The Perfect Christmas in A Christmas Carol Anonymous 12th Grade

‘A Christmas Carol’ was immediately popular in Victorian England and soon, the rest of the world. It became a cultural icon, sparking a tradition to be read every Christmas Eve in many households. The relevance of the novella, even in the 21st century is testament to its immortality and ability to resonate with people decades later. The tremendous reception of A Christmas Carol can be attributed to Charles Dickens' ability to paint a perfect portrait of what Christmas should be without eschewing from reality entirely. Readers could identify with the characters and their plight and celebrate Scrooge’s fanciful redemption. This earnest piece of literature Dickens offers was an escape from the depressing reality of the social disquiet in 19th century Europe, primarily in the ‘Hungry 40s’ that encompassed the Great Irish Famine, atrocious prisons and workhouses (Poor Law Amendment Act 1934), the grotesque prevalence of Malthusian principal, severe privation and the dichotomy between rich and poor progressively stretching. The struggling majority were thirsty for social reform. Dickens offers a simple solution: “to honour (his version of) Christmas in their hearts and try to keep it all the year.” Because Scrooge is the only...