Christmas Carol Allegory – a Change of Heart
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A Change of Heart
Novella-a type of prose, more complex than a short story, but not as complex as a novel; more linear and straightforward in plot development-a short novel. “A Christmas Carol” is a novella crafted by Charles Dickens in his time of crisis. In order to come out of his major debt, Dickens crafted a timeless novella highlighting the major political issues taking place in society. Charles Dickens, a 19th-century writer was a world renown writer who spent his life writing novellas and crafting newspaper articles. Born in 1812, his early life was spent in the Blacking Warehouse working ten hours daily not receiving high school education. In his adolescent years of writing, he began as a newspaper writer with his debut article, “The Pickwick Papers”. In 1843, Charles Dickens began crafting his timeless novella, “A Christmas Carol” where he expanded on the corruption present in society during his time. Incorporating injustices of the time, he reflected the sins of society into his own characters with the crass protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens incorporates allegory-a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one in order to enhance his characters and make them relatable to the audience at the time. Throughout the story, Scrooge encounters three ghosts which help him come to the epiphany that comes with his change of heart The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. While Ebenezer Scrooge is a crass and boorish shop owner, The Ghost of Christmas Present is a jolly spirit representing generosity and jubilance.
Ebenezer Scrooge, a stuck up store owner with a merciless heart filled with greed. Where his only goal is to gain a profit, he continues to loan money out to the less fortunate at an unpayable interest. Ebenezer Scrooge is both the protagonist and antagonist in “A Christmas Carol” as he is the main character but is haunted by his past and his inner thoughts. Scrooge is a dynamic character as he experiences an epiphany at the end of the novella with his change of heart towards the poor and Christmas itself. ”The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.” Scrooge’s appearance is mirrored to the bitter winter conditions in Victorian London. He is portrayed with sharp features compared to the iciness in his soul and the weather during this time of the year. “External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty.” Being the victim of a harsh and lonely past, in his older years, Scrooge has grown to only care about money with no external conditions able to affect his cold heart. “What else can I be,” returned the uncle, “when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer…” At the beginning of the novella, Scrooge is portrayed as a greedy shop owner completely defying the meaning of Christmas; however he is able to have a change of heart and eventually enjoy the merry season. After experiencing the knowledge of the three spirits, Scrooge comes to the realization that he hasn’t truly lived life and begins to recognize the Christmas spirit. Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge, Severus Snape never had the time to enjoy the Christmas season or the time to undergo a change of heart. Being a strict, stingy, cold-hearted professor at Hogwarts, Snape and Scrooge could almost be brothers. With their dark outfits and unflinching personalities, their appearances and personality are purposely mirrored. Constantly handing out punishments and chasing people after money, both Snape and Scrooge enjoy seeing other people struggle and are only interested in their personal gain.
Being the second ghost to visit Scrooge, the Ghost of Christmas Present is the jolly spirit who helps Scrooge see the dire conditions of his “friends” and family. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a flat character as he doesn’t undergo any significant change with his main role being to help Scrooge have a change of heart. Only being present in one stave of the novella, little information is provided about its actual personality and it can be inferred that he is meant to represent the Christmas spirit and