Stave 2

Scrooge: Stave 2

We begin to see a more vulnerable and caring side to Scrooge's character in Stave 2 when we meet him as a young, lonely boy.

Vulnerable

For the first time, Scrooge is not the one in control; the Ghost of Christmas Past is.
- The reader sees Scrooge being vulnerable and treated almost like a child by the Ghost, who wants him to face his past because he wants to help Scrooge.
- This links well with the idea that the Ghost of Christmas Past is taking Scrooge to see his childhood, where he was vulnerable and in need of a loving parental figure.

Lonely child

When the Ghost mentions the schoolhouse, he reveals the true extent of Scrooge’s lonely childhood – at Christmas time: “A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still”.
- Dickens gives the reader a hint about why Scrooge has ended up as a solitary old man with no friends – this is how he grew up, without support or love from most people (except for his sister, Fan).

Significance of meeting Fan

We meet Scrooge’s sister, Fan.
Fan represents the main source of love in Scrooge’s young life.
She made his childhood happy and loving, compared to his adulthood which is sad and lonely.
She also highlights the fact that Scrooge suffered in childhood through no choice of his own, but as an adult he chooses a lonely, miserable life.
Fan shows that, although Scrooge’s childhood was hard, he did have love and support (she “stood on tiptoe to embrace him”.)

Height of greed

The final visitation into Scrooge’s past is when he and the Ghost see Belle, his ex-fiancé.
Perhaps surprisingly to the reader, we learn that Scrooge was once engaged to be married – he was once deeply loved by someone.
We learn that Scrooge made the choice: money over love (“Gain, engrosses you”). Belle broke their engagement because Scrooge had become so obsessed with making money that she felt alienated from him – “you are changed”.

Scrooge's failed engagement analysed

At this point, the reader may have more mixed emotions about Scrooge: there is empathy because he lost the woman he loved, but also irritation at him because he caused the loss through his obsession with money.
The broken engagement seems to be the final factor in how Scrooge came to be the selfish, greedy old man we met at the start – instead of realising the error of his ways at the time, he seems to have given up on the idea of any sort of relationship and become more and more obsessed with gaining money.

Scrooge starts to show a desire to change his ways through seeing the boy he used to be, the love he had, the friendships and relationships he took for granted, and a glimmer of the life he could be leading.

Realises he is a cruel employer

Scrooge watches the Fezziwigs throwing a huge Christmas party for their employees. They have an amazing feast, some music, everything is colourful and fun.
After watching the party, Scrooge goes very quiet and says that he “should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk”.
Remembering being treated so well by Fezziwig has made Scrooge realise how poorly he treats his own employee: Bob Cratchit.
Again, this reminder causes Scrooge to realise an error in his behaviour and he shows a real desire to make things right.

Regrets mistreating Carol singer

Whilst remembering his childhood, Scrooge thinks about how lonely he was as a boy. This is the first time he begins to regret any of his actions: “There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something”.
The first ghostly visit has started to change Scrooge for the better. When he looks at himself from the outside, he can start to see the error of his ways.
Perhaps this is a message from Dickens about how people can improve themselves and be better citizens if they really think about their actions and how they affect others.

Regrets family life

When the Ghost takes Scrooge to see Belle in her current home with her family, Scrooge gets a glimpse of the loving, family life he could have had. Instead, Belle’s husband comments that Scrooge “sat alone. Quite alone in the world”.
This causes Scrooge a lot of grief: “Remove me! I cannot bear it!”

1Plot Summary

1.1Plot Summary

1.1.1Outline

1.1.2Introducing Scrooge & Marley

1.1.3Stave 1

1.1.4Stave 2

1.1.5Stave 3

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Staves 1-3

1.1.7Stave 4

1.1.8Stave 5

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Staves 4-5

2Key Characters & Quotes

2.1Ebenezer Scrooge

2.1.1Outline & Stave 1

2.1.2Stave 2

2.1.3Stave 3

2.1.4Stave 4

2.1.5Stave 5 & Key Quotes

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Ebeneezer Scrooge

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Bob Cratchit

2.2.2Tiny Tim

2.2.3Fred

2.2.4The Ghosts Pt 1

2.2.5The Ghosts Pt 2

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.2Grade 9 - Extract Analysis

3Key Ideas

3.1Key Ideas

3.1.1Inequality, Ignorance & Want

3.1.2Duality, Family & Love

3.1.3Christianity & Redemption

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Key Ideas

3.1.5Grade 9 - Key Themes

4Context

4.1Context

4.1.1Dickens & Victorian England

4.1.2Poverty & Victorian Christmas

4.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Poverty

4.1.4Gothic Fiction

4.1.5Gothic Fiction & Victorian England

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Context

5Authorial Method

5.1Structure & Techniques

5.1.1Structure & Time

5.1.2Time Frame & Pace

5.1.3Narrative Voice & Tone

5.1.4Settings, Similes & Metaphors

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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