How Dickens shaped Christmas through food.

A Christmas Carol - How Dickens shaped Christmas.

 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens has integrated itself into every Christmas British home. The tale of how a rich but selfish man named Scrooge discovers compassion after three spirits show him the poor conditions the lower classes survive in. Repeatedly Dickens employs the topic of food as a catalyst to depict power (or lack thereof). The Cratchits' dinner is famously used as a symbol of poor status. The family's expression of positive energy is brought to the readers attention as "the two smaller Cratchits'" come "tearing in screaming" as they prepare to eat their meal, starkly juxtaposing the actual description of the "eked out" portions; in this way, it is obvious that they scarcely indulge in a sit-down meal, a rare occasion to perhaps even have hot food.

Scrooge witnesses Bob Cratchit give a toast to him, "I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast", knowing full well he had failed to provide the family with enough money to sustain them. Dickens uses food to demonstrate a shift in Scrooges morality. The next day  Scrooge turns up to the Cratchit household on Christmas morning with the biggest turkey he could find. The act of Scrooge presenting the turkey to the family represents a radical movement in Victorian culture. While Dicken's did not 'invent' the Victorian Christmas, his book 'A Christmas Carol' certainly altered many traditions that are familiar with the modern day Christmas such as having a turkey rather than a goose or a chicken.  

Comments

  1. The Impish ReaderNovember 27, 2018 at 11:58 PM

    This is a very fascinating piece and I like how you have explored the context of the Christmas celebrations as well as how food serves as a storytelling device. I remember studying this book as well for this module and it was a very fun experience! ;)

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