Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, My dear Scrooge, how are you? The water-plug being left in solitude, its overflowing sullenly congealed, and turned to misanthropic ice. What does the quote Marley was dead to begin with mean? A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer., You were always a good friend to me, said Scrooge. A merry Christmas, uncle! Dickens introduces the character of the ghost of Marley into the story to warn Scrooge of the consequences of his selfish life, for example how Marley says he is condemned to wander the world bound by chains, chains he says he forged in life (suggesting to Scrooge that he has a choice). Old Marley was as dead as a doornail." He died seven years ago, this very night.. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. The narrator considers that the phrase "dead as a doornail" doesn't even describe Marley's lifelessness well enough. Whowereyou then? said Scrooge, raising his voice. But he couldnt replenish it. Save it to put in your poetry book. In that sense, they were dead, as even if you disposed of the door you would not be able to pull the nails out easily, and so they couldnt be used, and might as well be dead. Terms in this set (10) "Marley was dead to begin with" Dickens begins the first stave with this spontaneous infomation that Marley is dead to indicate to readers that Marley is a significant character in the novella and makes readers question if he will com back as a supernatrual incarnation. Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels, but he had never believed it until now. Oh! Battle of Callao. We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner, said the gentleman, presenting his credentials. Design changes: Please bear with us if you come across anything that may look a little disjointed. Scrooge could not feel it himself, but this was clearly the case; for though the Ghost sat perfectly motionless, its hair, and skirts, and tassels, were still agitated as by the hot vapour from an oven. A poor excuse for picking a mans pocket every twenty-fifth of December! said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. It was old enough now, and dreary enough, for nobody lived in it but Scrooge, the other rooms being all let out as offices. With an ill-will Scrooge dismounted from his stool, and tacitly admitted the fact to the expectant clerk in the Tank, who instantly snuffed his candle out, and put on his hat. Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes, nor did he feel, in his heart, by any means waggish then. Taken from the following passage of Stave 1 (Marleys Ghost) of A Christmas Carol: Marley was dead: to begin with. However, he uses his experience to be a better person and change Scrooge too, rather than making him bitter too. Business was Marley's only concern in life, and nobody besides Scrooge mourned him or was involved in his post-death affairs. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. such was I!. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. for a group? Old Marley was as dead as a doornail. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. And then let any man explain to me, if he can, how it happened that Scrooge, having his key in the lock of the door, saw in the knocker, without its undergoing any intermediate process of changenot a knocker, but Marleys face. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there., `If they would rather die, said Scrooge, `they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Dead, your Majesty. The truth is, that he tried to be smart, as a means of distracting his own attention, and keeping down his terror; for the spectres voice disturbed the very marrow in his bones. There is no doubt whatever, about that. Dead as a doornail? Whats Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? Dead, right reverends and wrong reverends of every order. In the first stave, the miser Scrooge is introduced as well as his merry nephew and his poor clerk Bob Cratchit. Marley has been dead these seven years,' Scrooge replied. "Marley was dead to begin with" See answer Advertisement nellygee The quote is stating that Scrooge's name was good in making a change, what it means is that Scrooge had good financial credit At the royal exchange in London, at the part of England's important financial institutions. Becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever. On the wings of the wind, replied the Ghost. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit that night. His nephew left the room without an angry word, notwithstanding. There is no doubt whatever about that. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. What a fine thing capital punishment is! The Royal Albert Bridge, carrying trains over the River Tamar between Plymouth, Devon and Saltash, Cornwall, is officially opened by. William Shakespeare Whats Christmas-time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books, and having every item in em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double-locked himself in, which was not his custom. Marley's form of punishment raises Dickens catholic idea of Purgatory, a place where evil souls of the dead experience great suffering before being purified and got to Heaven. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. As dead as a doornail is a very old English phrase that Shakespeare used in Henry IV Part 2. These will help develop a stronger picture of what you are describing. The firm was known as Scrooge and Marley. It was not in impenetrable shadow as the other objects in the yard were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Pick a familiar subject and type a pen picture of your own. Now, it is a fact, that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on the door, except that it was very large. Write a cinquain of your own. Its humbug still! said Scrooge. How now! said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. Marley was dead: to begin with. If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirits nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Mind! Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.". If we were not perfectly convinced that Hamlets Father died before the play began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts, than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spotsay Saint Pauls Churchyard for instanceliterally to astonish his sons weak mind. