Summary:
The knowledge and understanding of various contexts of production and reception extend and enhance an appreciation of a text. This is shown in such texts as "A Christmas Carol" and the movies "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickleby", all which are written by Charles Dickens.
The knowledge and understanding of various contexts of production and reception extend and enhance an appreciation of a text. This is shown in such texts as "A Christmas Carol" and the movies "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickleby", all which are written by Charles Dickens.
London was a cold place of icy winters and chilled summers. A place of great poverty and illnesses. Also with strong, powerful, wealthy people who carried cold black hearts, no feelings for others. All walking the streets of London without a care of the suffering who live each day hungry on the side of the streets. Looking after them selves and them only was their ambition in their everyday life. Sick children dying, with no one to be there to take care of them, all alone. Families who were in debt and could not pay it off would often be sent to a Workhouse. This was for the widows, orphans and the aged, for most of them it was not their fault to be sent their. Children would be sent there as their father may have been in debt and the children were the ones having to pay it back. Often they were grossly crowded lacking comfort and food, with high death rates.
Little education available for many, but books could be found by most people. Some reads were inspiring to what was going on in the life around them. Filling their heads with the harsh reality and opening their eyes for the first time. Some were never awe of the harsh conditions or just too blind to notice. Contexts in the books read were now a strong source of information.
There was a man who noticed these things as he wondered down the paved roads. He too had once felt hungry and wanting to fill that empty spot. Charles Dickens, this man would be. He wrote to tell others about poverty and the less fortunate, children were his main ideas of writing. As a child Charles was working in a blacking factory, this contributed to his influences for writing about what he did. He mainly focused on children and the way they were treated in the 1800's. He changed some laws, just through the inspiration his stories told. Techniques that Charles Dickens often used were found in his structure, dialogue, irony and imagery and symbolism.
In the book "A Christmas Carol" it stirred the city of London. Charles Dickens' portrayal to the society is based on a selfish man who only cares of himself. Mr. Scrooge is that man, he owned his own counting house. He was quite wealthy, but very cold hearted. No one else mattered to him, not even his close work companions or family.
He doesn't like Christmas very much and refers to it as "Humbug", as stated in the book. A bitter man, with a not so happy past himself. All the past Christmas' left him being sad and usually lonely. He did not know about how other people would feel, and know that there are others out there worst of them him.
Guilt is thrown upon Scrooge as he is reminded of the less fortunate or the love of family and friends. Forced to walk the after-life shackled in chains for he was heartless.
He is surprised by ghosts. The ghost of Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas to come. Warned they will be arriving from an old work partner, Jacob Marley. If Scrooge doesn't change his ways he will end up like Marley after he passes, in chains.
"You fear the world too much", Belle says to Scrooge as she beaks off their engagement. His withdrawal with Belle is what starts his growing interest in financial dealings, lack of companions, and unhappiness.
It was an unhappy relationship with his father, this also impacted on the rest of his life. His loneliness and neglect he has brought upon himself and the fear of neglect as a child. His father not wanting him there for Christmas'.
Bob Cratchit, employed by Mr. Scrooge. Barely able to feed his family, in spite they are still a happy bunch. The ghost of Christmas present shows him. "they were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being waterproof; their clothes were scanty."
"A Christmas Carol" does not equate poverty with cheer and wealth with misery, however the party at his nephew Fred's house shows people who are wealthy having a good time, while two children are revealed to him by the Ghost of Christmas Present, Ignorance and Want. Made it clear that even though people like the Cratchits can laugh in their poverty, it is still a serious life threatening matter.
The Central chapters in this novel relate to the visits of the three spirits. Marley Gives us the Scrooge's moral failings while in the last chapter is shows how Scrooge reforms to be a better person.
In the film "Oliver Twist" Charles Dickens displays a young boy and the poor destine of his life. The orphanage is cruel to all the young boys, some under the age of 5. Starving them, so many of them died also from illnesses. Oliver is a young boy who is placed in the orphanage as his mother dies in child birth. He grows up there and spends his childhood being an orphan and knowing no better. A rich man takes him in and cares for him after he runs away from the orphanage and finds other children just like him living on the streets. Pick-pocketing, stealing from people of the streets. This is where he is found by the rich old man. This movie shows how children lived back them.
"Please sir may I have some more." Famous words in which Oliver Twist says to the head master, wanting more food. The scary headmaster is not pleased one bit with Oliver for his request.
The film is an eye opener for the many citizens of London who had no clue about how orphan kids were treated. Charles displays this well in the movie and touched many people and helped make changes in the law.
Nicholas Nickleby has a similar aspect on the life back then. It is also another film which is focused strongly on the children. Parents sent them to a school, in thought of them getting an education. Little they know, the real truth about the schools. Also another case of poverty and diseases. Forced to eat Brimstone, which would spoil their appetite. There letters and gifts taken from them in front of all the school to torment the poor boys. Nicholas Nickleby comes to work at the school and straight away sees the cruel ways of how it is run. He feels sorry for the children and the way they are being treated, in such poor conditions.
Poverty is forced among many but should not be looked down at by more wealthy people. Inspired Charles wrote these stories to send a message across the world, it was successful in many ways.
By Kate Fairclough
This is the complete article, containing 1,188 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page).
