Knowledge Builders

what made scrooge so mean

by Ansley Doyle Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

He's greedy, stingy, surly and, in the case of "A Muppet Christmas Carol," looks an awful lot like Michael Caine. But it turns out there may be a big reason Scrooge is such a miser. The theory: Scrooge is so stingy because he lived through the Napoleonic Wars and knows what economic hardship is really like.Dec 5, 2015

Full Answer

Why is Scrooge a bad man?

Why is Scrooge a bad person? He is considered cruel and selfish for chastising his employee, Bob Cratchit, for burning too much coal at work. But another way to categorize his behavior is that of old-fashioned thrift. It’s not like Cratchit froze while Scrooge was sitting in his skivvies in the next room hoarding the heat. Why was Scrooge so ...

Why does Scrooge become so obsessed with money?

Scrooge can't absolutely deny this, so Belle releases him from his engagement with her, something he doesn't try to prevent. In short, Belle thinks Scrooge has become too obsessed with money because he is fearful of what the world will do to him should be become poor.

Why does Scrooge want to speak to Bob?

When the Ghost challenges Fezziwig’s actions, for being so generous, Scrooge defends his generosity.THen scrooge wishes he had been so generous to his own clerk as Fezziwig had been to him, “I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now,” Scrooge says. Scrooge would like to make amends with his clerk,Bob. ♥

Why does Scrooge love reindeer so much?

Why does Scrooge love reindeer so much? Because every single buck is dear to him! What do you get when youcross a duck with Santa? A Christmas quacker. How much did Santa pay for his sleigh?

See more

image

What made Scrooge hate Christmas?

In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge hates Christmas because it is a disruption to his business and money-making, but he also hates Christmas because that happy time of the year emphasizes how unhappy he is and recalls memories he would rather forget.

What made Scrooge so greedy?

Christmas Carol Character Analysis Scrooge was and how cold he got during Christmas. He didn't feel anything for anyone, he didn't love anyone or anyone loved him. But it was because he didn't appreciate stuff or people. He just thought about working and making money, well that's what I think.

What mental disorder does Scrooge have?

Psychodiagnostically, it could further be inferred that Scrooge exhibits traits of Schizoid, Narcissistic and Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder, each of which, in my view, like PTED, also have their roots in repressed anger, resentment and rage. (See my prior posts on personality disorders.)

Why does Dickens present Scrooge as cruel?

He believes that the poor do not need or deserve to be helped by being given comfort and food. He believes that he already pays enough taxes for the “workhouses” where he they should go. Dickens portrays Scrooge as a shallow and uncharitable to represent the business owners of the day who did not engage with charity.

How does Scrooge show forgiveness?

The story's structure and Scrooge's character development are engineered so that as Scrooge becomes aware of his own poverty and learns to forgive and listen to his buried conscience, he is able to see virtue and goodness in the other characters and rediscovers his own generosity – he even becomes a symbol of Christmas ...

Is Scrooge happy with his wealth?

Once transformed, Scrooge freely and gladly gives his money, time, and affection to others, signifying that his change results in the knowledge that true riches in life lie not in money, but in relationships.

What was wrong with Scrooge?

Scrooge's mental state. He claims Mr. Scrooge has been unusually active and emotional, and that he has been giving away his money in large sums.

Was Scrooge ever married?

He fell in love with a young woman named Belle and proposed marriage, but gradually his love for Belle was overwhelmed by his love for money. Belle realised this and, saddened by his greed, left him one Christmas, eventually marrying another man.

How old is Mr Scrooge?

He's 234. Yes, though Dickens created him in 1843, Scrooge's birthday, according to fandom.com, is Feb. 7, 1786, and there's no record of his death, making him older than dirt. But, hey, he doesn't look a day over 233.

How is Scrooge presented as selfish?

Furthermore, Dickens highlights Scrooge's indifference towards the poor and destitute of society who suffer greatly through his refusal to lend a helping hand and contribute to raising funds for the aid of the poor and as such he shows that a selfishness and greed will result in a lonesome end to an unrewarding life.

How is Scrooge presented as a miserable character?

