English Literature

Anyone got any essays for either AIC , ACC , Macbeth or power and conflict poetry.Would be a great learning resource

How is Scrooge presented as an outsider in society?

In ‘A Christmas Carol’, Scrooge is presented as an outsider through the way he is treated by others in society as a result of his misanthropic and avaricious behaviour. Despite being wealthy, Scrooge still feels less a part of society than the impoverished, whom he initially ostracises in line with his Malthusian views. Although he claims to enjoy being feared by others, no amount of money can fill the ever-growing hole caused by being “neglected”.

In the extract taken from stave 1, Dickens presents Scrooge as an outsider in society due to his misanthropic behaviour leading to his neglect. His uncongenial nature is a result of being “secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster”. An “oyster” is shut tightly and hard to open, which reflects Scrooge’s unapproachable personality. It also lives at the bottom of the ocean away from other species, mirroring Scrooge’s isolation. However, inside an oyster is a pearl which is rare and highly valued by society possibly symbolising Scrooge’s compassion which he locks away. The use of sibilance also highlights Scrooge’s wicked exterior, but again hints at the possibly of a softer interior such as love. Scrooge may see this as his weakness that can be exploited by others, so he keeps it hidden just like a “secret” and doesn’t depend on others resulting in him being “self-contained”. This suggests that Scrooge has become a recluse as a result of distrust leading us to ponder on what Scrooge’s past was like, foreshadowing the visit of the Ghost of Christmas Past. We also see how Scrooge is neglected in the extract by how “no beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge”. The use of listing emphasises the magnitude of his neglect; he is an outsider to all of society, not just a certain group of people. The fact that even the desperate “beggars” and the innocent and naïve “children” know better than to approach Scrooge, gives us an understanding that Scrooge has a well-known reputation for being inhospitable. It is ironic how Scrooge appears alienated in the same way he ostracises the poor, yet the poor seem to fit into society better than he does. Perhaps Dickens meant to touch on the insignificance of money. Money cannot buy people happiness as even the wealthiest of people feel miserable and outcast if they are misanthropic like Scrooge.
Dickens also presents Scrooge as an outsider due to his miserliness and greed at the start of the novella, creating a moral and emotional distance between him and others. Scrooge’s stinginess roots from his obsession with wealth, which isolates him from the warmth and generosity that are valued in society. He claims that he “can’t afford to make idle people merry”. With Scrooge’s wealth, the words “can’t afford” emphasise his disbelief in charity. Scrooge clearly has no desire to help the poor, calling them “idle” which reinforces his Malthusian beliefs of the poor being too lazy to break out of the cycle of poverty. He goes a step further when he states that “if they would rather die (…) they had better do it and decreases the surplus population”. The word “surplus” relates back to the idea of money and therefore the economic language proves Scrooge’s obsession with money which sets him so far apart from others, believing that everyone’s raison d’etre is financial gain. Dickens also uses Scrooge as an audience surrogate to show the upper class audience the repercussions of their avaricious behaviour and lack of empathy towards the plight of the poor. This is because Scrooge is a representation of the quintessential upper class, and so portraying Scrooge as an outsider would force the contemporary reader to reflect on their own attitudes towards charity in an attempt to disassociate themselves from Scrooge. Therefore, Scrooge’s miserliness and greed is the principal cause of him becoming an outsider, as his views differ from the rest of society.

In conclusion, it is both Scrooge’s misanthropic behaviour and stinginess which ultimately lead to his alienation in society, which emphasise the detrimental consequences of a lack of empathy towards the poor. Dickens uses this to underline the essential need for empathy in order to change and avoid an outcast life.

