Author's Note: The passage I have chosen to asses for purpose, meaning, and tone is the following: The spirit, for which he stood, with Scrooge beside him, in a bakers doorway, and, taking off the covers as their bearers passed, sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch. And it was a very uncommon kind of torch, for once or twice when there were angry words between some dinner carriers who had jostled each other, he shed a few drops of water on them from it, and their good humor was restored directly . For they said it was a shame to quarrel upon Christmas Day. And so it was! God love it, so it was.
Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol
Page 58
The passage in Stave Three shows the spirit of Christmas Present's interest in the quarrels of neighbors and families on Christmas day. When an unfortunate battle begins over dinner, gifts, or each others presence, he simply sprinkles the incense of his torch on their doorway, and their Christmas Spirit gets the best of them, as they return to their jolly selves. Its purpose shows what the effects of Christmas day can do to an unhappy family. Whether the spirit is even needed or not could be argued, it’s the time of the year that really cheers families up. The tone of this passage is suggestive. It provides an example of what a perfect Christmas could be, and the steps you could follow in order to have one.
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