AN ANALYSIS OF \"A CHRISTMAS CAROL\" A DRAMA BY CHARLES DICKENS

AN ANALYSIS OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A DRAMA BY CHARLES DICKENS



Compiled by :
Umi Marfathonah (J1A015036)


Introduction to Literature
Rosyid Dodiyanto, S.S., M.Hum




SASTRA INGGRIS B
FAKULTAS ILMU BUDAYA
UNIVERSITAS NEGERI JENDERAL SOEDIRMAN
TAHUN AJARAN 2015/2016

INTRODUCTION

Drama is one of the literary work and represented in a performance. It represents what the authors thinks about in their head and usually based on the reflection of people's conflict. Drama also has become the way for author to express their feeling to the audience. For the example to criticize through the storyline of the drama. Criticize comes where the situation goes wrong or doesn't work as it could be.
The drama that is going to be analyzed in this paper is "A Chrismas Carol", a drama by Charles Dickes. The analysis of this drama consists of two, which are ;
1. What are the elements of the drama "A Chrismas Carol" ?.
2. What are the moral values from this drama?











LITERARY REVIEW
There are the theories for analyzing the drama, they are:
A.The Definition Of Drama
Drama is a piece of writing that is presented through the dialogue played by the actor in a performance.
B. Elements Of Drama
1. Theme = Theme is how the way the story runs and it became the basic of the story. The theme will be found by examining the trend of the whole work-the conflict, with which it deals, and the nature of its outcome.
2. Plot = Plot is parts of story that should develop from an interesting conflict into an absorbing climax and satisfying resolution. Plot consists of 4 parts, which are ;
a. Exposition = An introduction. In the play's exposition, the play wright introduces us to the characters and their environments (that is to their setting).
b. Conflict = The problems. Conflict usually arises when someone wants something of vital importance but has to overcome the obstacles to get it.
c. Complication and Climax = In this part, the problem arises to be complication, and the climax is moment of highest suspense and tension.
d. Resolution = Answering all questions. In the resolution, the major of the problems are solved.
3. Character = Characters are the people (sometimes animals or ideas) portrayed by the actors in the play. It is the characters who move the plot.
4. Background and Atmosphere = It consists of the setting of drama such as time and place, costume and decoration, make up, the stage, the three dimentional units stuff, the lighting, the background and the music sound that support the atmosphere of the drama.
5. Dialogue = A speech between the actor who play the character of the drama.

DISCUSSION
A CHRISTMAS CAROL
A. Summary
The drama begins with the atmosphere of a Christmas Day in an office. There are three people in it, they are Mr. Scrooge, Fred and Mr. Cratchit. They have an conversation about Christmas and seems like Mr. Scrooge don't care at all. Fred invited Mr. Scooge to his dine with his wife in the night but Mr. Scrooge refuses it. He always said Christmas just a humbug. Then, Mr. Scrooge goes to his home and takes a sleep. Suddenly a spirit of Marley is coming and tell Mr. Scrooge that there are three spirits will come to him. The first spirit take him to his past when he was a boy, such a tragedy that he can't celebrate the Christmas at home like the other child. The first spirit also take him to the moment when his fiancee decided to end up their relation because of money. Then, the second spirit come and take him to Mr. Cratchit's home, they have a celebration but one of their family isn't in a good condition. The visits are over and then the third spirits is coming. The spirit take him to a tomb place which written Mr. Scrooge's name and finally he wake up.

