I found this week’s focus on John Leech’s artwork for A Christmas Carol flooded with social commentary. In our group discussion we analyzed an illustration of Mr.Fezziwig from Ebinezer Scrooge’s paranormal encounter with the ghost of his past. As we analyzed the steel plate etching, we noted the detailed images of Mr. and Mrs. Fezziwig for being more vibrant and “jovial” in contrast to the other characters around them. We concluded that the illustration was a direct visual interpretation of the upper class, which bordered on mockery. One of the distinct features about the novella is its use of both steel plate etching and wood engravings throughout the story. With the steel plate, Leech was able to incorporate colour in his illustration. In keeping with the direction of my group's conversation, I felt that the use of colour was an added extension of his mockery. The colouring of the lower class workers in the background are dull, while on the other hand Mr.Fezziwig and his wife are colourful. I find it interesting how Leech carefully chose which illustrations to print in steel versus wood. What seemed like an odd choice at first glance, appears to have a more symbolic meaning than I originally assumed. The distinction between the upper and lower class through the use of colour highlighted the importance of illustrations through the context of the entire book as a piece, and the caricatures of Mr. and  Mrs. Fezziwig are great examples of how illustrations can illuminate the deeper meaning of the text.