A Christmas Carol is a story of a man who goes by the name of Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a stingy, uncaring, and despicable old man who despises Christmas. The story begins in Scrooge’s counting-house on a bitterly cold Christmas Eve. Scrooge reveals his character in the first scene.His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the anteroom because Scrooge refuses to spend money on heating coals for a fire. When Cratchit tries to add coals Scrooge doesn’t allow it and makes a remark. Following this his nephew invites him to his annual christmas party in which Scrooge responds “Bah! Humbug!” Also in this scene two gentlemen ask Scrooge for a donation to their charity. Scrooge’s response to the men is “Are there no prisons?” Later on that night Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead partner. He delivers a message warning scrooge that if he continues his ways that he will suffer the same fate as him. He has been sentenced to roam the earth weighed down by chains. Marley came to save him and tell him of the three spirits that would visit him.
In relation to Christianity, Marley’s message is about salvation. He tells he is warning to change his ways and turn from his life of sin and he will be saved from his fate. Following Marley’s visit the ghost of Christmas past appears in Scrooge’s house. The ghost of Christmas past takes scrooge into the past to see all his past Christmas experiences. It shows Scrooge a time where he once had joy and cared for others. It also shows where everything went wrong. It started with losing the girl he loved. She talks of how Scrooge had come into fortune and the money had changed him into someone else. We then learn of the passing of his beloved sister. I think the theme of this is when fixing a problem and trying to make a change you must go back to the root and beginning of the problem.
Following the ghost of Christmas past the ghost of Christmas Present visits. This spirit shows scrooge what will happen on Christmas present day. He learns of Bob Cratchit’s crippled son. He sees how genuine and kind he is and it warms his heart. He learns how his stinginess in Bob’s wage is what will ultimately kill his son. He is then taken to the party of his nephew. He is shown all the bad things they speak of him. He also learns of his nephew’s hope in him. His nephew speaks of his his mother loved someone so much their heart must have been good at one point. Following the visit of Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, Scrooge notices something under the spirits coat. Under his coat were two starved children, ignorance and want. The spirit then tells him that ignorance leads to doom. I think this teaches how the lack of knowing can be devastating. An example would be how scrooge didn’t know about Bob’s son and how just by talking to Bob he could have easily learned that.
Lastly the ghost of Christmas future visits him. The ghost takes him into the discussion of a businessman talking about the rich’s of a dead man.He also shows him a poor couple expressing relief at the death of their unforgiving creditor. After asking the ghost who the dead man was they end up in a graveyard. He then reads his own name on a gravestone. Scrooge then breaks down into tears and cries that he will change. He says that he is a changed man and can change his fate. He then wakes up in his bed on Christmas morning following the visit with the ghost of Christmas future. He immediately tries to right his wrongs and show everyone he is a changed man. He sends a giant Christmas turkey to the Cratchit house and attends Fred's party. He apologizes to Fred and his wife and shows him that he has changed. The following morning when Bob comes in for work Scrooge gives him a raise in pay. He also treats Bob’s son as if he were his own and lavishes the poor with gifts.
One term from Christianity discussed in this scene is predestination. The Ghost of the future showed showed him his path and what was to come. He showed him events that had already been predestined. Another theme would be repentance. Scrooge apologizes for all of his previous actions and carries out an action and changes his life around, This is a concept of christianity. Also in the story I believe the ghosts were symbolizing angels. They symbolize angels because they come down with the purpose to make a difference and change the life of scrooge. Another concept that the story covers is the question of ultimate concern. It showed where one goes after death who has not lived a good life.
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