Characterisation In ‘A Christmas Carol’

Philanthropy and PersonalityLO: To explore the way in which Dickens

uses character to convey his message

Home Study

• Evidence?

Key Vocabulary Charitable

BenevolenceWelfare

ForbearanceMercy

AbundanceAltruism

PityDuty

Generosity

Key Definitions

Philanthropy – (philanthropic/philanthropist)1.The effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations.2. Love of humankind in general.3. Something, such as an activity or institution, intended to promote human welfare.• Antonym – Misanthropy

(misanthropic/misanthropist)

Key Definition

• Archetype - (archetypal) An original model or type after which other similar things are patterned

‘Scrooge is the archetypal literary miser.’

Key Definitions

1. Charity – (archaic) – from Latin ‘carus’= ‘dear’ Love of humankind2. Charity – (modern) The voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need

Main Characters

• Scrooge• Marley’s Ghost • Ghosts of Christmas Past,

Present and Yet to Come (+ Ignorance and Want)

• Fezziwig• Bob Cratchit + Family• Tiny Tim• Fred

TASK: Create a symbol for each of the main characters…

Summary

Ebeneezer ScroogeBegins:Mean, fierce, cold-hearted and callousEnds:Generous, humble, loving and happy

Jacob MarleyIn life, much like ScroogeIn death:‘Incessant torture of remorse’Agonized, desperate, regretful, doomedSymbols – chains and cash boxes

Summary

The other ghostsPast‘like a child, yet not so like a child as like an old man’Lost innocenceGentle mild insistentWhite clothing with summer flowersCap represents negative emotions, actions and ideas. Scrooge pushes this down at the end of the stave

Metaphors for Scrooge’s Life• What he has been• What he is• What he is going to be if he

does not change

Summary

PresentPersonifies generosityGiganticJovialSternGreen and white clothing – natural abundance and innocenceSurrounded by images of plenty – there is enough to go round in a fair worldCloak conceals harsh reality in the form of two horrifying children ‘Ignorance’ and ‘Want’

Yet to ComePersonifies death‘shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form’ – death must be unknown until it inevitably strikes.Bleak, chilling merciless: it will not wait for Scrooge but merely leads him from scene to scene pointing out what he must see.‘

Summary

FezziwigScrooge’s first employerCaring, generous, kind and appreciative. One of the few people for whom Scrooge remains thankful.“He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil…The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.”

Fred - nephewAntithesis of ScroogeGood-natured, jovial, loving, supportive – a means for Scrooge to achieve redemption. He will not lose hope for Scrooge or humanity in generalChristmas is: ‘a good time; a kind forgiving, charitable pleasant time…when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely…’

Summary

Bob Cratchit - ClerkPassive, caring, kind-hearted family man with an almost childish sense of funRepresents the plight of the lower classes for whom any job is better than no job. Abused, underpaid, powerless.Wears a ‘long, white comforter’. Loyal to Scrooge, defends him to his wife when she condemns Scrooge’s behaviour/personality

Tiny TimCratchit’s youngest childDisabled, loving, vulnerable – a victim of his family’s poverty and society’s harsh attitudesRepresents a stock character in Victorian Literature. Here he is the innocent vehicle for Scrooge’s redemptionHe is an important symbol of the consequences of Scrooge’s choices. He will die unless Scrooge changes.Perhaps based on one of Dickens’ own nephews

Other characters

Belle• Former fiancée of Scrooge. He has

forgotten about her until shown by the Ghost of Christmas past.

• She broke off their engagement telling Scrooge he cared more about money than her and she feared for her future happiness if she married him

• She marries another and finds true happiness in a loving and large family. Shown this vision, Scrooge is enraged and pulls down the Ghost’s metal cap, extinguishing the light that comes from him

FanScrooge’s beloved younger sister who, after he has been abandoned by his parents at a boarding school, begs for his return.

Homework: 12.1.12

• Take one of the characters and write a short character analysis:

Role in book – key scenes/interactionsPersonalityCharacterisation through language(symbols, description etc)Strengths/weaknesses of characterisation

15 minutes of quiet writing at home…

Who are these?