARAGRAPH 3
Besides greed and ignorance, Scrooge’s isolation cannot be ignored in the formation of his bitter character. Scrooge’s journey with the Ghost of Christmas Past in the second stave reveals the way in which this solitude stemmed from his boyhood. The imagery of the “long, bare, melancholy room” in which Scrooge sat alone at his school emphasises the isolating quality of his childhood.¹¹ Scrooge’s small, childlike figure is juxtaposed by the great empty expanse of the room. The narrator describes Scrooge as a “lonely boy reading near a feeble fire,” in stark contrast to the previous imagery of the schoolboys “in great spirits” who “shouted to each other” in glee. Moreover, the subsequent scene with his younger sister Fran’s arrival alludes to the austere nature of his father. Fran exclaims that “father is so much minder than he used to be,” pointing towards his bitter and indignant nature. Ironically, this can be closely compared to Scrooge’s own indignance in his household. Thus, although Scrooge cannot be entirely absolved of his sinful harshness, it is evident that it has its origins in his early experiences.¹² Moreover, though Scrooge undergoes an “alteration” of character in his early adulthood, justifying his fiancée Belle’s decision to leave him, he his nevertheless abandoned once more. Perhaps then , Scrooge’s previous experiences of isolation inform his willing solitude in his adulthood, perpetuated a bitter character which festers in prolonged discontent and remorse.
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11. Here, we have referred to imagery (a literary technique). Though quotes will always be your ‘typical’ form of evidence, it is also important that you occasionally turn to literary techniques as well to demonstrate your grasp of the overall text, not just some of the dialogue.
12. This further shows that we have expanded our discussion from the prompt’s starting point, as we’ve gone beyond simply examining how Scrooge is greedy and have delved into why he is greedy.
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CONCLUSION
Ultimately, Scrooge’s bitterness cannot be derived from one driving factor alone. Whilst greed and avarice certainly augment his harsh and biting ways, his deepseated ignorance and long-standing isolation also inform his spiteful manner. As such, Dickens warns against these three factors as perilous perpetuators of human indignance.¹³
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13. This conclusion is short and sweet, but approximately three sentences is all you need! Short conclusions are often most effective, as they allow you to communicate and summarise your ideas swiftly, without repeating yourself. The last sentence also refers to a ‘big picture’ idea, extending the scope of the prompt beyond the narrow confines that it poses.
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