Dicken’s decadent descriptions and listing of the food available for purchase show the greed and excessiveness of the rich, it then, due to his choice to then show the poor waiting in line for food donations- this juxtaposition further highlights the gulf between the rich and poor.

Consider the underlying messages about the rich and poor that Dickens is giving through the contrasting food ‘situations’.

“tumbling out into the street in their apoplectic opulence”.

“Spanish onions, shining in their fatness of their growth like Spanish friars” – references to religion perhaps further being critical of the so called Christian Victorian society.

Dickens often refers to the fatness and largeness of certain people – the capitalists.

Dickens described the fruits that are mere decorations “pears and apples clustered high in blooming pyramids”.

There is an almost cruelty in the decorations and descriptions of the food which are deliberately there to entrance people – but many would never be able to afford. 

Dickens here (pages 63 – 64) uses very long sentences which are crammed with lists of all of the food – this structural device furthers highlights the extravagance of the foods on offer to the rich in the Victorian era.

The beginning of the paragraph with “but” shows there is a change, and we are about to see how the other half live.

People are valued by how much they earn.

The Cratchit’s meal (compare with food in shops)

One goose for multiple people. Shows the lack of resources and sharing.

Compare the shoppers who forgot their purchases with the Cratchits response to the goose.

Also compare the Cratchit’s elegant movement to the shoppers.  Dickens is suggesting a beauty in the Cratchits through the description of their movements compared with the shoppers.

The facts that the Cratchit’s repair and try to brighten their clothes, and tend them, show their lack of greed  and also their ability to accept and try to improve their situation with very little resources.

The care and concern for Martha shows that people matter more to the Cratchits than food.

The fact that the young boys listen to the “pudding singing”… Dickens personifies the food to…

Why does Dicken use the word Tiny constantly for Tim – is he highlighting his insignificance in society? Also it is emotive language that evokes sympathy and possible pity.

Dickens juxtaposes the physical size of the Capitalists and the “tiny” size of tim – is he highlighting the societal inequality and also the unequal sharing of resources.

“crammed spoons into their mouth, lest they should shriek for goose before their turn” – tragic but shows their respect for others, and highlights the rarity that food is to them.

“eked out by the apple sauce and mashed potatoes”. The word choice of eked out suggests the lack of resources etc.