Supernatural ( ghosts ) Flashcards
(7 cards)
Overview
Dickens uses the supernatural in his didactic novella A Christmas Carol as a vehicle to catalyse Scrooge’s journey toward redemption, with each ghost presented in a distinct and symbolic way. Marley’s ghost is portrayed as a tortured soul, bound by the consequences of his greed, serving as a cautionary figure who warns Scrooge of a similar fate. The Ghost of Christmas Past acts as a reflective force, guiding Scrooge through his memories to confront the root of his cold-heartedness. In contrast, the Ghost of Christmas Present embodies generosity and goodwill, using warmth and honesty to expose the impact of Scrooge’s selfishness on others. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come acts as a deterrent as it warns of the repercussions Scrooge will face if he fails to change his ways, ultimately pushing Scrooge to beg for transformation. During the Victorian era, when interest in the supernatural was growing due to a crisis in faith, Dickens likely used ghosts not only to engage readers but also to deliver a moral message in a compelling and imaginative way.
Beginning quotes
“The chain he drew was clasped about his middle… made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel.”
“in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole”
“I am here tonight to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate.”
“It was a strange figure—like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man…”
“A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.”
Middle quotes
“It was clothed in one simple green robe… its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand…”
“and they cling to me appealing from their fathers”
“If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.”
“are there no prisons … are there no workhouses”
Ending quotes
“The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached.”
“Ghost of the Future!… I fear you more than any spectre I have seen.”
“Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life!”
“I am not the man I was.”
“I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me.”
Beginning opening
At the beginning of the novella, Dickens presents the supernatural as both a terrifying warning and a gentle force of reflection, using Marley’s ghost and the Ghost of Christmas Past to start Scrooge’s transformation. Marley’s chains symbolise the punishment for greed, while the ghost of Christmas past uses emotional memories to confront Scrooge with the loneliness and loss that shaped his cold-heartedness.
Middle opening
As the novella progresses, Dickens introduces the Ghost of Christmas Present, presenting him as a warm and generous figure who reveals the joy of Christmas and the suffering caused by inequality, prompting Scrooge to confront his lack of empathy.
Ending opening
As the novella comes to a close, Dickens introduces the ghost fo christmas yet to come ; silent and ominous, representing fear and the inescapable consequences of Scrooge’s life choices, pushing him to fully embrace change. Dickens uses this ghost to terrify Scrooge with visions of his lonely death, forcing him to beg for redemption and make a sincere promise to live a better, more generous life.
