GCSE English lit 1

Analyse the impact of the supernatural.



Throughout the novel, scrooge is positively helped by the supernatural, reforming and giving him a chance at redemption in his life. This is shown when Dickens says, ‘the spirits of all three shall strive within me.’ Here Dickens uses imperative language to suggest how Scrooge is confident he will change his negative and miserly ways. This is effective because it suggests how scrooge has come to realisation on how he has lived his life being old, snobby and tight fisted, and is now set on changing his ways, and becoming a new person.  Furthermore, the word ‘strive’ displays how scrooge wants to strive forward into becoming a new person, which is further shown when he donates to tiny Tim and the Cratchits family, helping save tiny Tim's life. As a result, the supernatural helps scrooge transforms into a more warm-hearted, jolly version of himself.

Dickens shows Scrooge as being inconsiderate, ignorant and uncaring, until the ghosts come around, not paying any attention or respect to those living in harsher conditions. This is perfectly imitated when Dickens writes ‘smooth white sheet of snow upon the roofs, dirtier snow upon the ground.’ Here Scrooge uses pathetic fallacy to describe the wealthy lifestyle as smooth and protected, while juxtaposing that with the poor lifestyle, describing that as dirty and unprotected. The use of weather further helps paint a picture, linking to the theme of Christmas and how snow is linked with Christmas. The word ‘dirtier’ links to poverty in the 19th century, and how most poor people were forced into doing manual labour and working in factories, as the industrial revolution was up and coming in this time, so people were fixing machinery and doing hard manual labour, for little to no money, so they could attempt to supply their families. Linking back to the main idea that Scrooge does not realise what is going on and is ignorant and careless towards those with less wealth.

Scrooge is given a flashback by the ghost of Christmas past to when he parted ways with Belle, showing how money got in the way, and he spend more time worshipping money and gold then Belle, putting money Infront of his love. This is backed up when Belle says, ‘another idol has displaced me... a golden one.’ Here Dickens uses symbolism, this portrays wealth and money through the word Gold, hinting that Scrooge’s main priority is wealth and does not worship belle to the extent he worships money and wealth. The word ‘idol’ suggests how Scrooge idolises money more than love. This links to patriarchy in the 19th century, Belle in the quote is almost asking scrooge to worship her, which wasn’t a very masculine or patriarchal thing to do, and instead Scrooge was focused on worshipping money. Therefor re-iterating how he is being reminded about how he chose wealth over Love.

The three spirits of Christmas are described to have a positive impact on scrooge, turning him from a miserly, selfish and money hungry old man into a generous, warm-hearted gentleman. This is further shown when Scrooge says, ‘A merry Christmas to everybody!’ here Dickens shows some key character development in Scrooge, and how he has transformed from hating Christmas, declining Fred’s invitation to spend time with family on Christmas into having a much warmer insight onto Christmas, donating a turkey to the Cratchits and wishing everyone a merry Christmas, something scrooge would not of dreamed of doing earlier in the novel. The word ‘everybody’ suggests how Scrooge has changed from judging people based on wealth, appearance and beliefs into someone who does not judge people and instead wishes the best to everyone, no matter what situation they are in. This links back to the point that the spirits of Christmas have all played a big part into exposing Scrooge to himself and his past, so he can become a new person.