Help needed with English Literature A Christmas Carol Response

Please could this be given a mark/grade. Improvement and advice would appreciated greatly

In his allegorical novella, A Christmas Carol, Dickens cleverly reveals to his readers through the protagonist Scrooge that everybody can go through redemption, Dickens successfully reveals this by showing the development od Scrooge throughout the novella as at the beginning, Scrooge is illustrated as a miser who has no warmth and lack empathy however as the political diatribe unfolds, Scrooge becomes a generous philanthropist who is concerned for the wealth fare of characters such as Tiny Tim. Perhaps, the social critic Dickens structured the novella like this as in 19th century Victorian Britain, poverty was a big problem and so the aim of the novella is to critique the rich readers in hope that they change their perspective on poverty as they read just like Scrooge.

In Stave One, Dickens presents Scrooge as a cold-hearted and cruel man who has no compassion. The author uses the simile “Hard and sharp as flint” to describe Scrooges appearance and personality. The adjective “Hard” illustrates to the readers that Scrooge is disconnected from the community. It suggests that Scrooge lacks even a little hope for redemption as he has blocked himself from those who may help him by putting up a tough exterior. The adjective “sharp” continues to reinforce the impression that Scrooge gas no hope of change. It alludes to the idea that Scrooge is a cause of pain and suffering in society. Dickens may have created the protagonist as a villainous man as it exaggerates the extent at which people can change. Dickens hints at redemption early on as the contrast of the negative description with the noun contrast of the negative description with the noun “flint” which hints at a possibility of change. “flint” can be associated with ideas surrounding warmth as “flint” is used to make fires revealing early on the potential for Scrooge to fulfil more Christian like ways.

As the novella progresses, Ebenezer Scrooge becomes a more vulnerable character. This is shown when The Ghost of Christmas Past comments on Scrooge looking upset as he notices Scrooges lip trembling. This is a turning point in the novella as it is the first time Scrooge has shown his vulnerable side. The reflection on Scrooges childhood has sparked change in the misanthropic miser. Perhaps, Dickens wanted to show a change in Scrooge early on as it conveys that message to the readers that it is not as hard as it may seem to change. By showing how easy it is to change, it may promote the audience to self-reflect and find goodness and sympathy towards others. It would have been important for the author to touch the hearts of the rich as they had the power to change society for the better if they became generous and shared their wealth with others. Yet, this could only be achieved if they dropped their selfish capitalist ideologies and adopted socialist ones like Dickens. However, the denial “It is a pimple” illustrates that the novella is nit over yet as Scrooge is still trying to mask his vulnerability as he views it as a weakness. Therefore, more must be done for Scrooge to complete his redemption,

Finally, redemption is completed as at the end of the novella, Scrooge expresses his genuine concern for the welfare of Tiny Tim “tell me if Tiny Tim will live”. The imperative portrays Scrooges eagerness to help the poor as Scrooge can only rest if Tiny Tim will live. It is important as it shows that Scrooge now has a newfound compassion and empathy towards the poot. This contrasts to earlier in novella where Scrooge wanted the “surplus population” to die as the callous remark suggested that Scrooge viewed the poor as worthless and unworthy of charity. Therefore, this change in attitude towards the poor alludes to the key idea that no matter how heartless people seem, they can always be redeemed just like Scrooge.