Scrooge's Isolation and the Effects of Capitalism
Ever wondered why some wealthy people seem so miserable? Dickens uses Scrooge to show how capitalism can create isolation and destroy human connections.
The famous simile "solitary as an oyster" perfectly captures Scrooge's character. He's got a hard shell protecting him from the world, but there's a soft pearl hidden inside. This isn't violent loneliness - it's self-imposed imprisonment caused by his obsession with money.
When Scrooge claims he "can't afford to make idle people merry," Dickens reveals the irony - he literally can't even afford to make himself happy. This shows how wealth worship has become like a false religion for him, replacing Christian values with greed.
Key Insight: Scrooge represents the Victorian upper class who ignored the suffering of the poor, reflecting the harsh 1834 Poor Law that dehumanised those in need.
Dickens shows us that Scrooge's obsession with wealth has "displaced" love and family from his life. His relationship with Belle ends because money becomes more important than human connection, proving that capitalism can corrupt even the most fundamental relationships.