What does Jacob Marley's chains symbolize in a Christmas Carol?
Symbolism is used by authors to share ideas through representative objects. One of the symbols in this story comes in the form of Jacob Marley's chains. Jacob was Scrooge's closest ally, but died seven years ago. He is destined to live throughout eternity attached to the things that mattered most to him in life.
What is the significance of Marley's chain?
Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Marley's chain is symbolic of his guilt as well.
What does Marley's chain mean to Scrooge?
Marley's chain is symbolic of his guilt as well. He says that he forged it during his life, of his own free will. He is guilty, indeed, of heavy sins against his fellows, sins that he chose to commit, and guilt that he chose to accrue. In fact, we see this symbolism in the ghosts that Scrooge sees outside the window, too. The narrator says that
What are the chains in a Christmas Carol made of?
They are made of steel, and they are additionally weighted down with various financial objects, such as cash boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses. Jacob Marley himself tells Scrooge and readers that he is forced to wear the chains in the afterlife. "I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost.
Why are Marley's chains symbolic?
Because of the story’s allegorical nature, many characters and events are symbolic: Marley’s Chains: The chains that Scrooge’s deceased partner wear are important because of their material. Whereas normal chains are forged from metal, Marley’s are constructed from what he valued in life—versions of material wealth.
How did Scrooge first encounter Marley's ghost?
Recall that Scrooge first encountered Marley's ghost when he saw Marley's face in the knocker. The knocker still reminds Scrooge of Marley, but while initially this left Scrooge feeling terrified, he now views the knocker as being "wonderful.".
What does Dickens' ghost of Christmas mean?
The Ghost of Christmas Past: The first ghost to visit Scrooge symbolizes the experiences and memories that have made him into the callous person he is today.
What does the gravestone represent in Scrooge's story?
Scrooge’s Gravestone: Shown to him by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, the gravestone symbolizes Scrooge’s potential fate if he does not change: a lonely death, inconsequential to those who know him. Ignorance and Want: These two children, who cling to The Ghost of Christmas Present, represent the rich and the poor’s struggles.
What does the glowing head of Scrooge's spirit mean?
The spirit’s glowing head suggests the location of the memories Scrooge holds. The Ghost of Christmas Present: The second apparition brings with him visions of feasts and a transformed room in Scrooge’s house, which contrasts Scrooge’s cold home with the abundance of other families.
Why did Scrooge buy a turkey?
Turkey: A changed man, Scrooge purchases a large turkey to provide for the Cratchits. Scrooge’s purchase symbolizes his transformation from stingy to generous, illustrating his renewed commitment to Christmas’s values.
What does the second ghost carry?
Note that the second ghost carries a torch that resembles “Plenty’s horn,” or the cornucopia, therefore symbolizing abundance. Consider also, that the ghost carries an old, rusty scabbard with no sword in it, suggesting a lack of use for a long time.
An Allegorical Tale
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is an allegory that teaches us that the choices we make have long-lasting effects. Dickens uses a great deal of symbolism in this story about an old miser who is given a second chance at life. Symbolism uses objects or characters to represent an idea. Let's look at some of the symbolism in this novel.
Jacob Marley's Chains
Think about the person you know who is most like you. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Ebenezer Scrooge and Jacob Marley, his business partner, are cut from the same cloth. In life, both are greedy, self-absorbed, and ruthless bankers. When Jacob Marley died seven years ago, Scrooge was his only mourner, receiving a substantial inheritance.
Ignorance and Want
Why do so many people make bad choices? The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Ebenezer two small children that are clinging to his robe. ''This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!''
The Ghosts
The three spirits that visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve each have a message for him. The Ghost of Christmas Past symbolizes the events in Scrooge's life that turned him into who he is today. Some moments are happy, but many are not. Scrooge doesn't like to think about the past because it can be painful.
