The Theme Of Family In Charles Dickenss A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens weaves the theme of family, and all of its aspects, throughout his novel titled A Christmas Carol to create a compelling reminder of the value of perspective. The book’s main character, Scrooge, finds himself on a journey guided by three spirits, a journey which eventually serves to forever change his perspective on life. Dickens skillfully incorporates various pictures of family dynamics through all three of his â€Å"spirits†: The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas present, and the Ghost of Christmas yet to Come, evoking sentimental feelings in both the main character, Scrooge, and the reader. This story communicates the simple yet profound message that family, love, and kindness (all of which are commonly†¦show more content†¦Interestingly, this scene powerfully portrays the overarching theme of the book by illustrating what can happen when we compromise our perspectives. Following this bitter blow, the Ghost of Christmas Present leads Scrooge on a tour of two more families: that of his nephew and of his clerk. The vision of Scrooge’s clerk’s family – the Cratchits – paints an intricate example of the beauty of family. As Dickens explains, â€Å"They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty†¦ But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the times†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (page 54). The Cratchits possessed minimal earthly wealth, and even had an ill son, yet they displayed incredible joy! The joy, warmth, affection, and laughter surrounding the Cratchits’ Christmas celebration brought Scrooge to the realization that the â€Å"Christmas spirit† does not depend on any material possessions, or even on situations. Joy is a choice, and that choice is made easier when we are surrounded by the ones we love. The vision of Scrooge’s nephew serves to awaken Sc rooge to the fact that he himself had a family that would gladly welcome him. The nephew, in explaining to his family why he faithfully invited Scrooge to the celebration, said, â€Å"I mean to give him the same chance everyShow MoreRelatedCharles Dickens s Life And Life878 Words   |  4 PagesCharles Dickens was an adored, creative and respected British author of several literary pieces that are at this time are referred as classics. He was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth which is located on the southern coast of England. Charles Dickens had a very rough upbringing. He didn’t have the ordinary life a child has. Between seven brothers and sisters he was the second born. His parents raised them together until his father whose name was John had accumulating amounts of debts whichRead MoreA Lack of Charity Essay example1718 Words   |  7 PagesIn Charles Dickens’s books, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol, the theme of lack of charity is pronounced. Throughou t Oliver Twist, society turns a â€Å"cold shoulder† to those in need of help (Miller 30). The Victorian England society prohibits inhabitants of the lower social realms from moving up in society. Rarely do lower class members receive attention, and the attention they do receive is far from par (Reeves). Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character of A Christmas Carol, learns to be charitableRead MoreScrooge in A Christmas Carol2375 Words   |  10 Pages In a time in which the significance of Christmas gradually started to change, Charles Dickens, in accordance with these changes, wrote a Christmas tale: A Christmas Carol. The novella was published six days in advance of the Christmas celebrations of 1843; it was sold out three days later. Although a socially engaged narrative, Dickens’ work is not occupied with trivialities such as the introduction of Christmas cards; instead A Christmas Carol focuses on the transforming beliefs and valuesRead MoreThe Symbols Of A Christmas Lessol : A Christmas Carol1818 Words   |  8 PagesA Christmas Carol was published relatively early in his career, appearing in 1843 when Dickens was 31. The tale is one of a series of short stories on a subject that had long preoccupied its author: the importance of celebrating Christmas. One of Dickenss earliest published works was a defense of this holiday against its enemies, both religious, and irreligious. The former objected to the pagan unse emliness of feasting and frolicking in celebration of the birth of Christ. The latter objected toRead MoreVictorian Ghost Stories Nearly Always Encompass Family1361 Words   |  6 PagesStories nearly always encompass family life in some way or another. One reason for this may be to emphasize how abnormal a ghostly figure or hauntings really are within the story and get readers thinking, what would happen if that was happening to them? Making the stories feel more realistic to a Victorian readership. Family life within the era was held as one of the most important aspects of their day to day lives, therefore it is only natural for the theme of family to be present throughout manyRead MoreThe Main Contributions to Charles Dickens Popularity1592 Words   |  6 Pagesundeniable classics, many works of which we continue to read to this day. One author from this period, however, stands out in all respects of the word. His personal life, written works, and social