B. Analysis
1. Definition Of Drama
As the explanation before, "A Christmas Carol" belongs to drama because it has theme, plot, characters, and background and atmosphere.
2. Elements Of Drama
a. Theme = Social criticism. A Christmas Carol is how the way the Christmas must be celebrated, it must be full of happiness, love and togetherness but Mr. Scrooge didn't. He refused to celebrate the Christmas because it's just a humbug. He refused the dinner invitation and rather to go to his bed.
b. Plot = Foward and back forward.. From the script, the author tells about the life of Mr. Scrooge in a Christmas Day. The story flows until the first spirit take him to his past, it's indicated that the story brings to forward plot and then back forward. Then, finally Mr. Scrooge come back to his life and the story goes to a forward plot.
a. The supporting for the forward plot :
In a cold Christmas, Fred asks Mr. Scrooge to come to his dinner. Mr. Scrooge is too busy with his work and say everything that comes from Christmas is humbug. Fred left and say "Merry Christmas!" and then two of charity person comes to ask some money to charity. Mr. Scrooge also refuses it because he thinks that he works for his own money. His money isn't for lazy person who doesn't work. Then after all these events, he comes back to his home and falls asleep.
b. The supporting evidence for the back foward plot
When he falls asleep, the ghost of Marley, his partner come to him and tell he will end up like Marley, but, there are three spirits will come to warn him about this. The first spirit comes to him and take him to his past when he was a boy. It indicated that the plot belongs to back forward plot because the first spirit has forces Mr. Scrooge to remember about his memory of the past.

1. Exposition = In exposition, the story begins in the Mr. Scrooge office. Mr. Scrooge has a conversation with his clerk, Mr. Cratchit. Mr. Cratchit asks the day off for Christmas and Mr. Scrooge made it. Then, Fred, his nephew come to invite Mr. Scrooge to the dinner tomorrow night. He refuses it because he doesn't need the stuff. After all these tiring events, Mr. Scrooge comes back to his home and take a sleep.
2. Conflict = In conflict, it tells us about Marley's appearance while Mr. Scrooge falls asleep. He warns that the three spirits will come to him. In here, Mr. Scrooge starts to feel panic what will happen to him.
3. Complication and Climax = In complication, finally the first spirit comes and brings him to his past. The first spirit shows the part of Mr. Scrooge's life in the past as a boy. Mr. Scrooge remembers that there's no home to be entered when Christmas comes. The first spirit also takes him when he was a young man and had a conversation with his fiancee. Their relation had ended up because of his ambition to reach the money. Then Mr. Scrooge comes back to his bed and the second spirit comes and brings him to the present situation. It is in the Mr. Cratchit's home. The house is very warm even with simple celebration, the family looks full of happiness and love. Mr. Scrooge realizes that he do not pay Mr. Cratchit yet for his works, and the situation also shows that one of the family member is sick. It indicated the story is goes to complication, Mr. Scrooge feels poor for himself. In climax, the third spirit comes and shows about Mr. Scrooge's future. There are two persons having a conversation in front of Mr. Scrooge's gravestone. They hopes that there's no more a cruel old man like Mr. Scrooge anymore and he ends up in the hell. In this climax, the author has shown us Mr. Scrooge's emotional about his life. He feels he can't be the best human for the others instead of being a cruel old man.
4. Resolution = In resolution, finally Mr. Scrooge wakes up from his sleep in the Christmas morning and totally changed. He changes his mind and accept Fred's invitation to dinner. He also brings turkeys and gifts for everybody. Fred's family have a good enthusiasm about it. He allows his assistant, Mr. Cratchit to go to his home after four and give him the salary, and also, he give a money for Tim, one of Mr. Cratchit's family member for medical treatment. The last one, he gives the charity man all his money to the poor. Mr. Scrooge becomes a lovable man in that day.
c. Character
Main characters
1. Ebenezer Scrooge = Stingy, cruel, ambitious and kind-hearted man. The proof to describe Mr. Scrooge is a stingy and cruel man is when he refuses to donate for charity and act rude, he also an ambitious man in work and reaches a lot of money. He also a kind-hearted man after the spiritual jouney moment. Actually, he is a kind-hearted man, but something in the past makes him become something different.
2. Bob Cratchit = He is a lovable man, loyal and kind-hearted man. The proof is Mr. Cratchit decide to keep work in Mr. Scrooge even he know that the man is cruel. He does this for his family, he loves his family and will do anything he can. It proves when he ask the day off to gather with his family in the Christmas.
3. Fred = Kind-hearted man. Fred is the one and only Mr. Scrooges's family member that he has. Just like Mr. Cratchit, Fred doesn't hate Mr. Scrooge even he do something rude. Fred and family keep asking the invitation to Mr. Scrooge humbly.

