ACC - regret Flashcards
(5 cards)
Introduction
A Christmas Carol is a powerful allegorical novella written in 1843, exploring the human transformation of the protagonist, Scrooge. Dickens presents regret as a central emotional consequence of Scrooge’s past choices, using the structured visits from three spirits to gradually reveal the depth of his remorse and the life he could have lived.
Paragraph 1 - Belle
When revisiting his past, Belle accuses him of replacing her with “a golden one,” a metaphor that presents money as a false idol, which may disturb the reader as it suggests greed has replaced Scrooge’s morality. The use of religious language here implies that Scrooge’s devotion to wealth has become a kind of worship, displacing genuine human connection. This moment is pivotal, as it reveals the personal cost of his greed—not just the loss of Belle, but the loss of the life they might have shared. Scrooge is aware of this as he exclaims “Spirit! Remove me from this place!” revealing his regret and sorrow. Dickens suggests that greed robs individuals of the life they could have lived, leading to immense regret.
Paragraph 2 - Cratchit’s future
Regret is also shown through Scrooge’s reaction to the Cratchit family’s future. When he sees the death of Tiny Tim, he becomes visibly distressed, asking, “Say he will be spared.” This plea shows that Scrooge regrets his past indifference to the poor, especially his treatment of Bob Cratchit. The emotional impact of this vision forces him to confront the consequences of his actions, suggesting that regret can be a catalyst for change.
Paragraph 3 - Scrooge’s death
Finally, Dickens uses the vision of Scrooge’s own death to intensify his regret. The businessmen’s cold remark “It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral” is laced with irony. Despite his wealth, Scrooge dies unloved and unmourned. Scrooge is horrified by this future, begging the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come to show him that these events are not fixed. His desperation reflects deep regret for the life he has led and a desire to make amends before it is too late. Dickens forces the reader to reflect on their own lives and ensure they fulfill it with no regrets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dickens presents regret as a painful but necessary emotion that drives Scrooge’s transformation. Through Dickens judiciously deciding to structure the novella around three ghostly visits, each revealed a different layer of Scrooge’s regret and helped prompt his transformation.
