they were not a handsome family analysis

When Ebenezer Scrooge awakens it is just before one o'clock again, and he prepares for the second ghostly visitor by pulling back the bed curtains himself, so he won't be taken by surprise. Our essays show how Dickens promoted love and peace in his novel a Christmas carol. Scrooge's neighbors are already out shoveling snow from the streets and bustling to and from shops in preparation for the celebrations. Copyright 2016. Mrs. Cratchit admits to worrying that there wouldn't be enough food to go aroundfunds, as always, are tightbut everyone compliments her thrift. As Dickens explains, They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the times (page 54). The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party, which was not dispelled for full five minutes. Although the spirit appears friendly, Scrooge is too intimidated to look him in the eye. The Second of The Three Spirits. And perhaps it was the pleasure the good Spirit had in showing off this power of his, or else it was his own kind, generous, hearty nature, and his sympathy with all poor men, that led him straight to Scrooges clerks; for there he went, and took Scrooge with him, holding to his robe; and on the threshold of the door the Spirit smiled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchits dwelling with the sprinkling of his torch. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove; from every part of which, bright gleaming berries glistened. Also how she had seen a countess and a lord some days before, and how the lord was much about as tall as Peter; at which Peter pulled up his collars so high that you couldnt have seen his head if you had been there. Eked out by apple-sauce and mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for the whole family; indeed, as Mrs Cratchit said with great delight (surveying one small atom of a bone upon the dish), they hadnt ate it all at last. Terms in this set (13) "why bless your heart alive my dear, how late you are!" said mrs Cratchit kissing her a dozen time." "they were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scanty. ", "My dear," said Bob"the childrenChristmas Day. The spirit mentions his "more than eighteen hundred" brothers, referencing the number of Christmases since Christ's birth (the first Christmas). However, on Christmas Eve, Scrooge gets a start that begins to jolt him into seeing the errors of his ways. There was nothing of high mark in this. It would make people understand that they need to appreciate and value love and kindness and see how important it is to not take everything for granted. With the whole family together, everyone begins working in unison to move their feast to the dinner table, which everyone compliments and admires as they eat. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. There all the children of the house were running out Remember, short, precise quotations are best. G The use of had hugged his emphasizes the word hugged as the alliteration surrounds it, causing it to have a bigger impact and be more valuable/important and highlighting the love between family. First, Present takes him to his employees house where Scrooge learns how poor and sorrowful his employee, Bob Cratchit, is. There was no doubt about that. Throughout the story A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, he shares a clear message about wealth or having an abundance of money. In the next game, Yes or No, guests must guess the object another player is thinking of by asking "yes" or "no" questions. Throughout the novel Scrooge saw himself in the past, present and future. . The Ghost of Christmas Present even warns Scroogeas they watch the poor take their holiday meals to bake shops to be cooked, a practice which some Victorians wished to ban on Sundaysnot to heed those who pretended to hear the spirit for their own ends. Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchits elbow stood the family display of glass. The party moves on to the entertainment portion, with Fred's wife playing beautifully on the harp. Despite making him the butt of the joke, Fred, like Bob Cratchit, insists on raising a glass and toasting his uncle's health. However, the timelessness and popularity of this tale also reveals something else about human nature: there's a tendency such as an overwhelming whiff and desire for human beings to believe that transformation can be overnight and immediate. All this time the chestnuts and the jug went round and round; and bye and bye they had a song, about a lost child travelling in the snow, from Tiny Tim, who had a plaintive little voice, and sang it very well indeed. In addition, Dickens uses alliteration to highlight the idea of love and family. Course Hero, "A Christmas Carol Study Guide," October 27, 2016, accessed March 4, 2023, https://www.coursehero.com/lit/A-Christmas-Carol/. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbrokers. L Happiness, the novella suggests, is not found in money but in shared experiencesphysical, emotional, and spiritual. Through quick-fire questions, it's revealed that Fred is thinking of "a rather disagreeable animal, a savage animal, an animal that growled and grunted sometimes, and talked sometimes, and lived in London, and walked about the streets ." The guests laugh uproariously as they determine that the "animal" is, in fact, Fred's Uncle Scrooge. To any kindly given. Also, it suggests that it is connected to him as a heart symbolises love and the love that Bob Cratchit has for his family as he is very happy to see his daughter. In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge shows that his love of money makes him selfish and full of greed, but once he is shown his past, present, future he realizes his ways and changes them to help others, and he specifically embraces the Cratchit family in many ways. Scrooge watches the family with curiosity, struggling to understand their happiness: "They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes . O F Wouldnt you. I. cried the Spirit. 