“Influence is simply a transference of personality, a mode of giving away what is most precious to one’s self, and its exercise produces a sense, and, it may be, a reality of loss. Every disciple takes away something from his master” (Bloom 6). I disagree with Harold Bloom’s claim when trying to apply it to A Christmas Carol because the narrative is so unique and there are very little examples of works he was influenced by. A Christmas Carol is also the novel that inspired many film and movie adaptations so it is the item that influence other works. Although all these statements are true, Dickens’ novel definitely contains examples of influence from previous works.
One aspect that makes A Christmas Carol unique is the presence of the three …show more content…
Marley appears to Scrooge originally as a doorknocker to scare Scrooge. This scene is very innovative because it introduces the ghosts and supernatural forces to the reader as abruptly as the ghosts are introduced to Scrooge. Marley also serves as a second narrator to the story because he dictates what will appear to Scrooge throughout the night. Dickens was innovative by adding chains to Marley and the other ghosts outside Scrooge’s window because the chains represent how being greedy in life will hold you back in the afterlife. The chains are something the ghosts must drag around and are a constant reminder that they will never be free due to their selfish …show more content…
This unique inclusion of Tiny Tim is used to be an example of all the quotes Scrooge said to the Ghost of Christmas Past. When Scrooge asked things such as “Are there no prisons?” and “decrease the surplus population” (Dickens 10), he wasn’t thinking of any specific person which is why it was so easy to say those words. Once Scrooge was informed that Tiny Tim would not live for next Christmas, Scrooge immediately regretted the things he said because those words applied to someone he knows. Bloom’s argument applies here because regretting an action isn’t a new thing that Dickens created.
Overall, there are elements in A Christmas Carol that are influenced by other writings or social influences and Dickens included them in his novel. However, the main thing that opposes Bloom’s claim is how Dickens decided to “haunt” Scrooge in the book. Instead of doing something like a dream or flashbacks, he used ghosts to make this haunting an outerbody experience and directly show him his previous, current, and future actions and how they affect him and others. By doing this, Dickens created a timeless piece that has been adapted for years because of its
One aspect that makes A Christmas Carol unique is the presence of the three …show more content…
Marley appears to Scrooge originally as a doorknocker to scare Scrooge. This scene is very innovative because it introduces the ghosts and supernatural forces to the reader as abruptly as the ghosts are introduced to Scrooge. Marley also serves as a second narrator to the story because he dictates what will appear to Scrooge throughout the night. Dickens was innovative by adding chains to Marley and the other ghosts outside Scrooge’s window because the chains represent how being greedy in life will hold you back in the afterlife. The chains are something the ghosts must drag around and are a constant reminder that they will never be free due to their selfish …show more content…
This unique inclusion of Tiny Tim is used to be an example of all the quotes Scrooge said to the Ghost of Christmas Past. When Scrooge asked things such as “Are there no prisons?” and “decrease the surplus population” (Dickens 10), he wasn’t thinking of any specific person which is why it was so easy to say those words. Once Scrooge was informed that Tiny Tim would not live for next Christmas, Scrooge immediately regretted the things he said because those words applied to someone he knows. Bloom’s argument applies here because regretting an action isn’t a new thing that Dickens created.
Overall, there are elements in A Christmas Carol that are influenced by other writings or social influences and Dickens included them in his novel. However, the main thing that opposes Bloom’s claim is how Dickens decided to “haunt” Scrooge in the book. Instead of doing something like a dream or flashbacks, he used ghosts to make this haunting an outerbody experience and directly show him his previous, current, and future actions and how they affect him and others. By doing this, Dickens created a timeless piece that has been adapted for years because of its