Scrooge is the main character of Dickens's novella and is first presented as a miserly , unpleasant man. He rejects all offerings of Christmas cheer and celebration as 'Humbug! '. On Christmas Eve he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns that he will be visited by three ghosts.

How is Scrooge presented as a changed man?

In Scrooge we see a man who is transformed from a greedy, selfish miser into a generous and good-natured character by the end. He is shown the error of his ways by the ghosts that visit him and is redeemed by his own willingness to change.

How is greed presented in A Christmas Carol quotes?

“I wear the chain I forged in life” Marley's chains are a symbol of greed. Scrooge is making his chain with his evil, covetous ways. He is going to hell! “Your reclamation, then.

Which ghost made Scrooge come to realize his grumpiness and greediness?

Dickens illustrates the time with the ghosts to show the effects of greed and being discourteous. In the beginning, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Marley. Marley appears to Scrooge to warn him about the cumbersome burden that he bears in death because he neglected his duty toward others in life.

How does Dickens present the theme of greed and selfishness?

Furthermore, Dickens highlights Scrooge's indifference towards the poor and destitute of society who suffer greatly through his refusal to lend a helping hand and contribute to raising funds for the aid of the poor and as such he shows that a selfishness and greed will result in a lonesome end to an unrewarding life.

How is Scrooge presented as a miserable character?

Scrooge is the main character of Dickens's novella and is first presented as a miserly , unpleasant man. He rejects all offerings of Christmas cheer and celebration as 'Humbug! '. On Christmas Eve he is visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns that he will be visited by three ghosts.

What does it mean when you call someone a scrooge?

If you call somebody a Scrooge today, everybody will know what you mean. You’re implying that someone is miserly, grumpy, and selfish, especially but not only during Christmastime. Soon I want to examine what made Ebenezer Scrooge change from being, well, Scrooge, to being a generous man who loved both people and Christmas.

What did Scrooge think of the poor?

The hard-hearted, grasping Scrooge found strength and solace in the social philosophy of his day, which thought of the poor as deserving their sorry fate, and even as being a threat to the well-being of the world. When, in Stave 1, Scrooge rejects the request of the two “portly gentlemen” for a charitable gift for the poor, he suggests that the poor might die “and decrease the surplus population.” Here Scrooge echoes the views of the influential economist Thomas Malthus, whose theories would have allowed a man like Scrooge to defend his greed and lack of compassion for the poor.

What has driven Scrooge to become a tight fisted man?

What has driven him to this? Partly it’s his recognition of how difficult poverty is. This came for Scrooge, as it did for Charles Dickens, from his own bitter experience. And it has led him to be consumed, not just by materialism, but also by fear. He is so afraid of poverty ’s lash that he has abandoned his “nobler aspirations,” including the desire to marry the woman he loves and who had once loved him.

Where does Ebenezer Scrooge appear in A Christmas Carol?

Most of what formed the soul of Ebenezer Scrooge appears in Stave 2 of A Christmas Carol, when the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge images of his past experiences. Our very first view of the younger Scrooge comes as he sits alone in his boarding school on Christmas Eve.

What happened after Scrooge's apprenticeship?

Scrooge’s Young Adulthood. Yet something happened after Scrooge’s apprenticeship under Fezziwig that changed his heart for the worse. We learn about this from the next scene in Scrooge’s past. There his fiancée informs Ebenezer that she is to break their engagement.

Is Scrooge a 21st century question?

I realize this question is more of a 21st century question than a 19th century question. It’s only been in recent times that we’ve become fascinated, one might say, obsessed by psychological causes of behavior. Yet, even though Charles Dickens didn’t supply a lengthy biography of Scrooge, we can nevertheless discover some of what made him the man he became. This knowledge may also help us to understand what unmade and remade him.

What does it mean when you call someone a scrooge?

If you call somebody a Scrooge today, everybody will know what you mean. You’re implying that someone is miserly, grumpy, and selfish, especially but not only during Christmastime.

What did Scrooge think of the poor?