commentary attribute to the widespread popularity that Charles Dickens managed to accumulate even after his death. He has been the subject of countless hours of research, studies, and literary critiques; regardless of one’s personal opinion, it is impossible to doubt the significance of Dickens and his entireRead MoreDickens Use of Language and Structure to Build Up a Picture of the Joy of Christmas Present1022 Words   |  5 PagesPicture of the Joy of Christmas Present I’m going to analyse stave 3 of a Christmas carol, Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth in 1812. In 1836 Dickens published the first part in a serialisation called The Posthumous papers of the Pickwick club better known as The Pickwick papers. In 1843 he wrote his first and most famous Christmas story, A Christmas Carol. Victorians in those times, a lot of them lived in poverty, and they were lots of large families living in one houseRead MoreAnalysis Of Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, And A Tale Of Two Cities2379 Words   |  10 PagesOliver’s Twisted Story In February of 1837, Charles Dickens’s first installment of Oliver Twist was published. These installments continued to be published monthly until April of 1839. London during this time period was split almost directly down the middle, the upper class and the lower class, the middle being almost nonexistent. In the nineteenth century, the English government was ran adjacent with the church, although the harsh truth of lower class cruelty corrupts this image. The country, despiteRead More Charles Dickens Essay2085 Words   |  9 PagesCharles Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens was born February 7, 1812, in Ports Mouth, Hampshire. In his infancy his family moved to Chatham, where he spent his happiest years and often refers to this time in his novels (1817-1822). From 1822 to 1860 he lived in London, after which he permanently moved to a quiet country cottage in Glads Hill, on the outskirts of Chatham. He grew up in a middle class family. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office and was well paid, but hisRead MoreEssay on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens3534 Words   |  15 PagesA Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Introduction Charles Dickens was born in Landport, Hampshire, in 1812 and died in 1870. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office and family life was occasionally hard, especially when his father had to go to the debtors prison. The young twelve year old Charles became the main money-maker in the family at this time and worked in a blocking factory. Charles father was released a year later and Charles was able to go to school. After school

A Utopia And Dystopia By George Orwell - 1831 Words

The concept of a utopia and dystopia is fascinating because they exist in both stories and real life and can be either based on a person’s ideals or perspective. A utopia is a situation in which the perfect ideals of a person or society are created or maintained. This situation can be real or imaginary as long as the person believes that they are equally happy. In contrast, a dystopia is a state in which an environment is extremely unfair and unjust, typically caused by oppression and dictatorship. In the book 1984, the citizens believe that they are living in a utopia because of the brainwashing of the party. The truth of this society is that the people are oppressed so much that an illusion of a utopia is created. In actuality, this society is deprived of their privacy, freedom of thought and information. Winston is the only person to realize that the society he lives in is a dystopia. He frequently points out the psychological manipulation, totalitarianism and the control o f history and language. In comparison, the characteristics of the society in 1984 closely resemble the dystopian characteristics of Jonestown. For one thing the citizens of both societies believe that they are living in a utopia following a tyrant. Another characteristic both societies have in common is the brainwashing of its citizens to obey their leader through the means of propaganda. There is only the illusion of a utopia in 1984 and Jonestown, thus the reality of the situation is that a utopia isShow MoreRelatedDystopia And Utopia In Animal Farm, By George Orwell980 Words   |  4 Pagesto attain. The story Animal Farm by George Orwell is an excellent example of why this goal is always out of reach. The animals wanted to create a better society for themselves where all are equal; nevertheless, as the story progressed, they ended up becoming the very dystopia they were trying to escape. The animals realized this at the end when â€Å"they looked from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which† (Orwell 97). How is it possible to start a societyRead More1984 Dystopia Analysis1539 Words   |  7 Pagessomething great could be another worst nightmare. In some cases people mistake utopias for dystopias. A utopia is an ideal place of state or living (â€Å"Utopia†). A dystopia is a society of characterized by human misery, a squalor, oppression, disease, or overcrowding (â€Å"Dystopia†). In George Orwell’s book 1984 the society is depicted as a utopia when in reality it’s not the perfect place, it’s written to represent a dystopia. It takes place in 1984 in a