A content analysis of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Abstract

This study is an analysis of an 1843 novel A Christmas Carol using New Historical Approach and Capitalism Theory to examine the social milieu of the story. New Historical approach looks at literature in a wider historical context, examining both how the writer's times affected the work and how the work reflects the writer's times, in turn recognizing that current cultural contexts color that critic's conclusions. The novel was written by Charles Dickens, first published in London by Chapman & Hall in 1843, and illustrated by John Leech. This study analyzed the milieu of when the story was written, determined the purpose of Charles Dickens for writing the A Christmas Carol; moreover, this study identified the type of literary approaches used by the author in writing the story, and analyzed the structural elements of the story such as the plots, which exemplify historical relevance, characters, setting, conflict, symbolism, tone, theme, and the point of view. Based on the analysis, the story is not entirely realist, since there are fanciful elements; nonetheless, the story shares some similitude with realist fiction since it portrays the injustice against the poor during the Victorian society. The dominating themes of the story highlight the themes of Past, Present and Future - The Threat of Time, Family, Greed, Generosity and Forgiveness, Christmas and Tradition, and Social Dissatisfaction and the Poor Laws. This novel is greatly recommended to all people in general. This is a creation to make us realize that Christmas is the time of year where everybody should rejoice and be happy. Dickens was obviously trying to make a statement that we should all enjoy life as we have only one chance to. It is such a classic story, and is remembered today as the "one and only" Christmas story.