The hard-hearted, grasping Scrooge found strength and solace in the social philosophy of his day, which thought of the poor as deserving their sorry fate and even as being a threat to the well-being of the world. When, in Stave 1, Scrooge rejects the request of the two “portly gentlemen” for a charitable gift for the poor, he suggests that the poor might die “and decrease the surplus population.” Here Scrooge echoes the views of the influential economist Thomas Malthus, whose theories would have allowed a man like Scrooge to defend his greed and lack of compassion for the poor.

What has driven Scrooge to become a tight fisted man?

What has driven him to this? Partly, it’s his recognition of how difficult poverty is. This came for Scrooge, as it did for Charles Dickens, from his own bitter experience. And it has led him to be consumed, not just by materialism, but also by fear. He is so afraid of poverty ’s lash that he has abandoned his “nobler aspirations,” including the desire to marry the woman he loves and who had once loved him.

Is Scrooge a 21st century question?

I realize this question is more of a 21st-century question than a 19th-century question. It’s only been in the last century that we’ve become fascinated, one might say, obsessed by psychological causes of behavior. Yet, even though Charles Dickens didn’t supply a lengthy biography of Scrooge, we can nevertheless discover some of what made him the man he became. This knowledge may also help us to understand what unmade and remade him.

What does it mean when you call someone a scrooge?

If you call somebody a "Scrooge" today, everybody will know what you mean. You're implying that someone is miserly, grumpy, and selfish, especially but not only during Christmastime. In fact, the name "Scrooge" comes from a once-used verb "to scrooge," which meant "to squeeze." The first description we get of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol fills out this implication:

Who is Ebenezer's sister in Scrooge?

But this time Ebenezer receives a surprise visit from his sister, Fan. She brings the good news that Ebenezer will be coming home for Christmas, and even beyond. Here's a bit of the dialogue:

Why is Scrooge so stingy?

The theory: Scrooge is so stingy because he lived through the Napoleonic Wars and knows what economic hardship is really like.

How old is Scrooge in the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?

Redditor themightyheptagon explains that because the Charles Dickens story was published in 1843, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his death one year later, "presumably" of old age, you can probably assume Scrooge is around 60 years old when the story happens.

Who said you can't forget the love plot?

Jarvis also said you can't forget the love plot has a lot to do with "Scrooge's failure."

Did the Ghost of Christmas Future see this coming?

Not even the Ghost of Christmas Future saw this coming.

What is Scrooge taught?

Scrooge is taught a lesson - what the good things were that he let slip away. But he will not stay this miserly 'scrouging' person.

Why did Dickens name Scrooge?

Dickens chose the name because it has great onomatopoeic qualities - that means, it sounds like the thing it describes: Scrooge screws money from his clients; he scrounges and scavenges, and "Scrooges" his victims. Scrooge is also a real word.

What is Scrooge's power in Christmas Carol?

Scrooge's power in 'A Christmas Carol' is to make us realise that over the years people change, and not always for the better. When we meet him, grumbling about giving his employee a day off on December 25, he is not the same man he once was. He enjoyed a dance; he fell in love, once. He nearly even married.

Is "scrooge" a word?

Scrooge is also a real word. Spelled slightly differently, 'scrouge' 'scrowge' or 'scroodge' is an old word meaning to squeeze someone, to encroach on their space, making them feel uncomfortable, as sometimes happens at Christmas parties. It can also be used as a noun: a 'scrouge' is a scrum or a tight crowd, a crush.

What does "scrooge" mean in the story?

In fact, however, the name “Scrooge” is a variation of an obscure English verb: “to scrouge” or “to scruze.”. This verb means “to squeeze” or “to press.”. The fact that Dickens chose the name “Scrooge” with this meaning in mind is clear in the classic description of the character in Stave One of A Christmas Carol: Oh!

What Does Scrooge Remind Us Of?

Ebenezer Scrooge reminds us of several things. First and most obviously, he reminds us of Christmas. One cannot read A Christmas Carol without renewing one’s excitement for this unique holiday. As I have noted earlier in this series, when Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, Christmas was by now means a major or beloved holiday. Dickens used the “help-stone” of Ebenezer Scrooge to promote the importance of Christmas .

