In “A Christmas Carol” by novelist Charles Dickens, there is the use of characters to effectively create an allegory. An allegory is writing or interpretive piece that has been constructed in a way that can be understood in its hidden meaning. Three examples of this are the three Spirits Scrooge meets: The Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Each of these characters have certain allegorical traits and each trait is meant to help teach the lessons represented by the Spirits. The Ghost of Christmas Past represents the power of memory through his glowing appearance and the scenes he shows Scrooge. On the other hand, the Ghost of Christmas Present represents the goodness of Christmas
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On the whole, this literary classic is often considered an allegory due to the fact that the characters possess certain traits that are not meant to be understood as real people.
In context of the novel, the Ghost of Christmas Past is meant to represent memory, or the past, because his appearance and the traits he possesses are strongly tied to it. When Scrooge first meets this Spirit, he is shocked by the appearance, a mix of young and old features. The Ghost has some characteristics from each stage of a person’s life, which represents the passage of time. For example, the Spirit has the white stray hair of an old man, toned muscles of a young adolescent and the youthful face of a child. Other than that, the Ghost has a fairy-like illuminated crown which beams out as a clear ray of light. The pureness of this light suggests the glow that may come from recalling memories. His general character has a mild and soft feeling to it, which, once again, may come from the revisiting of memories. Just as read in the novel, Scrooge was very …show more content…
Scrooge feels intimidated by this Spirit, unlike his reactions towards the other two Ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents death and fear. His appearance first gives off a frigid impression from his bony hands, tall figure and unrecognizable black robes. In addition, his face is not visible, and he seems to be shrouded in darkness. These pieces of imagery easily tell the reader that this Ghost’s representation is something dark, cold and frightening. What the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge also confirms the character of death. Scrooge sees several scenes where people laugh and mock the death of a selfish and unloved man, though he considers the talks “trivial” and feels he has nothing to do with it. Eventually, upon noticing no emotion shown for the death of this man, Scrooge begins to feel sorry for the man without knowing that it is himself. This ultimate realization provides a dramatic-irony twist to the novel and once again pronounces the Spirit’s character. The allegory form of this Ghost is the most easy to detect because of the last haunting scene that Scrooge sees. It is when he is taken to see the grave of the dead man, but sees his own name printed on the headstone. When Scrooge finally understood the last judgement that had been made for his death in the future, we can be sure that the Spirit represents death and
On the whole, this literary classic is often considered an allegory due to the fact that the characters possess certain traits that are not meant to be understood as real people.
In context of the novel, the Ghost of Christmas Past is meant to represent memory, or the past, because his appearance and the traits he possesses are strongly tied to it. When Scrooge first meets this Spirit, he is shocked by the appearance, a mix of young and old features. The Ghost has some characteristics from each stage of a person’s life, which represents the passage of time. For example, the Spirit has the white stray hair of an old man, toned muscles of a young adolescent and the youthful face of a child. Other than that, the Ghost has a fairy-like illuminated crown which beams out as a clear ray of light. The pureness of this light suggests the glow that may come from recalling memories. His general character has a mild and soft feeling to it, which, once again, may come from the revisiting of memories. Just as read in the novel, Scrooge was very …show more content…
Scrooge feels intimidated by this Spirit, unlike his reactions towards the other two Ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents death and fear. His appearance first gives off a frigid impression from his bony hands, tall figure and unrecognizable black robes. In addition, his face is not visible, and he seems to be shrouded in darkness. These pieces of imagery easily tell the reader that this Ghost’s representation is something dark, cold and frightening. What the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge also confirms the character of death. Scrooge sees several scenes where people laugh and mock the death of a selfish and unloved man, though he considers the talks “trivial” and feels he has nothing to do with it. Eventually, upon noticing no emotion shown for the death of this man, Scrooge begins to feel sorry for the man without knowing that it is himself. This ultimate realization provides a dramatic-irony twist to the novel and once again pronounces the Spirit’s character. The allegory form of this Ghost is the most easy to detect because of the last haunting scene that Scrooge sees. It is when he is taken to see the grave of the dead man, but sees his own name printed on the headstone. When Scrooge finally understood the last judgement that had been made for his death in the future, we can be sure that the Spirit represents death and