Wishing you a Merry Christmas, with quotes from Dickens' Christmas Carol, observations from AI, and verse from Conrad Wainwright III, the poet laureate of Beauville.
The pictured painting is by the artist Nancy Adams Nash.
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens - from the beginning.
"Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas."
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Foul weather didn’t know where to have him. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. They often “came down” handsomely, and Scrooge never did.
Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, “My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?” No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o’clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, “No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!”
But what did Scrooge care! It was the very thing he liked. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call “nuts” to Scrooge."…
AI: During the year that Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol," England was a nation marked by immense social and economic inequality, rampant poverty, and widespread social unrest. It was a time of great contrasts; while some sections of society reveled in wealth and opulence, the majority of the population languished in deprivation and hardship.
The Industrial Revolution had brought about considerable changes in England's economy, transforming it into the world's leading industrial power. However, this rapid industrialization also led to significant problems, as large numbers of people flocked to cities seeking work in factories. The urban areas became crowded, polluted, and overcrowded, with appalling living and working conditions.
The working class, which constituted the majority of the population, lived in abject poverty. They toiled for long hours in dangerous factories, mills, and mines, enduring harsh conditions and meager wages. Children were particularly vulnerable, as they were employed in hazardous occupations for little or no pay, often unable to receive a proper education.
Dickens, through "A Christmas Carol," vividly portrays this grim reality. The character of Bob Cratchit, for example, represents the common working man struggling to make ends meet. His meager income and dire living conditions are reflective of the harsh reality faced by many during that time. In the novella, the Cratchit family huddles around a meager Christmas feast, lacking in both quantity and variety, highlighting their destitution.
On the other end of the spectrum, the upper class reveled in their wealth and luxury, oblivious to the hardships faced by the less fortunate. The character of Ebenezer Scrooge epitomizes this detached and callous attitude towards the poor. Scrooge's transformation throughout the story serves as a critique of the indifference and selfishness exhibited by the wealthy elite.
Dickens's novel also sheds light on the immense divides in society through the figure of Marley's ghost, who is weighed down by the heavy chains of his past sins. This symbolism represents the burden of inequality and oppression that afflicts the poor and marginalized.
Additionally, England during this period was marked by a profound sense of social unrest and dissatisfaction. The growing inequality and poverty levels fueled discontent and led to various social movements in pursuit of better working conditions and political reform. Protests, strikes, and demonstrations were becoming increasingly common, providing a backdrop of unrest against which Dickens's story unfolds.
In conclusion, Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol" during a time of stark contrasts in England. The majority of the population suffered in poverty and deprivation, while a privileged few reveled in luxury. Dickens's powerful novella sheds light on the plight of the poor, the indifference of the wealthy, and the social unrest that permeated society. It calls for societal change and empathy, emphasizing the importance of compassion and kindness in the face of immense inequality.
AND: From December 25th, 2022. Merry Christmas from the poet laureate of Beauville, Conrad Wainwright III.
The scotch was flowing
As Conrad smiled
Imagining he'd reincarnated
As the Christ child.
Merry Christmas
It's that time again
Sadly...
Joy this year
Is very thin
The nation sucks
And Biden wars
The House and Senate, remain
A bunch of whores
For the average American
Life is tough
Loaded with debt
The going's rough
So think of Christmases
When life was better
And pray to Jesus
There's no bad weather
Bring on the reindeer
And the pristine snow
Have a drink
Hide from Woe
And Hope Santa Claus
Will arrive again
This time to fix
Our Washington DC
Loony bin
Ignore the World
Until 2023
Ignorance is bliss
The Future Free.
