Each ghost marks an important step in Scrooge’s journey towards being a better person. Explain
In Dickens five stave novella each ghost in A Christmas Carol contributes to the final redemption of his journey to becoming a better person. The ghosts take Scrooge on a journey, physically, taking him to visit important aspects of his past, present and future and these journeys metaphorically empathy enlightenment that he needs to change into a more humane person. The five staves outline how he grows as a person, and eventually redeems himself.
Although the three main ghost of the novel are large aspects of Scrooges journey, without the initial visit from Marley’s Ghost, Scrooge would not have had the opportunity change for the better.
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The ghost then takes Scrooge to his boarding school where he is greeted by his much younger sister Fan expressing how excited she is to spend Christmas all together as a family. “Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind;” It is here that Scrooge begins to regret the way he treats Fans only son, Scrooges only nephew and become remorseful for rejecting him from his life. We then are introduced to Scrooges old place of work where he was apprenticed by Old Fezziwig. Scrooge is reminded of the way he was treated by his employer. He was respected and was respectful towards him, and the example of Old Fezziwig demonstrates how Scrooge is the exact opposite. This was an example of what a good employer can be, and he wishes to speak to his clerk. “He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome;” It is now Scrooge begins to understand that he has been making his clerk, Bob Cratchit’s life a misery. The ghost of Christmas past has covered three main aspects of Scrooges past, but the final one is his past relationship with Belle, who he lost because he changed his nature and became more interested in gaining money instead of appreciating what he had. To emphasize the regret Scrooge should feel, the ghost takes him to Belles new home and family, which shakes Scrooge the most because it is what Scrooge missed out on. “When he thought that such another
Dickens uses the supernatural as a method of holding a mirror up to Scrooge who is forced to confront the error of his ways. Dickens shows us that if Scrooge fails to do this it will result in him having a similar fate to Marley. Dickens uses the ghost to emphasize that there is a chance of redemption for Scrooge “that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate”. Dickens’ use of the supernatural continues throughout the story as a means of arousing nostalgia, thought, fear and action by Scrooge. All of these emotions, which Dickens shows us Scrooge is feeling, demonstrate the gradual change in Scrooge throughout the book, and as these changes take place, our thoughts and feelings towards the relationship we have with Scrooge also changes; we begin to understand him and see under his hard outer shell.
During the first haunting Scrooge was haunted by The Ghost Of Christmas Past. In this trip he learned how greedy he had become. Scrooge visited his childhood home. On page 656, His sister Fan said, “You’re a man and never to come back here, but first, were to be together all Christmas long, and have the merriest time in the world.” The young child Fan would only say this because Scrooge had never come home for Christmas. He also visited the Christmas’ in his life when he loved and lost his ex-fiance. He met his fiance during an apprenticeship from Mr. Fezziwig, a warehouse owner, and they were both poor and didn’t care that they were so. A few years later they were engaged and the woman left Ebenezer, saying, he was to in love with money and no longer in love with her. This is shown on page 659, “Our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both poor and intended to be so.” These lessons helped Scrooge to learn what amount of greed he had in his soul, and it
In Scrooge’s past and present, his actions had not been admirable. In reaction to this, Scrooge had closed himself off and become cold and impenetrable by any kindness. He had no empathy for others. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come changed this mindset by showing Scrooge the most severe consequences of his cold hearted actions. In
Scrooge lives in a gloomy suite of rooms, which is so old and dreary that Scrooge is the only one who lives there. This is where Scrooge encountered Marley, on Christmas Eve seven years to the date when he passed away. Marley firsts appears on the door where the knocker sits, “but looked at scrooge as Marley used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up upon is ghostly forehead. Scrooge is not an easily frightened man, but from the sight of the ghostly face, he becomes slightly unnerved, and double looks himself in as an attempt to dismiss the ghostly face. “I won’t believe it,” once again is presented with a ghostly figure, “ I know him!
Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserable and greedy old man, who focuses mainly on his business and continues with his greedy ways on Christmas Eve. He is always grumpy and yells at his employees, and most of all at Bob Cratchit. Scrooge’s desire is to be by himself on Christmas Eve, and rejects his nephew Fred’s, invitation for dinner. One night, the ghost of Jacob Marley, a former colleague of Scrooge, who has passed away seven years ago, visits the old man. Marley reminds Scrooge of his cruel lifestyle and encourages him to change it before it is too late. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him. When Scrooge falls asleep, The Ghost of Christmas Past visits him first. The Ghost shows him scenes from the past the reveal Scrooges’ live; from a lonesome young boy to a man who has allowed greed to overcome his life, a man who does not know love and compassion. Scrooge is touched by what he has seen and even allows emotions to overcome his stone-cold heart. Secondly, the Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge. The Ghost takes Scrooge to several Christmas celebrations, including the party at Fred’s house. Also the Ghost takes Scrooge to the Crachit’s house, and warns him that unless the future is changed the crippled young son of Bob, Tiny Tim will die. The ghost warns Scrooge to be carful of his ignorance. Lastly the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come visits Scrooge. The old man becomes aware that several people discuses the death of someone. At last, he learns that this is
Scrooge began his transformation into a good man when the Ghost of Christmas present shows him the Cratchit household. Scrooge throughout this scene is presented with the consequences of his actions and how they affect those who are less fortunate than he. “Think of that. Bob had but fifteen bob a-week himself; he pocketed on Saturdays but fifteen copies of his Christian name; and yet the Ghost of
The first of the three spirits was the spirit of Christmas past. The spirit of Christmas past took ol’ dolorous Scrooge to see his past childhood. The text states that “they passed through Scrooge’s wall, and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either end.” This city had vanished in present time. “Good Heaven! Said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. ‘I was bred in this place, I was a boy here.” The significance is that Scrooge learns to not be such a gargantuan jerk. Scrooge’s feelings are as if he is being tortured by the spirit of Christmas past. As you would expect, Scrooge hated watching his childhood past, and begs the spirit of Christmas past to dispel him from his childhood. Scrooge very much is gargantuanly odious of watching his childhood, as he cannot bear it. The ghost of Christmas past takes Scrooge back.