Supporting characters :
a. Charity men = Two kind-hearted men, they didn't angry when Mr. Scrooge refuses to donate and ask him if he want to changes his mind.
b. The spirits = Actually the characteristic of the spirit didn't mentione because they are neutral creature and help Mr. Scrooge to be a better person.
c. Fred's family = Humble. They are warm family who appreciate Mr. Scrooge.
d. Bob Cratchit's family = Humble. Just like Fred's family, they also a warm family even they are a poor family.

d. Background And Atmosphere
The background of this drama is quite variable. From the place, it takes Mr. Scrooge's office, Mr. Scrooge's house and Mr. Cratchit's house. From the time, it takes a day in a Christmas. From the atmosphere it takes Christmas atmosphere, it's proven by the dialogue through turkeys, gift, dinner, winter and charity program.
e. Dialogue
The dialogue in this drama contribution to the aspects, like, theme, plot, characters and background and atmosphere.
1. Theme
The dialogue that describes the theme of this drama is that when Mr. Scrooge said "Christmas! Humbug! Stop thinking and get on with your work!, it proves that Mr. Scrooge refuses how the Christmas should be.
2. Plot
The dialogue that proves the plot of this drama is when Bob Cratchit says "Well, tomorrow is Christmas and I was thinking…" and it's the plot of the story begins.
3. Character
The dialogue in the drama also shows us about the character of the drama. In this drama, the dialogue show the characters of them. The dialogue that proves Mr. Scrooge's character is; "Christmas dinner?? Humbug! I have no time for such nonsense!". Mr. Scrooge uses an intonation in it and it makes him look rude. Then, the dialogue that proves Mr. Cratchit's character is; "Now let's bless this food. Dear God, please bless our Christmas dinner. Please let Tiny Tim get better". It proves that he appreciate what God's simple gift to him and hopes that Tim will get better. The last, the dialogue that proves Fred's character is; "Of course you can, Uncle. You are always welcome to our house.". It proves he always be open person to his uncle. Finally, those are the dialogue of the three main character in this drama.
4. Background and Atmosphere
The dialogue that proves the background of this drama is "Can I come for dinner tonight? I will pay for the turkey and bring presents for everybody!". It shows that will be a celebration on Christmas as usual.

C. The Moral Values
There are important lessons from this drama, they are;
1. Learn the mistakes from the others. In here, Mr. Scrooge had a second chance to live. It proves when Marley's ghost come to him and said he will end up like him because of the sins. Everyone can be a better person if he decides to change because it's never too late to change.
2. Cherish our workmate. In here, Mr. Scoorge rarely gives Mr. Crachit days off and late in pay him. Due to make a good job, there must be a respect and trust between the workers.
3. Love the family. In here, Fred is the one and only family that Mr. Scrooge has. Family is the place where we can trust and always be there to ask the help. Not only in the family, a person needs an interaction with the community too.
4. Plan for the future. The third ghost shows about the future of Mr. Scrooge which is death. Do something productive everyday and don't get the lazy.

CONCLUSION

The drama, "A Christmas Carol" shows us about the social criticism of human beings. Mr. Scrooge is an ambition and also the stingy person who works for himself, and the money doesn't belong to charity because he thinks they are lazy person. He rejects to gather in Chrismas Day and choose to sleep. He realized that he goes wrong with his behavior and he changes it through the journey of the spirit. The main moral story from this drama is everyone can change to be a better person if he wants.
This is the end of the analysis of this drama. This paper has already answered the questions, they are;
1. The elements of the drama and analysis.
2. The moral values of the drama.
This paper is arranged to fulfill Introduction to Literature subject and hope that the paper will be the beneficial for everyone. The criticts, corrections and suggestions are accepted in order to make a better one. Thank you.









BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Module, Introduction to Literature.
2. Pfister , Manfred. 1988. The Theory and Analysis of Drama. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.