A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

Christmas CarolA secular story of Christmas time in an urban setting,

With a Christmas carol in mind, dickens set out to create a process in

the minds of the Americans imagination. As a result of the industrial

evolution and the growth of the families who were forced from their

homes in the country and into the city, a whole new lifestyle for

them? And as industrialization continued for many people in the city,

working conditions got no better. As this increased, the social

concern for reform also did. After the publication of the ‘Christmas

Carol’ the ideas and concerns for many reform bills, sparked and

increased debate over political and social issues. Whether or not

dickens has a Christmas carol in mind for this, but it is however

clear that the ‘industrial evolution’ has a greater part in making

this story a tale for the times.

Dickens was concerned with the working conditions of the people who

suffered whilst trying to make a living; this is reflected upon the

character of Ebenezer scrooge, a ghastly, old and mean owner who is

hated by almost everybody, even by his workers. He did not care for

them, or show them pity, he paid them minimum wage and if they didn’t

like it, it wouldn’t matter, they would resign and there would be a

queue for people wanting to work there as a replacement, scrooge

therefore saw it as no loss. He knew this because during the

industrial evolution there were more people than their were jobs, and

people back them had to grab anything they could get, whether or not

they would suffer or die earning their money, there were a limited

amount of jobs.

We also see scrooge making a rather harsh remark on the lives of the

poor, where we see two men knocking on scrooge’s door for donations.

He says that it would be alright for them to die as it would help the

population problem. Also we focus upon the character of Bob Cratchit,

who is one of scrooge’s workers. He is paid a meagre salary and can

barely afford to feed and care for his own family, his son is dieing

and he is too poor to afford proper medication for him. Even through

all this, he still manages to have a Christmas dinner with his family

and not let his situation destroy the spirit of Christmas. Bob

Cratchit represents the working class that do their best to live on

what they get paid and are thankful for their health.

While some still argue to this day that dickens motivation for the