a small old man. It is partly the form of a child to emphesise Scrooge
By this part in the novel, dickens introduced the next Ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Present. The ghost of Christmas present takes Scrooge to his clerk`s house. Here he witness the unfortunate conditions of their Christmas, however, it doesn’t appear to be so unfortunate at all; although Scrooge notices how Tiny Tim is crippled and at deaths door. He is moved by this sight, and that of his clerk’s family. He had never imagined their lives to be like this before; however it’s astonishing to him, that although extremely poor, they are full of joy and happiness. He notices the simple pleasures of family life as well. Furthermore something strange begins to happen, he sympathises with Tiny Time, who Scrooge understands will die without financial help. Dickens has showed us how scrooge is changing and learning to sympathise, a “skill” he previously didn’t have. "Spirit," said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, "tell me if Tiny Tim will live." ' Dickens once more showing us scrooges new found affections. Additionally when the Spirit predicts “an empty chair if things do not change”, Scrooge is quite
In the novel “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens, a scene occurs in which the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to visit miners, lighthouse keepers, and sailors to witness how they celebrate the day of Christmas. This scene contributes to the overall theme and message of “A Christmas Carol” by reinforcing the notion of companionship over isolation. The miners, lighthouse keepers, and sailors all embody companionship, something Scrooge is lacking at the beginning of this journey. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes scrooge to these locations to demonstrate all that is missing from his life due to living in isolation.
In 'A Christmas Carol', Charles Dickens represents Scrooge as an unsympathetic man who is offered the opportunity to redeem himself. Through use of language, the reader is positioned to view him adversely, but during the journey of morality lessons shown by three spirits, Scrooge recovers his sense of joy by undergoing a significant transformation. Scrooge seeks redemption through the many lessons taught by the Spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
Marley tells Scrooge that he will be visited by 3 ghosts and to take heed of what happens. The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows the past of Scrooge. In the past, Scrooge was a happy young man that he was very enjoy his Christmas Eve. He was also a carefree and in love. Scrooge had a younger sister who passed away early and his sister leaving a child Fred. Scrooge was very love his sister but he did not like her child. When his adult life, he met a girl and the girl became his wife, Mrs. Scrooge. However, money became his greatest desire. His wife left him because his wife felt Scrooge love money more than her. Scrooge felt the
Using the first spirit, Scrooge was forced to face the fact that people viewed him as greedy and selfish, and began to open him up to the fact that he needs to change. The second spirit, The Ghost of Christmas Present, arrived and took Scrooge to the home of a worker of his, Bob Cratchit. It showed the family content, despite barely getting by. When Scrooge saw Bob’s sick son, he began to show worry that he would not survive. When the spirit told him that the son would not make it to next Christmas, this made Scrooge want to help him. This kind of emotion was unlike him, showing that he was changing (CC40). The spirit then took him to several other Christmas gatherings, where he enjoyed himself and played many games, even though he was merely in a dream. This spirit was used to open up Scrooge and showed his inner want to be around people. These thoughts for Scrooge were different than his from the beginning of the novel, showing that the spirits were being used to teach valuable lessons to Scrooge. The final spirit arrived, but would not answer when asked if he was the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge plead with the ghost to share his lesson with him, fearful of becoming like Marley (CC51). The silent spirit took Scrooge to a series of strange places, showing people discussing the death of a dead rich man. He then began to understand the
spirit of the characters develops into an adventurous journey. The setting is Christmas Eve and a poor man is working diligently while the owner, Ebenezer Scrooge, refuses to let him have Christmas Day off. Later that night at Scrooge's house, his old, dead, partner in business, Marley, visits him and tells him to change his ways and that three ghosts will come to haunt him: The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present, and The Ghost of Christmas Future. They all show him scenes in which Scrooge realizes his guilt and eventually make Christmas a better time for everyone he originally affected. Scrooge changes from a cold-hearted miser,
“ Spirit, hear me. I am not he man I was. I will not be the man I have been for so many years. Why show me all of this if I am past all hope? Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me. Let the boy live! I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.” (Scrooge, p.140). A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is an important story as it has a meaningful theme of change, as the quotes states above. But that isn’t the only theme that this beautiful story shows us. Many different spirits encounter him to help him realize why Christmas is important (I’m pretty sure that is the meaning of the spirits). When the first spirit of the past encounters him, he realizes what he has done, and regrets some of the things he did. The second spirit helped Ebenezer Scrooge recognize how what he has been doing has had an impact in other peoples life. When the frightening third spirit came and showed him his future and others futures, he discovers about himself and how people didn’t care that he died. When we read A Christmas Carol, we learn that it can have many different themes that can be a very important component to the story and even our lives.