How is social responsibility presented in A Christmas Carol? (30)
A Christmas carol is arguably a product of its time, with a startling divide between the rich and the poor, Dickens employs ideas of social responsibility to convey the impact that a lack or gain of social consciousness can lead to either doom or harmony within society.
Dickens utilises Scrooges metamorphosis as a construct to reveal the potential the upper class have to deter from their mercenary ways. Initially Scrooge is described as “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping,clutching covetous old sinner ”. The intrusive narrator delivers an explicit judgement on Scrooge's character to criticise the upper class ensuring that we cannot misinterpret their intense callous nature. The asyndetic lists emphasises the extreme lengths Scrooge will endure to clench every single penny. Scrooge is a slave to his desires and completely disregards his lasting effect on the lower class. It is evident that the upper class have an iron grip on society by restricting the development of impoverished communities by pressurizing and exploiting them in the workplace. The noun phrase “covetous old sinner” intensifies Scrooges yearn to milk the finances of the poor. Blinded by his love for money he continually craves more and more, biblically this is at odds with the 10 commandments and a transgression against divine law aligning him with wickedness, inspiring shock and upset in the readers at his lack of social awareness.
On the contrary Dickens highlights opposing values of Scrooge though the Fezziwig family using their authority with kindness towards their workers:”shaking hands with every person individually”. The Fezziwigs are the personification of social consciousness as they have a personal connection and respect for every individual despite their social status. They judge a person not their financial stability but by their characteristics and values, humanising them and bridging the gap between the metaphorical segregation of the wealthy and the unfortunate. Dickens uses the Fezziwigs to reiterate that he is not trying to villainize the entire upper class, only criticise those whose mindsets align with Scrooges. He believes everyone should mirror the philanthropic psyche of the Fezziwigs and treat everyone humanely regardless. Even though they are individuals with status and power they profit with generosity and affection towards their employees.
As the novel progresses Scrooge hopes “to be a better man from what i [he] was before”. He has had an epiphany realising that he must reject the sin of avarice and implement his christian duties as before he was a vessel for the devil, defying biblical teachings and executing various of the 7 deadly sins such as pride and greed. Now undergoing a journey of spiritual enlightenment he has felt convicted to utilise his privileges as a helping hand for the disadvantaged: “i will raise your salary”. He has shapeshifted from his depraved parsimonious nature and polarised into a more sanguine and benevolent persona. This anagnorisis from the antagonist to an ally elicits that there is hope for everyone to transition into an understanding and socially responsible person.
Dickens makes it clear that social responsibility is an essential component of society and should be practiced for the wider benefit of all those in the community.