4 Mar. Joy is a choice, and that choice is made easier when we are surrounded by the ones we love. There were great, round, round, pot-bellied baskets of chestnuts, shaped like the waistcoats of jolly old gentlemen, lolling at the doors, and tumbling out into the street in their apoplectic opulence. This idea taking full possession of his mind, he got up softly and shuffled in his slippers to the door. His view goes hand in hand with the teachings of the Bible. Bob's wife does her best to make the home festive with ribbons, holly, and tasty food. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. A Christmas Carol Study Guide. Unfortunately for Tiny Tim, death may be coming very soon, but he does not care. He is very optimistic and loves everyone by saying, God bless us everyone, (704). I dont think I have, said Scrooge. Before Scrooge knows it, they are back on the London streets, standing outside Fred's apartment, where the room is filled with laughter. There is a certain timelessness to the entire story, in that it demonstrates the powerful transformation of an incredibly stilted and unlikeable character to that of someone who is giving, kind and generous. 29 terms. There was nothing of high mark in this. Once again time is twisted, as Ebenezer Scrooge awakens at nearly the same time he fell asleep. And your brother, Tiny Tim. The following was written by Charles Dickens and originally published in 1843. Despite this reference to Christ, A Christmas Carol does not have a religious message. Course Hero. It was not alone that the scales descending on the counter made a merry sound, or that the twine and roller parted company so briskly, or that the canisters were rattled up and down like juggling tricks, or even that the blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose, or even that the raisins were so plentiful and rare, the almonds so extremely white, the sticks of cinnamon so long and straight, the other spices so delicious, the candied fruits so caked and spotted with molten sugar as to make the coldest lookers-on feel faint and subsequently bilious. "A Christmas Carol Study Guide." You know he is, Robert! Have you had many brothers, Spirit. More than eighteen hundred, said the Ghost. In reaction to this, Scrooge had closed himself off and become cold and impenetrable by any kindness. 2023. All sorts of horrors were supposed. And it was a very uncommon kind of torch, for once or twice when there were angry words between some dinner- carriers who had jostled each other, he shed a few drops of water on them from it, and their good humour was restored directly. As good as gold, said Bob, and better. So did the room, the fire, the ruddy glow, the hour of night, and they stood in the city streets on Christmas morning, where (for the weather was severe) the people made a rough, but brisk and not unpleasant kind of music, in scraping the snow from the pavement in front of their dwellings, and from the tops of their houses, whence it was mad delight to the boys to see it come plumping down into the road below, and splitting into artificial little snow-storms. Privacy policy Page 31, STAVE IV. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes scrooge to these locations to demonstrate all that is missing from his life due to living in isolation. Course Hero Literature Instructor Russell Jaffe provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Stave 3: The Second of the Three Spirits of Charles Dickens's novella A Christmas Carol. In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plentys horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. Z, Terms of use The vision of Scrooges nephew serves to awaken Scrooge to the fact that he himself had a family that would gladly welcome him. Y He is clearly miserable. The Handsome Family (hence THF) is a band from Albuquerque, New Mexico (originally from Chicago, Illinois), see website. Spirit, said Scrooge, after a moments thought, I wonder you, of all the beings in the many worlds about us, should desire to cramp these peoples opportunities of innocent enjoyment. I. cried the Spirit. Murdaugh spoke in court only briefly and did not address his role in what happened to his wife, Margaret, and their younger son, Paul, when they were fatally shot June 7, 2021, at the family's . This could be a key thread in your essay.). Heres Martha, mother. cried the two young Cratchits. Mrs. Cratchit claims Martha had to work late, but to everyone's delight, Martha bursts from a hiding spot and leaps into her father's arms. Perhaps this is because he sees, for the first time, that he would be welcome. She doesn't understand why Fred continues to engage with his nasty uncle. What then. If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief. But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time, Repetition of not, the repeated semicolon prolongs the suffering, The scene at their home is a pivotal moment as it critises disconnected members of the upper class who are alone, And now 2 smaller Cratchits came tearing in, screaming that outside the backers they could smell a goosebasking In luxurious thoughts of sage and onions, these young