How is the motif of song used to support a theme in A Christmas Carol?
Music has the power to change a person’s life and is present during difficult and joyful times.
In a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens the motif of song shows how people can change and Christmas can unite them.
In stave 1, Scrooge hates christmas and demonstrates his dislike for it strongly. He mistreats a caroller that came by his office.It was christmas eve and Scrooge was in his office when a caroller came up to his keyhole and started Singing "God bless you merry gentlemen"(17). Quickly, Scrooge seized the ruler and the caroller fled the scene.When scrooge does this he is isolating himself from the community. We can see how the song motif, which is the caroller singing, shows the beginning of Scrooge’s change. He is bitter and mistreats people without regret.
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Scrooge was visiting a past Christmas of his with the Ghost of Christmas past. They were watching Scrooge as a young lad all alone in his school, while his peers spent time together on the streets having fun (34). Scrooge had an overwhelming feeling of sadness and pitfulness when he saw his past self. This led him to reflect on his past actions with the caroller and look through his pockets saying “ I wish. But it's too late now”(36).The spirit asked “what is the matter”(36). To which Scrooge answered “ Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something : that’s all.” This shows how Scrooge is regretting his past actions with the caroller and trying to make it better even though it was too late. He is evolving from his old bitter self to a compassionate and understanding