A Christmas Carol — Symbols — CliffsNotes (2024)

FAQs

What do Marley's chains symbolize? ›

The chains that Marley drags with him in the afterlife are not mere symbols of his greed but also the weight of the choices he made. They represent the burden of regret. In this sense, Marley is a character who resonates deeply with many of us.

The Ghost of Christmas Past, with his glowing head symbolizing the mind, represents memory; the Ghost of Christmas Present represents generosity, empathy, and the Chri stmas spirit; and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the fear of death and moral reckoning.

Bob Cratchit--a small candle (to represent the dedicated employee who is forced to get what heat he can from the candle in front of him or the small, single coal in the fireplace. However, the light inside of him is never extinguished...he remains positive and full of life.) Young Scrooge--a book.

Dickens uses bells in the novella to symbolise judgement and as a call to moral awakening. Dickens uses music throughout the novella to symbolise unity and equality . The novella's title is symbolic of Dickens' hope for his message to be passed down from generation to generation.

One of the most well-known figures in all of literature, Tiny Tim is less a character and more a representation of the less fortunate, one who maintains a positive attitude and commitment to Christian ideals in spite of his dwindling health.

Fred by itself means “peace,” but its predecessors give it the meanings “elf counsel” and “peaceful ruler,” too. The leader of the gang in Scooby Doo is named Fred, as is the head of the Stone Age family in The Flintstones.

Peter and Martha Cratchit represent a generation of lost youth. They have had to sacrifice their childhoods to go to work in order to help their families survive. Dickens uses the motif of light to comment on Scrooge's hope and redemption.

This continues the ​motif of light​that was also illustrated by the Ghost of Christmas Past, presenting ​light as symbolic of positivity​and ​Christmas spirit​. Furthermore, “Plenty's horn”​, also referred to as 'cornucopia', is a symbol of ​abundance​in Greek and Roman mythology.

Food. The story uses characters' attitudes toward food to represent their attitudes towards Christmas, and also to signify the generosity and fellow-feeling the Christmas season invokes. Scrooge's former employer Fezziwig provided plenty of food for his employees and other guests at his Christmas party.

Character Summary

Belle, Scrooge's former fiancée, is introduced to the reader in Stave Two of the novella. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to see the final moments of his relationship with her. Her character is used to show the effects of Scrooge's​ fixation with money​.

What does the scabbard but no sword symbolize? ›

The scabbard without a sword symbolises lasting peace. 29. Why does Dickens present The Ghost of Christmas Future as such a dark character, shrouded in mystery? The spirit probably represents death; the Grim Reaper and is mysterious because death itself is a mystery to us.

Fred is the Christmas spirit - he represents joy and love. We see this at his Christmas party which he throws, surrounded by all his friends, he even invites Scrooge*. *This is also used by Dickens to emphasise​ ​Scrooge's isolation. His seclusion is highlighted when he stands with the Ghost looking into Fred's party.

The light in A Christmas Carol is the symbol of Scrooge's memories. At the end of the chapter with The Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge extinguishes the light on the ghost so that he will not have to continue remembering.

Mrs. Cratchit represents hope. She offers never-ending support to her family but is shown as a character with depth when she speaks ill of Scrooge. The Cratchit family takes her lead in celebration (having enough food, the lovely Christmas pudding) and reality (Scrooge may not deserve a toast, but Bob does).

Dickens uses two wretched children, called Ignorance and Want, to represent the poor. a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds.

Fred is the Christmas spirit - he represents joy and love. We see this at his Christmas party which he throws, surrounded by all his friends, he even invites Scrooge*. *This is also used by Dickens to emphasise​ ​Scrooge's isolation. His seclusion is highlighted when he stands with the Ghost looking into Fred's party.

Gold is a symbol of kingship and was given to Jesus to show he would be the king of the Jews. Frankincense is a symbol of deity (a divine being) to show Jesus was the Son of God. Myrrh is a symbol of death to show Jesus would eventually die for our sins. The star was a sign Jesus had been born.