marley

Question 1

“I W T C I F I L I M I L B L”
- STAVE 1
- selfishness / materialism
- supernatural
- religion
- regret / redemption
- social injustice

Answer 1

“I wear the chain I forged in life …. I made it link by link”

• marley is symbolic of the eternal consequences of the pursuit of materialism - in his life on earth he shunned poverty , indulging in his avarice , thus in his afterlife he experiences spiritual poverty
• moreover , a chain symbolizes restriction & entrapment. Through marley “dragging” the chain, his chain is a conceit for the restricting & eternal consequences of being parsimonious & perpetuating social injustice
• he serves a cautionary tale not only to Scrooge but also to readers consumed by avarice, highlighting that redemption is inaccessible for those who prioritize materialistic pursuits over altruism

Question 2

“___ was my ____”
- STAVE 1
- selfishness / materialism
- social injustice
- regret
- kindness / family

Answer 2

mankind was my business

• Marley serves as dickens’ 1st mouthpiece , articulating the priority of a collective social conscience & compassion over materialistic concerns such as ‘business’ & money.
• juxtaposition highlights the irony of individuals like Scrooge , who conflate material wealth with societal value. Moreover it foreshadows the grim fate awaiting Scrooge if he fails to learn from the eternal punishment of Marley : being reduced to mere economic terms upon his death