Scrooge’s transformation Scrooge at the start ‘Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint…The cold within him froze his old features…He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.’ (p. 34) Scrooge – a changed man ‘He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew…’ (p. 116) Portray the change in Scrooge (see Stave 5). Include the contrast in how he treats: • Bob Cratchit • His nephew • The portly gentleman Use words/quotes, pictures, symbols to show the contrast on poster paper or A3 page or PPT. Change in Scrooge: Stave 1: Stave 5: Bob Cratchit: He treats Bob Cratchit, his clerk, poorly and at the start of the book leaves him to a small fire of one coal keeping the coal box in his room so he can’t keep himself warm. He also told him “Let me hear another sound from you,” said Scrooge, “and you’ll keep your Christmas by losing your situation!” when he applauded. Bob Cratchit: His Nephew Fred: He is cold towards Fred and does not accept any of his Christmas wishes. He insults him calling him “poor enough” and insults him indirectly by saying, “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!”. His Nephew Fred: The Portly Gentleman: He ignores the gentleman asking for money for the poor and he toys with them asking about prisons and union workhouses finishing with “Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,”. He then says “I wish to be left alone,”. The Portly Gentleman: Stave 1: 1. His face was the same, same pigtail, waistcoat, tights and boots but he was transparent. A long chain wound about him and clasped about his middle. Metaphor: The Insect on the leaf Ghost of Christmas Present to Scrooge: “Will you decide what men shall live and what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child [Tiny Tim]. Oh God! To hear the Insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life among his hungry brothers in the dust.” (p. 82) What changes Scrooge? • Sees what he has lost (especially by the Ghost of Christmas Past). Note importance of memory. - relationships/family, including fiancé (p. 65) (the life he could have had - read p. 67-70) - celebration/fun (Fezziwig’s party) – read p. 64 • Reminded of what it is to be human (especially by the Ghost of Christmas Present) - the value of relationships (nephew) - empathy for others (Cratchits; Tiny Tim) - read p. 82 • Warned of the consequences of his priorities and actions (especially by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come) - for himself (torment of Marley’s ghost and others; reaction to his own death) - for society (Ignorance and Want) The redemption of Scrooge: Redemption: ‘the act or result of being redeemed’ Redeemed: 1. To buy or pay off (such as debt) 2. To recover something (pledged or mortgaged) by payment 3. To convert (bonds, etc.) into cash 4. To carry out (a pledge, promise, etc.) 5. To make up for (eg. He redeemed his lie by later telling the truth) 6. To obtain the release of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom Which of these definitions do you think most applies to Ebenezer Scrooge?