Cratchits danced around the table, So middle class audience sympathise when the bad things happen to them. He urges Scrooge to "Come in! Remember, short, precise quotations are best. (2016, October 27). Then up rose Mrs Cratchit, Cratchits wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence; and she laid the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit, second of her daughters, also brave in ribbons; while Master Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into the saucepan of potatoes, and getting the corners of his monstrous shirt collar (Bobs private property, conferred upon his son and heir in honour of the day) into his mouth, rejoiced to find himself so gallantly attired, and yearned to show his linen in the fashionable Parks. Continuing down the road, Scrooge and the spirit arrive outside Bob Cratchit's home. You would deprive them of their means of dining every seventh day, often the only day on which they can be said to dine at all, said Scrooge. Look upon me. Scrooge reverently did so. Cratchit family on Christmas Day. C His active little crutch was heard upon the floor, and back came Tiny Tim before another word was spoken, escorted by his brother and sister to his stool before the fire; and while Bob, turning up his cuffs as if, poor fellow, they were capable of being made more shabby compounded some hot mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, and stirred it round and round and put it on the hob to simmer; Master Peter, and the two ubiquitous young Cratchits went to fetch the goose, with which they soon returned in high procession. The children drank the toast after her. Course Hero. Contact us. Scrooge watches the family with curiosity, struggling to understand their happiness: "They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scanty but they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time." In Course Hero. The rest of mankind is unified through cheer and celebration. After it had passed away, they were ten times merrier than before, from the mere relief of Scrooge the Baleful being done with. Finally, if Dickens intentions werent made clear enough through these examples, his preface says it all. Five minutes, ten minutes, a quarter of an hour went by, yet nothing came. They were not a handsome family, but they were happy showing us that you dont need to be rich to have a happy family. Scrooge snaps back into the moment as Bob's speech continues, thanking Scrooge and calling him "the Founder of the Feast." The author illustrates that Scrooge who is depicted as "hard and sharp as a flint" is a greedy miser whom is so old and coldhearted that nothing other than his profits will phase him. For Scrooge, the less fortunate man is his clerk, Bob Cratchit. It was the first of their proceedings which had no heartiness. That was the pudding. Two tumblers, and a custard-cup without a handle. Come in, and know me better, man. Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit. Tiny Tim drank it last of all, but he didnt care twopence for it. Martha and Peter, the eldest Cratchit children, are forced out of school and into the workforce to help support their large family. A smell like a washing-day. Even Tiny Tim, weak and disabled, has a pure heart, wishing everyoneeven cold Mr. Scroogea happy and blessed Christmas. Through use of language, the reader is positioned to view him adversely, but during the journey of morality lessons shown by three spirits, Scrooge recovers his sense of joy by undergoing a significant transformation. Through Dickens's sympathetic portrayal of the Cratchit family, he is able to explore political themes close to his heart, most notably, the loss of childhood. Also, how she had seen a Countess and a Lord some days before, and how the Lord "was much about as tall as Peter"; at which Peter pulled up his collars so high, that you couldn't have seen his head if you had been there. I want to use different, higher level words. Money is power, freedom, a cushion, the root of all evil, the sum of blessings, said Carl Sandburg. October 27, 2016. Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes, and seething bowls of punch, that made the chamber dim with their delicious steam. He says Bob had hugged his daughter to his hearts content. Course Hero, Inc. As a reminder, you may only use Course Hero content for your own personal use and may not copy, distribute, or otherwise exploit it for any other purpose. He felt that he was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time, for the especial purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger despatched to him through Jacob Marleys intervention. The message of this stave is to enjoy the holidaysbe merry with friends and familybut don't forget those less fortunate. ", "My dear," was Bob's mild answer. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. God love it, so it was. Finally, Dickens promotes family and love when, in the novel, scrooge starts off as a nice young boy but society had changed him, corrupted him. Is there a peculiar flavour in what you sprinkle from your torch. asked Scrooge. Thats all for today guys! The compound in the jug being tasted, and considered perfect, apples and oranges were put upon the table, and a shovel-full of chestnuts on the fire. W "They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof.. Himself, always." For, he wished to challenge the Spirit on the moment of its appearance, and did not wish to be taken by surprise, and made nervous. The nephew, in explaining to his family why he faithfully invited Scrooge to the celebration, said, I mean to give him the same chance every. