'A Christmas Carol' Stave 2: Belle

Belle ended her relationship with Scrooge because she recognised that he valued money over human connection Dickens presents greed as corruptive, suggesting that it spreads misery and unhappiness The breakdown of the engagement is the point at which Scrooge turns his back on society entirely Through Belle, we see Scrooge’s capacity for love and hope that he might find it within himself to love again Dickens presents Belle as a content mother and wife to illustrate that money is not what brings happiness