English resources/A Christmas Carol/Responsibility
Responsibility in A Christmas Carol
Mankind was my business, says Marley. The rich owe the poor. Dickens wrote the book to say so.
The quotes
15 quotes, in the order they happen.
Are there no prisons?
Scrooge · Stave One · poverty · responsibility
Two men ask him for money for the poor. He asks if the prisons are still open. That is his answer.
If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Scrooge · Stave One · poverty · responsibility · greed
Let the poor die. There are too many people anyway. The worst thing he says.
I wear the chain I forged in life
Marley · Stave One · greed · the supernatural · responsibility
Marley made his own chain. Every greedy thing he did is a link in it.
Mankind was my business.
Marley · Stave One · responsibility · redemption
Scrooge says Marley was a good man of business. Marley says people were his real business. He forgot.
The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went
Narrator · Stave One · the supernatural · responsibility
Scrooge sees hundreds of ghosts in chains. They want to help the poor but cannot. It is too late for them.
I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now
Scrooge · Stave Two · redemption · responsibility
After seeing Fezziwig's party, Scrooge thinks of Bob. The first crack in him.
He has the power to render us happy or unhappy
Scrooge · Stave Two · responsibility · family
Scrooge sees that a boss can make his workers happy or miserable. It costs almost nothing.
If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility · time
Tiny Tim will die unless something changes. Scrooge is the something.
If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
The ghost says Scrooge's own words back to him. Now they are about a child he knows.
I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!
Bob Cratchit · Stave Three · family · responsibility
Bob toasts Scrooge at Christmas dinner. Bob is kind even to his mean boss.
The Founder of the Feast indeed!
Mrs Cratchit · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
Mrs Cratchit will not toast him. She knows how little he pays.
This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
Two thin children under the ghost's robe. Not knowing, and not having. Dickens says they are everyone's fault.
Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
Fear the boy most. Ignorance is more dangerous than want.
Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words.
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
Again the ghost uses Scrooge's words. Scrooge is ashamed.
He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew
Narrator · Stave Five · redemption · responsibility
How the story ends. Friend, boss, man. Good at all three.
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