dystopian America where it’s actually called â€Å"Ocieana†Read MoreUtopia As A Dystopia1190 Words   |  5 Pagesutopian world, but it isn’t always what people think. A utopia is described as â€Å"an imaginary and indefinitely remote place; a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions; an impractical scheme for social improvement† (â€Å"Utopia†). However, a dystopia is described as â€Å"an imagined state or place in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one† (â€Å"Dystopia†). George Orwell’s purpose in writing 1984 was to warn the modernRead MoreUtopia Vs Dystopia1530 Words   |  7 Pagesdystopian literature than in the real world. A dystopia is defined as â€Å"a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding† (â€Å"Dystopia†). Many dystopias brainwash their people into believing the laws and regulations that are set in that country are normal. Unfortunately, dystopias are commonly ruled by a leader who is unjust and uses his or her power to a dangerous and unlawful extent. In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the citizens of Oceania are forced into blindlyRead MoreUtopia Vs Dystopian Society1473 Words   |  6 Pagesand that mean s that not only have utopias been created but that dystopias have arrised. Each one is set and planned to be a utopia that only ends up taking another course and turning into a dystopian society. Utopia simply means â€Å"an ideal place or state†, where as a dystopia is the opposite (â€Å"utopia†). Dystopias is â€Å"a society characterized by human misery, as squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding† (â€Å"dystopia†). Utopias usually end up becoming dystopias because everyone has their own visionRead MoreA Utopia By George Orwell1477 Words   |  6 Pagescharacteristics of the society that americans live in now demonstrate a utopia, therefore, they also demonstrate a dystopia. A utopia is a perfect world in which there are no problems like war, disease, poverty, oppression, discrimination, inequality, and more universal problems existing. A dystopia is a world in which nothing is perfect. Problems are extreme things are dysfunctional and proble matic. A utopia does not turn into a dystopia until the people living in that society do not live authentic livesRead MoreIndian Version of Big Brother, Big Boss, Derived from George Orwells Novel, 19841097 Words   |  5 PagesBoss is in fact the Indian cousin of ‘Big Brother’, the internationally popular original show where contestants are closely monitored by cameras in the house and personal microphones. The term ‘Big Brother’ and the basic idea behind it originate from George Orwell’s novel 1984(NineteenEighty-Four) published first in 1949. Written in 1949 and set in 1984, the book is a futuristic view of a totalitarian society of Oceania that is present day Great Britian. The Queen is no longer the ruler of Britian. ItRead MoreLiterary Context Of Dystopian Literature1746 Words   |  7 Pageshave the same belief of a dystopian society, such is namely seen in Brave New World where people’s opinions between a dystopia and a utopia differ . One person’s utopia could be another person’s dystopia. Originating from the Greek prefix ou and suffix topos; the genre of dystopia can be translated into bad place however, it is more commonly known as dystopia or just simply anti-utopia. It is a fairly modern genre and is used by authors to criticize the many problems and political issues of the timeRead More1984 Analysis Essay631 Words   |  3 Pagesstrength. In George Orwells 1984, a light is shining on the concept of a negative utopia, or dystopia caused by totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is, a form of government in which political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of lifeÂ… and any opposing political and/or cultural expressions are suppressed. Having lived in a time of totalitarianism regime, Orwell had a firsthand account of its horrific lengths and negative affects. Within 1984, Orwell derives aspectsRead MoreUtopia And Dystopia By Thomas More1472 Words   |  6 Pages Utopia and dystopia are two main narrative platforms that have been employed as vehicles for demonstrating social fabric of the society. They are constituents of speculative fiction which allows historians to evade some contentious facts of the past in order to create a new world. Notably, these terminologies have stood the test of time and they have proved to be paramount tools for affecting change in the society. Utopia is a Greek word which refers to no place. Since inception by Thomas More

Rustlers of Panther Gap Essay Example For Students