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change for anything he chose to put his hand to. The water-plug being left in solitude, its overflowings sullenly congealed, and turned to misanthropic ice. I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices, I dont make merry myself at Christmas and I cant afford to make idle people merry. Humbug, I tell you! He stopped at the outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk, who, cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for he returned them cordially. Free trial is available to new customers only. Why give it as a reason for not coming now?, I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?, I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. One wonders what Shakespeare meant when he used that doornail simile. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Tell me why?, I wear the chain I forged in life, replied the Ghost. That night, on the stroke of midnight, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Marley. `We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner, said the gentleman, Scrooge frowned, and shook his head, and handed the credentials back, `At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, said the gentleman, taking up a pen, `it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. 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. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. `What do you want with me?. Marleywas dead: to begin with. The term dead as a doornail was used in the 1500s by William Shakespeare, and in Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol in 1843. Scrooge and he were partners for I dont know how many years. What was the name of Scrooges business in A Christmas Carol? Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern; beguiled the rest of the evening with his bankers-book, He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner, it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again. Theres irony there. If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirits nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. Dine with us tomorrow.. not to know, that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. The door of Scrooges counting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters. But there was nothing on the back of the door, except the screws and nuts that held the knocker on, so he said Pooh, pooh! and closed it with a bang. a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion of himself, and in a more facetious temper than was usual with him. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old fire-guard, old shoes, two fish-baskets, washing-stand on three legs, and a poker. They were succeeded by a clanking noise, deep down below; as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the casks in the wine-merchants cellar. Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one lifes opportunity misused! wishing, though it were only for a second, to divert the visions stony gaze from himself, e for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins, all of my own creation, when the phantom taking off the bandage round its head, as if it were too warm to wear indoors, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast. Some more recent texts have changed this colon or comma to a hyphen. (Stave 1) "Marley was dead; to begin with." This is the opening line to the book. Marley has been dead these seven years, Scrooge replied. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and Ill keep my Christmas humour to the last. Ill retire to Bedlam.. Remember to se There is no doubt whatever about that. I don't mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. Dickens wants Marley's return to be difficult for US to accept, as readers, too. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The Ghost, on hearing this, set up another cry, and clanked its chain so hideously in the dead silence of the night, that the Ward would have been justified in indicting it for a nuisance. This suggests to the reader that changing to be more charitable is good thing. Pondering on what the Ghost had said, he did so now, but without lifting up his eyes, or getting off his knees. The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. (Couldn't I take 'em all at once and have it over, Jacob" hinted Scrooge. He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel. But I suppose you must have the whole day. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. At this time of the rolling year, the spectre said `I suffer most. never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good. . At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge, said the gentleman, taking up a pen, it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. In fact, they are dead. It was double-locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. What does Dickens mean by Marley was dead to begin with? It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful, to put his hands in his breeches pockets. Dont have an account? Up Scrooge went, not caring a button for that. captive, bound, and double-ironed, cried the phantom, not to know, that ages of incessant labour by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. `What right have you to be dismal? | The clerk promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl. Most idiomatic expressions have some poetry in them along with a vivid image. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. There were Cains and Abels, Pharaohs daughters; Queens of Sheba, Angelic messengers descending through the air on clouds like feather-beds, Abrahams, Belshazzars, Apostles putting off to sea in butter-boats, hundreds of figures to attract his thoughts -- and yet that face of Marley, seven years dead, came like the ancient Prophets rod, and swallowed up the whole. But he put his hand upon the key he had relinquished, turned it sturdily, walked in, and lighted his candle. It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley, since his last mention of his seven years dead partner that afternoon. Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob? he demanded, in a faltering voice. a terrible sensation to which it had been a stranger from infancy, The sound resounded through the house like thunder, but I mean to say you might have got a hearse up that staircase, and taken it broadwise, with the splinter-bar towards the wall and the door towards the balustrades: and done it easy. But the ghost sat down on the opposite side of the fireplace, as if he were quite used to it. Repeat Topic - using a synonym or similar word for the noun Youre rich enough., Scrooge having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment, said, Bah! again; and followed it up with Humbug.. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. Hedidpause, with a moments irresolution, before he shut the door; and hedidlook cautiously behind it first, as if he half expected to be terrified with the sight of Marleys pigtail sticking out into the hall. There is no doubt whatever about that. The mention of Marleys funeral brings me back to the point I started from. It also has that d-alliteration and a nice iambic rhythm. To say that he was not startled, or that his blood was not conscious of a terrible sensation to which it had been a stranger from infancy, would be untrue. Oh! Of course he did. for a customized plan. The audience needs to acknowledge the fact Marley is dead because otherwise it is of no significance that he returns as a ghost to haunt Scrooge. Scrooge signed it. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail." The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. The author uses metaphor and hyperbolic (exaggerated) imagery to establish Scrooges character. went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindmans-buff. He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooges, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again. No rest, no peace. It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up on its ghostly forehead. As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again. There is no doubt whatever about that. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Countrys done for. You dont mean that, I am sure?, I do, said Scrooge. he walked through his rooms to see that all was right. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. In the main street, at the corner of the court, some labourers were repairing the gas-pipes, and had lighted a great fire in a brazier, round which a party of ragged men and boys were gathered: warming their hands and winking their eyes before the blaze in rapture. lect adjectives that describe sight, sound, taste, smell and touch. The passage makes a joke in its implication that the reader might doubt that Marley is deceased (which the reader has no reason for doubt). This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour. who cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge; for he returned them cordially. As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again. The cold became intense. The novels abrupt opening line aims to startle the reader, and the paragraph afterward establishes a tone of facetious humor that creates a sense of intimacy between reader and narrator. Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?, Man of the worldly mind! replied the Ghost, do you believe in me or not?, I do, said Scrooge. he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked again. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Sometimes it can end up there. The novel's . Can youcan you sit down? asked Scrooge, looking doubtfully at him. Hear me! cried the Ghost. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of a strong imagination, he failed. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. There was no doubt whatever about that. Share your pen picture with a friend. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! However Marley does not as he is "doomed to wander the world". Scrooge asked the question, because he didnt know whether a ghost so transparent might find himself in a condition to take a chair; and felt that in the event of its being impossible, it might involve the necessity of an embarrassing explanation. Youre rich enough., Scrooge having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. `Youll want all day to-morrow, I suppose? said Scrooge. You are not looking at it, said Scrooge. You see this toothpick? said Scrooge, returning quickly to the charge, for the reason just assigned; and wishing, though it were only for a second, to divert the visions stony gaze from himself. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Write a cinquain and a shaped poem of your own The clerk observed that it was only once a year. He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner. How could it be otherwise? The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. (Stave 1) Marley was dead; to begin with. This is the opening line to the book. Mercy! he said. Marley has been dead for seven years. Marley was dead: to begin with. The register of his burial was signed by the church, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. The bells ceased as they had begun, together. It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. Marley was dead, to begin with - there's no doubt about that. Required fields are marked *. The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. You'll also receive an email with the link. Jacob, he said, imploringly. It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside, go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them. Wed love to have you back! )Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. SparkNotes PLUS Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face. It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. Scrooge said that he would see himyes, indeed he did. They were portly gentlemen, pleasant to behold, and now stood, with their hats off, in Scrooges office. This must be distintly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate." Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol Read more quotes from Charles Dickens Share this quote: Like Quote Recommend to friends Friends Who Liked This Quote But dont be hard upon me! It swung so softly in the outset that it scarcely made a sound; but soon it rang out loudly, and so did every bell in the house. This lunatic, in letting Scrooges nephew out, had let two other people in. Youre poor enough., `Come, then, returned the nephew gaily. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going on at this rate, and began to quake exceedingly.
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