Essay About Christmas Carol And Ebeneezer Scrooge

A Christmas Carol
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A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol, although occurring at a different time period than
today, still holds values and lessons that are important in society today. The
main character, Ebeneezer Scrooge, starts off having no feelings for others or
any Christmas spirit, but changes from his gloomy, dark appearance to a carefree,
child-like persona at the end. Dickens shows in A Christmas Carol that personal
greed will lead to peril, while kindness and generosity lead to personal
happiness.
One of Dickens social concerns was the lack of sympathy or feelings that
people have toward other people. In the story, Scrooge had no feelings toward
his family or friends and held a strictly professional relationship with them,
creating a hostile bond between them. For example, Bob Cratchits wife does not
like the idea have toasting to Scrooge because of the way he treats his long
time employee. Also, Scrooge is looked down upon by the charity collectors
because he simply states that they should die to accommodate the others who need
it. Secondly, society has a negative view on Scrooge because of his attitudes
and shows no feelings or compassion for Scrooge in the future. For example, the
thieves are able to steal Scrooges possessions because no body cares about
Scrooge or his things. Also, the businessmen that Scrooge does business with
regularly show no feelings about his death and go to his funeral simply for food.
Dickens shows a way to resolve the problem by simply treating others how you
want them to treat you. At the end Scrooges attitude changes and changes in
how society will treat him are shown to be inevitable.
Another social concern is the priority of family over money and personal
gains. Money proves to be the golden idol that is worshipped by the people in
the Christmas Carol, but also proves to destroy lives. For example, Scrooge
gives up a chance at having a loving family when he chooses money over his
girlfriend Belle, who turns out to have a happy family with another loving
husband. Also, Scrooges old business partner, Marley, put his life to waste
because of money and suffers pain in his afterlife which could have been easily
avoided. A Christmas Carol also shows that people can be happy without money,
just as long as the love is genuine. For example, Scrooges nephew married
happily not to a wealthy lady, but a middle class ordinary woman and are happy
together. Also Bob Cratchits family, despite poverty and lack of food, still
have a loving environment that keeps the family together and happy. Dickens
shows