How is Scrooge presented and how does he change in the novel?
Throughout this novel, Dickens presents Scrooge in various ways and we see Scrooge's gradual transformation which is influenced by the ghosts. First Scrooge starts as a selfish miser and towards the end he becomes incorporated into society.
Initially Scrooge is presented to be isolated and selfish. This is shown when Dickens uses a simile to compare Scrooge to be as "solitary as an oyster". This could imply the self-containment of Scrooge as he wishes to detach himself from the rest of society and the word "oyster" could reference Scrooge's hard exterior towards others and how he wants to keep a private life. An oyster also contains a pearl, the pearl could symbolise Scrooge's wealth, therefore the comparison to an oyster emphasises his reluctance to share his wealth and the lack of generosity he has. This is further shown in the first stave when he avoids his social responsibility and refuses to donate money to charity. Instead he says that he "helped support" the "workhouses” and questions the charity collectors if they have "no prisons or workhouses". As a result of this we see that Scrooge personally feels that the resolution to poverty was by paying taxes to support these horrendous institutions, which Dickens would have experienced. Dickens does this to show the attitudes of the upper classes on the poor and to show that the lack of charity and involvement by the rich is the direct cause of poverty, thus Dickens is criticising the poor law of 1833 and sharing his views that being forced to go to the workhouse is a bad idea. Another reason why Scrooge refuses to share his wealth is because he believes that the poor “better die to decrease the surplus population. This expression illustrates how Scrooge is adopting the idea of Malthus, and highlights the immoral selfishness of the rich. Since the reader at the time would be shocked about this statement and thus made to realise that keeping the resources to themselves and forcing the poor into prisons is immoral and wrong. However later on in this novel, the wrongness of this idea is shown to Scrooge.
Dickens uses pathetic fallacy and weather to describe how unemotional Scrooge is. Dickens describes that the "cold had little influence on Scrooge", the word "cold" has the connotations of pain and cold-heartedness. Therefore this emphasises the extent of Scrooges cruelty that he has reached the absolute limit. Therefore he cannot be influenced to change, Dickens may have done this to foreshadow Scrooges transformation later on in the novel and to show that something big must have changed Scrooges views. Dickens also uses the comparative to say that the "wind blew bitterer" than Scrooge. This highlights Scrooges negativity and how he has an angry and negative outlook on the world. The "wind" also was another cause of suffering to the poor, and therefore this could imply that Scrooge is responsible for the pain he has caused.
Dickens also uses Christmas to show how Scrooge doesn't fit into society. This is seen when Scrooge "did not thaw it one degree at Christmas", Christmas during Victorian times was seen as an important festival given that Christianity was dominant in Britain. Christmas was also celebrated by the upper classes such as Queen Victoria putting her family on Christmas cards. Therefore the reader at the time would see this to be an unusual act and will get the impression that Scrooge has no moral values, he is missing the values of forgiveness, charity and kindness. The fact that he did not "thaw it one degree" expresses how he does not appreciate the traditions of society nor will he ever show the slightest of care on any occasion, reinforcing the idea of his unchangeable character. The idea of Scrooge being isolated from society is shown through the repetition of "no". This is because "No beggars, no children no man and no eye" even looked at Scrooge. The repetition of the word
"no" could suggest the position of Scrooge in society and that he is rejected and out of place. It could alternatively show that he wants to avoid social responsibility by not getting involved. The fact that "Scrooge didn't care", chose that he has purposely chosen to inflict a negative atmosphere and to not cooperate with society. He is therefore selfish enough to accept it without any concern amongst others. Dickens may have done this to show that those in power only care about their own opinion and are blind to see effect that they have on society. It also could show the repression of the working class and by not looking up to the ruling classes, it shows that the working classes have lost hope in them. Scrooge also detaches himself from his family, as he declines the opportunities to spend time with his family as he refuses to engage in a conversation with his nephew. Instead he repeats "good afternoon" four times. This shows the snobbish behaviour of Scrooge as the poor do not have the same chances and yet he is rejecting them himself. Scrooge also overlooks family and says that he would rather "retire to bedlam" to see his clerk find happiness in spending time with his "wife and family". Bedlam was a mental asylum, and therefore we see that Scrooge feels that the idea of family is insane and feels that money should be put first before family. This could possibly be because he doesn't appreciate love, as he "growls" at the fact that his nephew "found love". Thus we see that he scorns family and does not agree with it, in addition to this it shows that he show no emotion.