Comparison Of 'Scrooge And Marley: A Christmas Carol'

The vivid images of the plight of the poor that are presented to Scrooge ultimately act as a catalyst for him to change his miserly ways in order to help the destitute and the needy in society. St the beginning of the novella Scrooge states “if they would rather die…they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. In contrast, at the end of the novella Scrooge is depicted as a benevolent man who is “so fluttered and glowing with his good intentions”, who wished to help the lest fortunate. The personified children “Ignorance” and “Want” act as a catalyst for Scrooge to change his derisory and self-interested nature as he shows interest in the plight of the poor as he is shocked by these two “ragged, scowling” demons by saying ‘ “are there no refugee or resource?” The Ghost states that “there is no degradation, no perversion of humanity” for these “wretched, abject, frightful,” children, which makes Scrooge realise that he needs to change in order to assist them as he “hung his head, overwhelmed with penitence and grief”. This, it is illustrated in the novella that Scrooge transforms his previous, pessimistic self, into an individual who is no just self-interested, but who becomes responsible and generous to the poor by the end of the novel.

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

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

Dickens is trying to teach his audience that loving someone can change who you are because he writes about Scrooge changing for the better. For most of the story Scrooge is a bum, but as the story continues Scrooge begins to open up with his feelings. Scrooge begins to realize how love can change him, and he starts to become a better person because of it. “His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.” (Dickens 50) After the three spirits come to visit him Scrooge stops being grumpy and starts to enjoy the little things in life because the spirits make him realize his ways. Scrooge’s heart opens up and he is more giving and kind then he once was. When your enlightened about how you act towards people and yourself, you want to change yourself for the better. Scrooge used love to change himself because he was a mean old man who didn't give back, but as Scrooge became more one with himself he

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

Ebenezer Scrooge had changed a lot throughout the screenplay and movies. In the story, Scrooge had started out as a rich miser who didn’t care about anything but himself and his business. He ended up being a kind man who helped everyone he could and gave back to the community. He had changed in many ways and had been shown what he had become. Marley helped Scrooge realize that he had made everyone turn away from him and think poorly of him, and that some people like Bob Cratchit and his nephew, had hoped that he could change. Scrooge’s encounters with the spirits had shown him the most.

The text explicitly states Scrooge, a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching, covetous, old sinner has passed away. According to the text, he despises many things such as happiness, humor, and even Christmas. From the reading, I know that he is depressed all the time, consequently his mental state has led him to call other people stupid, dumb, and idiots. On page three, in the conversation with his nephew Fred, Scrooge insults his nephew about marrying and loving his wife. The text states, that he also “seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the frost and even more congenial frost.” From the reading I know that Scrooge isn’t a people person and is very down about life. Based on the text he doesn’t really like being around them. For example Scrooge didn’t donate any money to the poor, and blew off his nephew about spending Christmas with them. In the text it states that there is no wind as bare as Scrooge, this means he doesn't really care or doesn't have many feelings.

Scrooge shows his sadness when he sees “A solitary child, neglected by his friends is left there still.” Scrooge said he knew it. And he sobbed.” Regret is another emotion displayed on page 37. “Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that’s all. This quote could be a symbol of hope for Scrooge which, in turn, creates an intense effect for the reader because we see that Scrooge is changing slowly into a better man.

He expresses change and vows to become a better person. Pg. 116 “He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew... Some people laughed to see the alternation in him, but he let them laugh... His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.” The technique used is repetition to emphasize Scrooge’s transformation. Scrooge repents selfishness of his way of life and devotes to have a charitable heart and live his life fulfilled with joy and surrounded by people. Page 110 shows an example of personification, “I will honour 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.” Scrooge repents the selfish life he once invested in when he realised that being a miser caused him to miss out on the most important and pleasurable part of living.

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

money to the poor. He thinks of them as idle and he states that if

This impacts his life because people now start to enjoy his company and how he acts. For example, this is when Scrooge starts to beg the last of the Ghosts that visit, “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year” (10). This supports the topic that Scrooge changed because now his business is caring for others because it shows that Scrooge has started helping people out and has started celebrating Christmas. For example, this is when Scrooge raises Bob Cratchit salary, “...and therefore I am about to raise your salary” (121). This piece of evidence helps support the topic that Scrooge has changed his perspective of business, and is now caring for others. This helps show that Scrooge is a changed man now than he was before because he is raising Bob salary so that he would have things to provide for his

Later in life, scrooge is visited by the ghost of his departed co-worker, Marley. Marley visits Scrooge because the ghost wanted to give his friend a chance at redemption. The scrooge is vicious, malcontent and greedy in the story of “A Christmas Carol”, however he transformed himself into a better person over the course of the play because of the effect of seeing himself in a new way. The

First, Present takes him to his employee’s house where Scrooge learns how poor and sorrowful his employee, Bob Cratchit, is. Their family is struggling and Tiny Tim, the youngest member of the Cratchit family, is crippled. Unfortunately for Tiny Tim, death may be coming very soon, but he does not care. He is very optimistic and loves everyone by saying, “God bless us everyone,” (704). Next, Present shows Scrooge his nephew’s house and how everyone dislikes him, yet his nephew still toasts to his life. Once he does so his wife seems astonished as she says, “A toast to him?” (709). Soon the Ghost of Christmas Present deliquesces and disappears.

The ghost shows him a family that is kind of happy to hear about the death because now they will not have to pay him for a while, and this makes Scrooge extremely sorry for all of the things that he has done throughout his life to make people feel this way about him. This is the second time that the Ghost of Christmas Future has made Scrooge rethink his life in a way and make him feel bad for everything, causing Scrooge to now change into one of the most excited people around Christmas. A quote about how Scrooge feels about his death is that he wants someone to feel sorry for him, “If there is any person in the town who feels emotion caused by this old man’s death, show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you!” page 102. The Spirit then shows him that a family is happy, because they will not have to pay Scrooge back, and he said any emotion.