Rustlers of Panther Gap Essay By: Chris Harms The Rustlers of Panther Gap by Gilbert Morris is a Story of a boy who is determined to help his Indian Friends. The kids at school treat Hawk and Robin Leatherwood rotten, just because theyre Indians. When the Buck brothers stand up for their friends, they Become a target, too. Whats even worse, someone is Cutting down Mr. Leatherwoods valuable black walnut Trees and making off with wood! The sheriff and his deputies say theyre doing all They can, but they keep coming up empty-handed. Finally, the Bucks have had enough! Somebodys got to Catch the no-good, rotten, sneaky thief, and they figure It might as well be them! So Jake hatches a scheme. All Barney has to do is use Joes newest invention-the Amazing flying Solarcycle-to play detective from the Air! About a week after they had a plan and decided on what they were going to do, more trouble comes along. A couple of no good boys (the Dursleys) start to interrupt their plans by ruining their Solarcycle and starting fights with Barney and Jake. But that wont stop them, they decide to take off anyway. One evening after Barney had taken off with the Solarcycle and had cruised around above the trees for about an hour or so, Barney spotted something, he couldnt really get a good view so he decided to move in for a closer look. That was all he needed! He spotted the criminals, it was the S******, Barney was shocked! Right when he was about to turn around a bullet ripped through the Solarcycles wing. It was too late; the Solarcycle was spinning dangerously towards the ground. He hit the ground and was knocked out. The next thing he knew he woke up laying down and the s****** leaning over him. Suddenly the s****** was pointing a gun at his head and said he was going to kill him for spying on him. When suddenly lights appeared all over and voices said, Back away from the kid, put your hands above your head! And he did so, and everyone lived happily ever after except for the S******. THE END Word Count: 357

Utilitarianism The Survival Lottery Essays - Social Philosophy

Utilitarianism: The Survival Lottery It is better to give than to receive . I believe I was about nine years old when I heard that statement for the first time . It was in church. It was one of those things that I randomly chose to hear while sitting in church every Sunday. Normally anything that was said in that building never made sense to me and I never had any use for retaining it. This time however something did make sense to me. Perhaps it was because my parents had been telling me that same thing except in a more ambiguous and indirect manner. Isaac you should share your toys; Isaac why don't you give your food to your sister if you don't want it?; Isaac get your old toys and clothes together so you can donate them to the Salvation Army. So as I grew up I had a somewhat strong belief that it was better to give than to receive. I am now nineteen years of age and I have come to see that what I heard in that church ten years ago isn't always necessarily the true. Harris claims utilitarianism as the basis of his idea , and in the actual context and definition of the term he is correct . According to Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, ? 1996 Utilitarianism is defined as the doctrine that utility is the sole standard of morality, so that the rectitude of an action is determined by its usefulness. Jeremy Bentham who is known as the founder of this theory elaborates that laws should be socially useful and the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the foundation of morals and legislation. Harris' idea in essence follows the Guidelines of utilitarianism. The idea is advantageous to man as whole because of the fact that it maximizes the number of lives saved. If this plan that Harris has were to be implemented there definitely would be a great number of lives saved everyday . Opponents of the Survival Lottery might speak of the utilitarian solution in a disparaging tone. Harris could argue the fact that utilitarianism is a demanding moral position that often asks us to put aside self-interest for the rest of society . Morality is about producing good consequences, not having good intentions, so we should think more along the lines of doing whatever will bring the most benefit to all of humanity. Utilitarianism is concerned about consequences, not intentions. Harris' idea of removing organs from people and donating them to the people who need them seems to be a utilitarianist view in nature , but it doesn't agree with what Bentham believed, which was that we should try to increase the overall amount of pleasure in the world. Harris' view doesn't increase pleasure. Instead it seems to bring pain. For the families and friends of the lottery winners there is an extreme amount of pain and discomfort. There is an argument that it cannot possibly be right to take the life of a human being. A strong argument against the Survival Lottery is that it is a violation to the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which condemns cruel and unusual punishment. How can murder not be immoral? Citizens under a social contract, agree not to kill only because others also agree not to kill. It is the function of penal laws to prevent murder by demonstrating to society that it is not in their best interest to murder. The term utilitarianism is specifically applied to the proposition that the highest objective of a moral action is the achievement of the greatest happiness for the greatest number. Usually the utilitarian theory of ethics is opposed to ethical doctrines often brought into question by that inner sense called the conscience. As a result Utilitarianism generally disagrees with the view that moral decisions depend on the will of God. Certainly there are things in life that are irreplaceable , such as ?Life. What Harris is suggesting that we sacrifice a few lives to preserve many more. The question that is being asked is such: Is it morally correct to take something that is as precious and irreplaceable as a life from someone