Why did Charles Dickens name Ebenezer Scrooge?

Ebenezer Scrooge was not only a man with a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping” character. He was also to serve as a monument for readers of A Christmas Carol. Dickens intended Ebenezer Scrooge to remind us of things we ought not forget, lest we end up like Jacob Marley and the other spirits who walked the earth in sorrow, dragging the heavy chains they forged in life.

What did Ebenezer Scrooge squeeze so tightly?

What did Ebenezer Scrooge squeeze so tightly? Most obviously, he squeezed his money. He grasped it and clung to it. He held it so tightly that he was unwilling to part with a farthing. But Ebenezer Scrooge also squeezed his heart. He suffocated his own soul with his obsession with gain. Greed was choking the life out of Ebenezer Scrooge.

What was Dickens' frosty rime?

A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas. It’s as if Dickens opened his thesaurus and copied down every synonym of “squeezing.”.

Who is the Ebenezer in Scrooge?

. . . Thank ‘ee!”. The only other character to use the name “Ebenezer” is Old Fezziwig, Scrooge’s former employer whom Scrooge holds in high esteem.

Who was the first person to write a book about the Corn Law Rhymer?

So, for example, in 1840, a man named Ebenezer Elliott, who identified himself as a “Corn-Law Rhymer,” published a book of his poetical works (Edinburgh: William Tait, 1840). The name “Ebenezer” was not original to the English language. In fact, it was an anglicized version of a Hebrew name, which is itself composed of two Hebrew words.

image

1.In A Christmas Carol, why did Scrooge become so mean …

Url:https://www.quora.com/In-A-Christmas-Carol-why-did-Scrooge-become-so-mean-and-heartless

30 hours ago Soon I want to examine what made Ebenezer Scrooge change from being, well, Scrooge, to being a generous man who loved both people and Christmas. But before I …

2.Christmas According to Dickens: What Made Scrooge …

Url:https://www.patheos.com/blogs/markdroberts/2011/12/13/christmas-according-to-dickens-what-made-scrooge-scrooge/

28 hours ago The meaning of SCROOGE is a miserly person. her father is a real scrooge and refuses to pay her way through college, even though he can easily afford it

3.Scrooge Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Url:https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrooge

22 hours ago  · Why I Scrooge SO mean? He is so grumpy. Asked by Bob B #963099 3 years ago 12/15/2019 6:15 AM. Last updated by Aslan 3 years ago 12/15/2019 10:09 AM. Answers 1. Add Yours. Answered by Aslan 3 years ago 12/15/2019 10:09 AM. The character is set up to have embraced greed instead of humanity. He validates himself through his job and wealth while ...

4.What Made Scrooge Scrooge? - Patheos

Url:https://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/2009/12/what-made-scrooge-scrooge

1 hours ago  · Charles Dickens’ classic tale relates the story of how the old, grasping Scrooge is redeemed by the intervention of the ghost of his business partner, Jacob Marley, and …

5.This Finally Explains Why Scrooge Is Such A Scrooge

Url:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/scrooge-christmas-carol-theory_n_565fd9c5e4b079b2818d46ed

18 hours ago In fact, however, the name “Scrooge” is a variation of an obscure English verb: “to scrouge” or “to scruze.”. This verb means “to squeeze” or “to press.”. The fact that Dickens ...

6.Why I Scrooge SO mean? | A Christmas Carol Questions

Url:https://www.gradesaver.com/a-christmas-carol/q-and-a/why-i-scrooge-so-mean-395986

8 hours ago

7.Why did Scrooge become such a scrooge?

Url:https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/2015/12/07/why-did-scrooge-become-such-scrooge/76608550/

15 hours ago

8.Why did Charles Dickens invent Scrooge? - Independent.ie

Url:https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/why-did-charles-dickens-invent-scrooge-30815235.html

30 hours ago

9."Ebenezer Scrooge" - The Meaning of the Name - Mark D.

Url:https://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/markdroberts/2010/12/ebenezer-scrooge-the-meaning-of-the-name.html

30 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9