A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVE 1

A CHRISTMAS CAROL - STAVE 1

Get ready for lots of things to think about as we embark on our Christmas novel!

The first thing to ask ourselves is what in the world is a "stave?" It's not Latin, French, or any other language for the word chapter. It's a musical term. It's another word for "staff," the five lines that notes are written on. Right from the start Dickens establishes his musical theme .

As you read Stave 1 we must acknowledge Dickens' masterful word use. If you haven't noticed already, note his use of similes throughout the stave. You can find the first one in paragraph one. Images take shape in our minds with all of his descriptive language. Also, the use of foreshadowing. The level of fog and darkness continues to grow which gives the reader a feeling of ominous foreboding.

Dickens gives us a complete description of Scrooge. I love, love, love this description. Does he not arise in your mind as you read the words "tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner" and on it goes in delightful description.

Scrooge is visited by 3 people/groups in his office (I wonder if this is some throw out to the three ghosts. I haven't fully tried to think through any possible connections. I think there may be, and I will try to watch for it as we go through!): his nephew, the men collecting for the poor, and the boy caroling.We have this beautiful juxtaposition of Scrooge and his nephew. The poor, cheerful, married, Christmas-keeping nephew versus the rich, curmudgeon, single, Christmas-hating Scrooge. We have to have quote references as we travel through these visits! We'll start with "every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of Holly through his heart." With the men collecting for the poor we have the back and forth conversation of are there no prisons, workhouses, etc. The men shaking their head in sorrow say yes there are. You can almost here Scrooge breathe an audible sigh of relief that he doesn't have to worry about the problem. The government has it covered. The young boy who carols at the door has a ruler thrown at him. (Be on the lookout for a moment of regret later by Scrooge for this action.)

Then there is Bob Cratchit, the underpaid, hard-working clerk who works for Scrooge. Despite having nothing in the world materially he partakes of the Christmas joy brought into the office by others. Scrooge accuses him (with another great quote) of stealing from him when he acknowledges that he would like the 25th off. It's "a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!" Scrooge grudgingly gives him the day off, but instructs him to be at work early the next day. And so the workday concludes on the 24th and Scrooge and Cratchit head home.

I'm going to skip Scrooge's dreary routine before heading home. Let's key in on some main points. The fog and darkness are swirling more and more. Scrooge lives in Marley's old home. As he goes to let himself in, he notices the doorknocker as it changes shape into the Marley's head. Scrooge even checks to see if Marley's ponytail is sticking out the back of the door.

Let's talk about how Dickens layers the suspense once Scrooge reaches the front door. Imagine yourself alone going home and having the following happen:

1. Marley's head on the door

2. The lights flickering

3. Every bell ringing and then suddenly stopping

4. The sounds of chains being dragged up the steps

5. The sound of the cellar door flying open

6. More chains dragging

7. The appearance of Marley

Can you imagine? I would have perished right then! Heaven help me!

Scrooge refuses to believe what he is seeing. After all there is more "gravy than grave" about Marley. How does he manage to keep some sarcastic humor in the midst of all of this? Well, he does until Marley unwraps the bandage around his head and his chin hits his chest. You know what the wrapping was for right? After dying sometimes a dead person's mouth would be open. If rigor mortis had set in the jaw was broken and a cloth wrapped around to hold the mouth in a more desirable position. Finally Scrooge believes!

So why is Marley there? He has been sent to warn Scrooge of his greedy, selfish, uncaring ways. Every one of Marley's links has been forged due to his self focused ways. Scrooge, of course, is still living, and his chains are accumulating greater lengths than Marley's. Marley tells Scrooge he will be visited by 3 ghosts. As he opens the window to depart, we get a glimpse of all the spirits roaming the earth that never stopped to care for another human being. In fact, we get a very moving picture of a ghost wailing as it looks at a mother and child in need and cannot help them.

Whew! That was a lot wasn't it?! I'll have Stave 2 up in just a bit on its own post! Comment away on your thoughts and notices throughout this fantastic Stave.