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How does Priestley use the character of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls?
An Inspector Calls is a play that revolves around a central mystery. In this play, it is shown that a young woman has died and the characters are all involved in different ways. Priestley writes this play to express clearly that society is guilty of abusing the defenceless members of society, in this case the proletariat. He expresses his opinions through an omniscient Inspector, one who respects social class and exercises social responsibility. JB Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in 1945 but set it in 1912, for many reasons. He knew that at the time, rigid social boundaries were put in place and nothing was to change. But in 1945, most limitations were released and JB Priestley wanted to ensure that these changes would permanently be banished. Throughout the play, Priestley shows that the Inspector is a powerful and respectable figure; a microcosm of socialism. He is Priestley's spokesperson and expresses his socialist views through the Inspector. He purposely makes Goole a formidable character, giving a warning to the characters as well as the readers; mankind needs to change and work as one, becoming a collectivistic society instead of an individualistic society.
At the start of the play, the audience is introduced to the characters, and are told that they are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. When Arthur Birling, the main microcosm of capitalism, begins a speech on his views, the entrance of Inspector Goole is announced.
Priestley signifies his entrance by 'the sharp ring of a front door bell.' The use of this stage direction suggests that Inspector Goole has arrived to cease Birling's capitalist ideologies and bring forth a new system of socialism that promotes equality. The use of his arrival being in the midst of Birling's speech suggests a sudden halt in the current social system and a new change which shall be put in place. Priestley describes the lighting as 'pink and intimate' during the beginning of the play; this is soon changed to a 'brighter' and 'harder' atmosphere when the Inspector arrives. This theatrical device acts as dramatic irony because the audience sees how Priestley changes the physical setting to also change the atmosphere and foreshadow the change that the Inspector will initiate. This connects to Freud's dream theory that the Inspector represents the inner desires and secrets of the Birling family. The Inspector is a spokesperson for JB Priestley, used to criticise and punish the bourgeoisie for their sins.
JB Priestley uses the Inspector to convey that he wants society to change and become 'responsible for each other.' He suggests that the bourgeoisie should be more empathetic towards the proletariat instead of perceiving them as objects. When the Inspector arrives, he immediately informs the characters that a young girl, Eva Smith, has committed suicide because 'she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant that burnt her inside out.' The use of graphic language and the violent verb 'burnt' creates an emotional response with the audience as well as the characters involved. Priestley's language stimulates a sense of sympathy for Eva Smith and possibly the whole social class of the Proletariat. Eva Smith's suicide highlights the difficulties and continuous struggles faced by the Edwardian lower class and indicates that the bourgeoisie choose to ignore this issue. Priestley's violent imagery makes the audience also feel guilty for their ignorance and dismissiveness towards the working class and can altogether persuade them to reflect and take responsibility for their actions, becoming more empathetic.
Priestley also uses the Inspector to convey the consequences of what will happen if society doesn't change. He announces in his speech to the Birlings that they will be 'taught' in 'fire' and 'blood' and
'anguish.' This play was written in 1945, after the two World Wars but was set in 1912. This forms a connection with Ouspensky's time theory that if society doesn't learn from their mistakes they will be taught continuously until they do. The World War is a clear exmple of this which is mentioned in the play on several occassions. Society did not learn their lesson the first time, therefore there was a Second World War, and the cycle will continue until they finally accept responsibility. By mentioning
this to the Birlings, Inspector Goole is portrayed as a God-like, omniscient being, imposing judgement on society. This creates fear which would persuade the audience to change their views and feel ashamed of their actions- what Priestley intends for them to do.

Pristley challenges an underlying issue of the 20th century through the Inspector. During the play, it is evident that Arthur and Sybil Birling refuse to accept responsibility for their actions, almost pleading innocence in front of the omnipotent Inspector. Goole states that instead of being ignorant 'we have to share our guilt.' The use of the plural pronoun 'we' gives the audience a sense of unity and togetherness. During the 20th century society was divided by not only gender, but also social class, therefore by using the term 'we' Priestley challenges the social boundaries of the time. Priestley also uses the imperative verb 'have to' implying that the theory of socialism is not a choice, rather a command that in order for society to progress, they "have to" change their views. The use of the word 'share' suggests that the Inspector urges the Birlings to adopt socialist views and opinions, further encouraging the audience to reflect on their own actions which spreads the message and moral of the play.
JB Priestley uses the character of Inspector Goole as an omnipotent, formidable being who is used to highlight issues of society. Priestley wants to convey his message of Socialism to the audience. He wants the bourgeoisie to stop exploiting the proletariat for their own financial gain, but instead to treat others equally and work as one being. The Inspector's identity is unknown to portray him as a neutral, unbiased figure to the audience; this would persuade them to listen to him and reflect on the message Inspector Goole is sending.