Compare the descriptions of the four ghosts Essay Example for Free

Compare the descriptions of the four ghosts Essay Dickens little Christmas book, A Christmas Carol, was one of many of Christmas novels, however the book, as well as selling six thousand copies in one week, has become Dickens most famous novel. Although the Victorians opinions of ghosts were conformist and modern day readers opinions are more lax; the variety of spectres ensured it appealed to both ages and revived the charitable meaning of Christmas for the Victorians. The first ghost Dickens introduces to the reader is Marley and he uses vivid adjectives to illustrate the typical conventions of a ghost. Some of these conventions are shown when Dickens writes, The same face: the very same, and describes his clothes as, usual waistcoat, tights, and boots. In saying that the ghost has, the same, face and clothes as the person it originated from, it conforms to the stereotypical image of a ghost. This makes the reader feel more comfortable with the opening of the novel; allowing the reader to make the prediction that the other ghosts would be similar. This successfully results in the reader being shocked later on in the book. Furthermore, Dickens uses personification to create the suspense and fearfulness that the reader would expect a ghost to do. This is evident with the quote, flame leaped up, and, it cried, I know him! Marleys ghost. When the flame, leaped up, it gives the effect that it has identified something so fearful that it has gave life to in-animate objects. This makes the reader desperate to find out why this ghost is so frightening. The flame also seems to detect that the ghost is Jacob Marley, which suits the idea that a ghost haunts someone that did wrong to them in their previous life. Adding to the terrifying image of the spectre, Dickens highlights the fear with the phrase, disturbs the very marrow in his bones. The phrase strengthens the idea that Marley is a typical spectre as a Victorian reader would expect Scrooge to be immensely scared of the ghost, this is because the conformist opinion was that ghosts were to be frightened of. Although Marley is overall a conventional ghost, Dickens does use a combination of metaphors and similes to add interesting original touches. These are found when the book says, being provided with an infernal atmosphere of its own, and, as by the hot vapour from an oven. The simile highlights the alteration between Scrooge and the ghost. One interpretation of this is that the simile is a representation of how a ghost sees the world from a different perspective then a human. The simile emphasises this interpretation and suggests that the difference between the perspectives of the two characters is that the ghost looks on the earth with envy as his own world as Marleys own world agitates like, hot vapour. This is one of the first signs that the book will push the conformist boundaries of the after life; alerting the reader to the thought that this ghost has feelings, which is not expected from a Victorian audience. In contrast to the ghost of Jacob Marley, the ghost of Christmas past is strange and unconventional. Just as in the description of Marley, Dickens uses sound to build up suspense. For example, he describes the hour bell as, hollow. The use of this word may mean that the ghost is evil, however on the other hand it may suggest that it wont use discretion as it is hollow and doesnt have a heart; this is significant as it was believed that feelings came from the heart in the Victorian period. The word is successful as it makes the reader make predictions about the ghost before it arrives. This is playing with the reader and will create anxiety, as the reader will want to discover whether the prediction was right or not. In addition, Dickens confirms the idea of a ghost further. This occurs when he writes, unearthly visitor. One interpretation of this is that the word, unearthly, gives the impression that it doesnt belong on earth and is not a typical creature. This adds to the idea of a typical ghost however, a subtle implication strays from the stereotype. The word, visitor may imply that the ghost will not stay long which may seem insignificant to a modern reader but the Victorians feared that ghosts would haunt a specific person making their lives a misery. I think that this effectively created an unusual sense around the ghost that pre-emptively warns the reader that it isnt a normal ghost. Moreover, Dickens uses juxtaposition to make the reader acknowledge that the ghost represents something. The contrast is shown with phrases such as, like a child, and, like an old man. The contrast implies that what someone does in the past can alter their future so you should always do the right thing. This representation is further emphasised with the imagery, now with one leg, and, now with twenty legs as it gives an interesting, visibly imaginable example of the change. These quotes are successful as the reader can see that the ghost represents the fact that every action has a consequence.