Bum rap for Scrooge?

[Mark1031]

In the spirit of the season I ask the following:

Do you find anything objectionable in the social/political philosophy of Dickens’ famous character Ebenezer Scrooge (pre-spirit visits)? He is after all just a hard working small businessman, stimulating the economy, providing a living for Bob Cratchett, responsibly saving for his own retirement. He pays his taxes to support the prisons and workhouses. He commits no crimes and keeps to himself.

Did Scrooge get a bad rap?

 

[The Last Conformist]

Where's the "I never read the thing, can't tell" option?

 

[aneeshm]

He did get a bad rap . But of course , he was rich , so that justifies everything you do to demonise him . After all , the fact that Bob Cratchit married when he could not support his wife fully is not his fault , is it ? And that Scrooge valued a good career over early marriage is also something evil . Only evil people want money , right ?

 

[Yom]

Argh! I voted wrong. Can a moderator please change my vote to "yes?" You're a tricky one Mark. Asking if he got a bad rap but making the actual question "do you agree with his philosophy?"

 

[Mescalhead]

On one hand, being a nuts-and-bolts, hard worker like Ebeneezer is commendable. On the other hand, there is no reason to be such a miserly little prick, especially on Christmas. I wouldn't really make him out to be a villain, just an unpleasant man to talk with. I imagine he is efficient, so working for him might have its perks.

 

[Cheetah]

I don't think you could call him evil, but not good either...

More of a neutral morality I suppose.

 

[stormbind]

In the spirit of the season I ask the following:

Do you find anything objectionable in the social/political philosophy of Dickens’ famous character Ebenezer Scrooge (pre-spirit visits)? He is after all just a hard working small businessman, stimulating the economy, providing a living for Bob Cratchett, responsibly saving for his own retirement. He pays his taxes to support the prisons and workhouses. He commits no crimes and keeps to himself.

Did Scrooge get a bad rap?

Nobody in the story accuses Scrooge of being a criminal. They say he is concerned only with profit.

I cannot understand why he stayed in Britain, he would have been perfect for the USA...

 

[thestonesfan]

Yes, I don't know why everyone had such a problem with him. He never bothered anybody. It's a pretty stupid story.

Scrooge is a real tightass employer, and I sure wouldn't want to work for him, but no blame is ever placed on Cratchitt for his own miserable situation! Scrooge is shown as ultimately miserable because no one loves him - but that's all his own doing. Cratchitt pumps out 28 kids but we are supposed to have nothing but sympathy for the dope!

 

[Hitro]

Hmm, the poll question I see there is "Do you find anything objectionable in the social/political philosophy of Scrooge?" and that's why I voted yes.

 

[Mise]

They don't call him Scrooge for nothing, ya know.

Argh! I voted wrong. Can a moderator please change my vote to "yes?" You're a tricky one Mark. Asking if he got a bad rap but making the actual question "do you agree with his philosophy?"

Yeah that's what I did too

 

[Mark1031]

Yeah that's what I did too

Oops, I should've been more careful. I was one of Kerry's pollsters and I assured him he would win.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I remember a MAD Magazine feature from the 1980's whose basic premise was that famous celebrities were re-writing 19th century books to fit their own style/ideas.

Well, one of the examples was Ronald Reagen re-writing A Christmas Carol. In Reagan's description, Scrooge is visted by four "communist ghosts" who use "Marxist-Leninist propaganda" to brainwash him. Reagan then goes on to hope that, next year, Scrooge will be visited by some conservative ghosts who will set him straight.

 

[Mark1031]

He did get a bad rap . But of course , he was rich , so that justifies everything you do to demonise him . After all , the fact that Bob Cratchit married when he could not support his wife fully is not his fault , is it ? And that Scrooge valued a good career over early marriage is also something evil . Only evil people want money , right ?

I do believe that he was demonized prior to my birth and I doubt that I personally had a major influence in perpetuating that view. If you read the story I do not believe that he is presented as evil but as somebody who's life choices have not brought him happiness but despair. He is in the end redeemed in the view of the author. His basic philosophy is that of the current right wing political parties, the question is designed to elicit an examination of that philosophy using a character that has become ingrained in modern Western culture and is generally viewed in a negative light. A simpler question might be do you support a return to the social and political structures of Dickensian England?

 

[stratego]

When I first saw the title of the thread, I thought you meant this:
I wish there's a way to communicate the beat in my head through writing.