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it. However, at present, the mechanism of cyclooctasulfur activation and catabolism in Campylobacterota bacteria is not clearly understood. He sat very close to his fathers side upon his little stool. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a literal play on words for the sentiment of "Christmas spirit": spirit being both a ghost and a joyful feeling. He doesn't make himself comfortable with it Who suffers by his ill whims? What is important about this example is not just that it shows the compassion Scrooge once felt but also that Scrooge is not truly crooked and horrible to the core establishing the uplifting and inspiring feeling to readers. In many respects, Scrooge is, The Theme Of Family In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens weaves the theme of family, and all of its aspects, throughout his novel titled A Christmas Carol to create a compelling reminder of the value of perspective. Although Bob is serious, his family scoffs at the toast. Come in. exclaimed the Ghost. The vision of Scrooges clerks family the Cratchits paints an intricate example of the beauty of family. To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it. Touch my robe.. Testimony concluded on Tuesday after more than 75 witnesses took the stand over about five weeks. ^They were not a handsome family but they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another _ On the other hand, Dickens presents the greedy, miser Ebenezer Scrooge in a negative light. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die. No, no, said Scrooge. Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds; a feathered phenomenon, to which a black swan was a matter of course and in truth it was something very like it in that house. J But, finding that he turned uncomfortably cold when he began to wonder which of his curtains this new spectre would draw back, he put them every one aside with his own hands, and lying down again, established a sharp look-out all round the bed. Quote Maker Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you dont miss any of the story! The spirit says he likes to sprinkle his incense on the poor because they need it most. Following this bitter blow, the Ghost of Christmas Present leads Scrooge on a tour of two more families: that of his nephew and of his clerk. nearly closed, with perhaps two shutters down, or one; but through those gaps such glimpses. Fred is retelling the story of his invitation to Scroogewhich was met with a "Bah humbug! There was nothing of high mark in this. When Scrooge first sees the spirit, it and the room are decked out in traditionally British holiday dress: green, red, and gold are the dominant colors; greens and ivy (hung traditionally before Christmas trees became popular in the mid 1840s) surround the spirit; and he sits in front of a huge feast of game birds, fruits, and pastry. Echoing Scrooge's cruel words, the spirit fades into the night saying, "Are there no prisons? 225 Madison AvenueNew York, NY 10016(212) 685-0008. Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol is a moral tale that depicts the protagonists Ebenezer Scrooges moral journey from selfishness to redemption. THF was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife Brett (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Rennie Sparks (bass, banjo, vocals) along with drummer Mike Werner. Instead consider, this would have appeal to Dickens Victorian readers sense of). "Do you have many siblings spirit?" said Scrooge "Well over eighteen hundred" replied the spirit - the huge amount of brothers and sisters that the spirit has put emphasis on the importance of family. asked Mrs Cratchit, when she had rallied Bob on his credulity, and Bob had hugged his daughter to his hearts content. In 'A Christmas Carol', Charles Dickens represents Scrooge as an unsympathetic man who is offered the opportunity to redeem himself. Not coming, said Mrs Cratchit. There was nothing of high mark in this. A great deal of steam. He was not the dogged Scrooge he had been; and though the Spirits eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them. Other sets by this creator. The miners, lighthouse keepers, and sailors all embody companionship, something Scrooge is lacking at the beginning of this journey. (Teachers response: this is a strong argument, although needs more detailed analysis to strengthen its position. Later, the guests play party games like Blindman's Bluff and a guessing game called How, When, and Where. The very gold and silver fish, set forth among these choice fruits in a bowl, though members of a dull and stagnant-blooded race, appeared to know that there was something going on; and, to a fish, went gasping round and round their little world in slow and passionless excitement. Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. There never was such a goose. Their family is struggling and Tiny Tim, the youngest member of the Cratchit family, is crippled. Evidenced here "No. Brett is regularly troubled by severe bouts of depression, while Rennie went through a particularly bad time a few years ago, when . Bob had but fifteen bob a-week himself; he pocketed on Saturdays but fifteen copies of his Christian name; and yet the Ghost of Christmas Present blessed his four-roomed house. Once he does so his wife seems astonished as she says, A toast to him? (709). Showing the audience that Scrooge is starting to comprehend all the lives he has affected negatively. The two young Cratchits laughed tremendously at the idea of Peter's being a man of business; and Peter himself looked thoughtfully at the fire from between his collars, as if he were deliberating what particular investments he should favor, when he came into the receipt of that bewildering Income. Chemolithoautotrophic Campylobacterota are widespread and predominant in worldwide hydrothermal vents, and they are key players in the turnover of zero-valence sulfur. Tiny Tim is disabled and carries a crutch, but it does not dampen his joyful spirit. You have never seen the like of me before. exclaimed the Spirit. S Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Or, at least, for most people. They stop briefly at the deserted village "where Miners live, who labour in the bowels of the earth" to watch the workers enjoying a family party; then to the coast, where two lighthouse men exchange a Merry Christmas; then to a ship on the "black and heaving sea" where each sailor "hum[s] a Christmas tune." precious father. The poulterers shops were still half open, and the fruiterers were radiant in their glory. The gender gap in pay has remained relatively stable in the United States over the past 20 years or so. As Dickens explains, "They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the times" (page 54). The house fronts looked black enough, and the windows blacker, contrasting with the smooth white sheet of snow upon the roofs, and with the dirtier snow upon the ground; which last deposit had been ploughed up in deep furrows by the heavy wheels of carts and waggons; furrows that crossed and recrossed each other hundreds of times where the great streets branched off; and made intricate channels, hard to trace in the thick yellow mud and icy water. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016. They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbrokers. Bob Cratchit told them how he had a situation in his eye for Master Peter, which would bring in, if obtained, full five and sixpence weekly. Bob Cratchit said, and calmly too, that he regarded it as the greatest success achieved by Mrs Cratchit since their marriage. "to his wife and their guests, who are both entertained and annoyed. Horrified, Scrooge asks how the "wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable" children can be helped. Gentlemen of the free-and-easy sort, who plume themselves on being acquainted with a move or two, and being usually equal to the time-of-day, express the wide range of their capacity for adventure by observing that they are good for anything from pitch-and-toss to manslaughter; between which opposite extremes, no doubt, there lies a tolerably wide and comprehensive range of subjects. Bob arrives home soon after, carrying his youngest son, Tiny Tim, on his shoulder. Dickens presents the poor, hard working Cratchit family in a very positive light. In Scrooges past and present, his actions had not been admirable. In this passage, the tone of the paragraph is a tone of what Christmas is supposed to mean, gratefulness for what we are blessed with, and not having greed for more. Because Scrooge was able to experience the company of the ghosts of christmas past, present and future he positively changed his attitude and his outlook on life. The Last of The Spirits. (Teacher response: this quotation is awfully long compared to what youve done with it. This would affect the Victorian society as it would cause everyone to aspire to have a harmonious family like the Cratchits and especially around Christmas time. The spirit sits at the head of a giant table overflowing with a feast of "turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth cakes, and seething bowls of punch.". How does Dickens promote family and love in a Christmas Carol? As Scrooge and the spirit travel across the country, traveling farther and farther away from civilization, they are able to find the Christmas spirit everywhere: in a mining village, in a lighthouse, even on a ship in the middle of the ocean. The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party, which was not dispelled for full five minutes. All of the images on this page were created with QuoteFancy Studio. Martha, who was a poor apprentice at a milliners then told them what kind of work she had to do, and how many hours she worked at a stretch, and how she meant to lie abed tomorrow morning for a good long resttomorrow being a holiday she passed at home. Syndicate records of the Morgan financial firms, 18821933, STAVE II. Award-winning media studio. As he and spirit leave, Scrooge finds himself unable to look away from poor Tiny Tim smiling by the fire. Martha, who was a poor apprentice at a milliners, then told them what kind of work she had to do, and how many hours she worked at a stretch, and how she meant to lie abed to-morrow morning for a good long rest; to-morrow being a holiday she passed at home. The children drank the toast after her. In regards to the notion that "Ebenezer Scrooge is difficult to like, but easy to understand" this is generally true if an individual has had a fair amount of life experience. And at the same time there emerged from scores of bye- streets, lanes, and nameless turnings, innumerable people, carrying their dinners to the baker shops. Aaliyah_a_r. Nobody knows it better than you do, poor fellow. In time the bells ceased, and the bakers were shut up; and yet there was a genial shadowing forth of all these dinners and the progress of their cooking, in the thawed blotch of wet above each bakers oven; where the pavement smoked as if its stones were cooking too.

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