A Christmas Carol

741 Words3 Pages
Theme Analysis Throughout A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens there are multiple themes about life presented along with the tale of Ebenezer Scrooge. One of the themes that is particularly prominent is the theme of family. During the story, it is clear that a strong family is the key to true happiness. Amidst the novel, numerous families are present. From the impoverished Cratchit’s who can scarcely scrape together enough money for a sorrowful Christmas feast, to Fred, the nephew of Scrooge who is jovial, and lighthearted when he is surrounded by his dear friends and family. Scrooge is petulant and irritable, he refuses his nephew’s invitation to enjoy Christmas with his family. He has no…show more content…
On pages 101, and 104 Dickens states, “” You might have thought a goose the rarest of birds; a feathered phenomenon to which a black swan was matter of course- and in truth it was something very like it in that house.” and “Nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family. It would have been a flat heresy to do so. Any Cratchit would have blushed to hint at such a thing.”These quotes show the inadequate size of the Cratchit’s Christmas feast compared to the relative size of their family. Yet, even though the Cratchit’s can’t afford any better than a small goose, and a pitiful figgy pudding, they are rich in the fact that they rejoice in being together as a family. The Cratchit’s still delight in Christmas even though they are poor. Being assembled together as a family is precisely what matters to the Cratchit’s. They are jubilant because, they get to celebrate together as a family proving that a strong family is the key to true…show more content…
Fred, the nephew of Scrooge is also delighted to be with his family during the Christmas holidays. On page 115, Charles Dickens wrote “When Scrooge’s nephew laughed in this way: holding his sides, rolling his head, and twisting his face into the most extravagant contortions: Scrooge’s niece, by marriage, laughed as heartily as he. And their assembled friends being not a bit behindhand, roared out lustily.” Fred isn’t rolling in wealth, regardless he still revels in merriment with his friends and family on Christmas. Scrooge scorns his nephew for blessing Christmas even though it brings him no gold. (Dickens, 21.) Scrooge is deeply engrossed in pursuit of money, and is unaware that his family is making an effort to reach out to him, money is Scrooge’s life and he is yet to find happiness in his riches. Even though Fred is financially disadvantaged, he still discovers happiness with his family, once again showing that a strong family is they key to true
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