Christmas Essays (Mr. S)

Essay #1-Symbolism

We are confronted by symbols on a daily basis. From simple stopping and going at traffic lights to the powerful patriotic reflection of pledging our nation’s flag, symbols strike a chord within our souls and communicate so much more than surface meanings. In Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, “A Christmas Carol,” the Songs of Christmas and The Ghost of Christmas Present, communicate very poignant messages.

A Christmas Carol. Just a title?  Or, could it be an embedded symbol, designed to illustrate something so much more? At the start of the play, we are introduced to Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a bitter old man, stingy, cold and unfeeling. When Scrooge hears “The Christmas Carol” at the start of the play, he rails at the small child singing and barks out Bah Humbug! As the play moves along and the ghosts of Christmas work a change in him, his reaction to the songs of Christmas change immensely. By the last screen directions of the play, Ebenezer Scrooge is not only listening, but singing along with great passion and joy.

Song works to soften his heart, yes, but the ghosts themselves also have symbolic implications– particularly, the Ghost of Christmas Present. The present is an ever fleeting gift, and this is made very clear by the rapid aging of this second ghost. When scrooge first meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, he is a hearty and bountiful sight. He is an immense figure, full of vigor and strength, but slowly, he begins to atrophy. At their parting, Scrooge sees the result of wasted time is ignorance and want…two other symbols who emerge from the skirts of the ever deliquescing present.

The present gives way to the past so quickly, but the song remains. Christmas, as communicated by Dickens is a time to value life, and impart value to those around you. Scrooge failed in these respects, but for the grace of his departed partner and interaction with some powerful symbols, scrooge is turned in time’s penultimate nick.

(This essay is the work of Mr. Sznajder; please do not steal his ideas)

Essay #2- Theme

A life well lived is the greatest legacy a human being can leave. Charles Dickens communicated strong messages throughout the course of his “Christmas Carol.” Two such messages are: Life is too precious to waste on selfish living, and a life driven by fear, is a lonely life. These are two lessons are taught by the fantastic journey of Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge.

Scrooge was one of the wealthiest men in London. He hoarded every crown, shilling and farthing. He ruthlessly played upon the desperate circumstances of his city. He loaned money, he knew could never be repaid, so he could consume the lives of those he scavenged for selfish gain. At the start of the story, Scrooge is seen shivering in his offices and home, so as to hoard every last bit of fiscal gain for himself. He was so scared of being poor, everything of true or lasting value was shunned and destroyed including all relationships or any faith in humanity.

Ebenezer Scrooge did not start off a bitter, selfish, hard-hearted man. He was once an abandoned youth, misunderstood, neglected by his family and ostracized by his surroundings. Charles Dickens reflected upon the hard times of London in the early 1800’s. Many families of the day suffered from the harsh economic climates. The abandoned Ebenezer grew up in fear of being poor and destitute. His heart grew cold as every decision made in fear drove every meaningful element of Scrooge’s life away including his fiancee and lingering familial connections.

Thankfully, the audience’s perseverance is rewarded by the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge. He sees the error of his ways, he ceases the fearful pursuit of gain and he strengthens the endeavors of truth, fellowship and charity toward mankind. These lessons Dickens disseminates are powerful and stand to teach us, not just on Christmas, but throughout the entire year.

(This essay is the work of Mr. Sznajder; please do not steal his ideas)

Essay #3- Conflict

Conflict. A veritable reality and a truth present wherever human beings choose to dwell. Problems are generally seen as a bad thing—an inconvenience most would choose to do without…but conflicts when resolved, serve to bring about a brighter future and teach us lessons which otherwise may never have been learned. There are several conflicts that drive Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol;” one being the cause of Ebenezer’s struggle with bitterness towards his city and his struggle to resolve this hurt and connect with the people whom he shared his life with.

From his earliest recollections, all Ebenezer Scrooge knew of the world is that it was cruel and unfair. Anything he achieved, seemed to come from his own determinations and fearful endeavors. He truly believed if HE could escape the poverty stricken realities of his own accord, anyone else who didn’t, was simply indolent and worthless. This caused the anguish and harsh treatment of Scrooge’s long kept bitterness to manifest in his miserly judgments towards society at large.

Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s only thing close to a “friend” benevolently intercedes some magic to help root out these conflicting evils working within the calloused Scrooge. When the Ghost of Christmas Past showed the root of his anger and fear, and as the Ghost of Christmas present revealed that circumstances can sometimes be too unbearable to overcome, Scrooge’s heart was turned from this long held belief that survival of the fittest was the only way to cope with the harsh realities which confronted them all. The Ghost of Christmas future served to scare the darkness, anger, miserly nature, cruel misery and blindness out of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Given a second chance, Scrooge resolved to change. His heart was softened to believe the best of people and reveal a path which allowed for the man, Ebenezer, to work as an element of beneficial metamorphosis. Scrooge become a new man, his conflicts of long ago will cease to imprison the tormented soul he had once been. Surely not all conflicts were done away with, but this new man will not allow the past to withhold a bright new future.

(This essay is the work of Mr. Sznajder; please do not steal his ideas)

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