Dethaw a deep freeze, // spirits with hallowed warnings. // Wretched mindlessness.
#HAIKUPRAJNA - A Christmas Carol [II]
Read online [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2023/02/20230223-christmas-carol-ii-book-review.html ]
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Hello readers,
In "A Christmas Carol", Charles Dickens used the cold of London to describe Ebenezer Scrooge, compared to the warmth and glow of those around him. Due to his focus on his own gain and his ignorance of the poverty of others, he thought it wise to be able to determine who should live and die by his subjective view on what was in surplus.
The one weakness, in my opinion, of this book could be found in Dickens's narrator, but it was strong at times which might make up for when otherwise, depending on the reader.
The narrative made use of horror as a subgenre by not only having Scrooge deal with unbelievable yet real aspects, such as seeing himself in Marley's wretchedness, but Dickens also carried the reader through the imagery as though the narrator were another spirit following Scrooge.
From the invocation in the preface onward, A Christmas Carol used Christian (almost Gnostic) Idealism as its subject matter, with its invisible world of ghosts having lost individuality who yet clung to what they wished to change, for the better, while being weighed down in a literal manner by their history and inaction.
Other sentiments which make A Christmas Carol one of my favorite stories were all said by the Ghost of Christmas Present; the earth needing to pass into eternity before its good is all developed, mortal life being too short for its vast means of usefulness, no space of regret amending an opportunity misused, and telling Scrooge that men do things in the name of the Ghosts, but that such men are as strange to them as if they had never lived.
“Cold, isn’t it?” “Seasonable for Christmas time. You’re not a skater, I suppose?” “No. No. Something else to think of. Good morning!”
These hallows were focused on establishing a sense of mindfulness in Ebenezer; if I interpreted things right, Marley granted Scrooge's request to have all the ghosts visit at once, maybe because he was willing to do what was necessary, despite his initial resistance, rather than continue to decline Marley's offer. With the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge was rebuked for failing to realize that he was wishing to cap the Ghost’s light, his own memories--shown to be a source of joy for many. The Ghost of Christmas Present told Scrooge to look upon him, to be mindful when Scrooge thought himself unworthy to, and, indeed, Ebenezer was shown that both Ignorance and Want cling to the Present, that, according to Scrooge, they seem doomed to workhouses and prisons--unless shown kindness, like the spirit of Marley had on Scrooge. Even with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Scrooge was being shown how one’s material remains leave nothing good outside of their memories and one’s remembered love.
In A Christmas Carol, Dickens seemed to be critical of mindless urbanization and its effects on sustaining the poor masses for the benefit of the rich; as far as I know he suffered from the effects of the uneven distribution of wealth in his youth.
According to him, it is better to let others laugh at you, for ignorance in joy, while still rude, was still less bad than ignorance in hate; Love and Christmas Spirit are equal, and thus one will find joy in shared mindful experiences like education, dances and festive dinners.
Previous review [ https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2020/12/20201225-christmas-carol.html ]
Thank you for reading.
Allen W. McLean
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