A Christmas Carol
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THE GREAT, THE WONDERFUL, THE INCOMPARABLE CHARLES DICKENS!
Charlie
Dec 29, 2016 11:46AM
CHARLES DICKENS and A CHRISTMAS CAROL
First published on December 19, 1843, this story has perhaps done more to positively influence the human race than any other story written by a popular writer. It is a story of great genius and power. Ebenezer Scrooge is a name that conjures up an evil, hateful, and greedy man. Through the visitation of three ghosts and his dead partner Jacob Marley, a journey of transformation takes place. Scrooge’s life is revisited, the choices he makes are reviewed and ultimately on Christmas day, the man transforms forever into a loving, kind, and giving person.
Charles Dickens was perhaps the greatest writer of his day. He fought for social justice through his writing and effectively brought to light the wretched human conditions in England and for that matter in the rest of the world. Charles Dickens first visited America in 1842 and he was appalled at the conditions of factories, child labor, prisons, and the general attitude toward slavery. Overall, the United States of America was a disappointment to him and NOT the Republic he had imagined.
Below are some of the most memorable words taken from the characters mouths he so famously created. There is much for us to learn from these words. How unfortunate that we too have forgotten how to be civil and to treat our fellow man with dignity and respect.
Famous excerpt from A CHRISTMAS CAROL:
"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Here is another quote from the story that I think applies to all of us and is a distinct and useful warning on how we conduct our lives and what retribution may occur upon death:
Jacob Marley: "I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"
And…another quote concerning life and death from Jacob Marley:
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
The words of “Merry Christmas” and the spirit of giving were enhanced and probably in every case come from this great Novella Charles Dickens wrote, known forever as, A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
God bless Charles Dickens…this is one of my favorite pieces of literature and one of the best I have ever read.
So says Charlie Steel, Author https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Steel/...
2016-11-04
2 photos
First published on December 19, 1843, this story has perhaps done more to positively influence the human race than any other story written by a popular writer. It is a story of great genius and power. Ebenezer Scrooge is a name that conjures up an evil, hateful, and greedy man. Through the visitation of three ghosts and his dead partner Jacob Marley, a journey of transformation takes place. Scrooge’s life is revisited, the choices he makes are reviewed and ultimately on Christmas day, the man transforms forever into a loving, kind, and giving person.
Charles Dickens was perhaps the greatest writer of his day. He fought for social justice through his writing and effectively brought to light the wretched human conditions in England and for that matter in the rest of the world. Charles Dickens first visited America in 1842 and he was appalled at the conditions of factories, child labor, prisons, and the general attitude toward slavery. Overall, the United States of America was a disappointment to him and NOT the Republic he had imagined.
Below are some of the most memorable words taken from the characters mouths he so famously created. There is much for us to learn from these words. How unfortunate that we too have forgotten how to be civil and to treat our fellow man with dignity and respect.
Famous excerpt from A CHRISTMAS CAROL:
"At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge," said the gentleman, taking up a pen, "it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."
"Are there no prisons?" asked Scrooge.
"Plenty of prisons," said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
"And the Union workhouses?" demanded Scrooge. "Are they still in operation?"
"They are. Still," returned the gentleman, "I wish I could say they were not."
"The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?" said Scrooge.
"Both very busy, sir."
"Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course," said Scrooge. "I'm very glad to hear it."
"Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude," returned the gentleman, "a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?"
"Nothing!" Scrooge replied.
"You wish to be anonymous?"
"I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge. "Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there."
"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Here is another quote from the story that I think applies to all of us and is a distinct and useful warning on how we conduct our lives and what retribution may occur upon death:
Jacob Marley: "I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?"
And…another quote concerning life and death from Jacob Marley:
"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"
The words of “Merry Christmas” and the spirit of giving were enhanced and probably in every case come from this great Novella Charles Dickens wrote, known forever as, A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
God bless Charles Dickens…this is one of my favorite pieces of literature and one of the best I have ever read.
So says Charlie Steel, Author https://www.amazon.com/Charlie-Steel/...
2016-11-04
2 photos
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