A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
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Quote Bank: Time: past, present, and future
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Quote |
Character |
Stave |
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“Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.” |
Narrator |
1 |
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“There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.” |
Narrator |
1 |
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“Marley’s face. It was not in impenetrable shadow as the other objects in the yard were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar.” |
Narrator |
1 |
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“A clanking noise, deep down below; as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the casks.” |
Narrator |
1 |
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“If that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world.” |
Narrator |
1 |
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“Without their visits [...] you cannot hope to shun the path I tread.” |
Marley |
1 |
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“The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley’s Ghost.” |
Narrator |
1 |
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“It was a strange figure – like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child’s proportions. Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin.” |
Narrator |
2 |
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“From the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all was visible, and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap” |
Narrator |
2 |
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“He was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten.” |
Narrator |
2 |
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“Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the light, which streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground.” |
Narrator |
2 |
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“There sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see: who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty’s horn, and held it up, high up, to shed light on Scrooge.” |
Narrator |
3 |
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“I see a vacant seat [...] in the poor chimney-corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.” |
Ghost of Christmas Present |
3 |
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“Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE.” |
Narrator |
4 |
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A Christmas Carol
Sample Essay
Charles Dickens’s 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, begins with the death of Jacob Marley (Ebenezer Scrooge’s former associate). The two men had operated a firm together known as ‘Scrooge and Marley.’ Scrooge is now left
as the sole proprietor.
Scrooge’s nephew Fred enters the countinghouse on the 24th of December, Christmas Eve, wishing Scrooge a merry Christmas. The two men engage in a debate over the merits and demerits of Christmas, with Scrooge bitterly denouncing it as a “humbug.” Scrooge firmly rejects his nephew’s invitation to dine at his house on Christmas Day.
Two charitable gentlemen then enter the countinghouse, seeking donations for the “Poor and destitute” of London. Scrooge resentfully refuses to offer his funds, despite his renowned wealth within the city.
Scrooge’s third interaction occurs with his employed clerk Bob Cratchit. Bob belongs to a poor family of humble means, who struggle to support their sickly child Tiny Tim. Scrooge unwillingly permits Cratchit the day off on Christmas, angrily commenting on the injustice of paying “a day’s wages for no work.”
The introduction of the novella thus sets up the characterisation of Scrooge: an ageing, wealthy, selfish, and bitter old man who fails to see the value and joy in Christmas.
Upon returning home, Scrooge is then confronted by the ghost of his old companion Marley, who warns Scrooge of the perils of living a frugal and uncompassionate life. Marley’s ghost himself is weighted with heavy chains of metal, symbolising the consequences in the afterlife of pursuing a life of egotism and opportunism.
Though initially unconvinced by the ghost’s warning, Scrooge is told that he will be visited by three spirits, sent to teach a moral lesson to which Scrooge is blind.
Scrooge is first frequented by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who takes him through various events from his childhood and adulthood. Scrooge, who at first is presented to the reader as an entirely grave and unemotional character, is sympathetic towards these memories, reminiscing on events he had once suppressed in his mind.
He is then confronted by the Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows Scrooge the celebrations of various Londoners on Christmas Day. Here, Scrooge is awakened to the community members’ unsympathetic opinions of him, viewing his harsh nature as cruel and oppressive.
Lastly, Scrooge is guided by the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, and is horrifically confronted by the future prospect of his very own death. Scrooge is perturbed by this final imagery, pleading with the spirit and pledging to amend his ways and treat Christmas with the same joy and generosity that the ghost itself preaches.
Scrooge is surprised to awaken on Christmas Day with the teachings of the spirits firmly ingrained in his conscience. He pledges to amend his previous wrongdoings, and to go forth with a new outlook of benevolence, sending the “prize turkey” to the Cratchit household, donating a generous sum to the “Poor and destitute” of London, and celebrating with his nephew’s family.
The novella thus concludes with an idealistic perception of what Christmas should be: a celebration of thanksgiving and prosperity, devoid of the selfishness and spite previously fostered by Scrooge.
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