Poor Scrooge

I was mistaken!

Photo by Phil Robson on Unsplash

A Christmas Carol is one of the Christmas classic stories to read, hear or watch an adaptation to get into the Christmas mood. It’s popularity is undeniable with many adaptations. On IMDB¹ it has listed 246 adaptations of A Christmas Carol.

I read A Christmas Carol for the first time this year. I was pleasantly surprised at all the emotions a little novella can have on someone as old as me. I cried, I smiled and at the end of the story, much like Scrooge, I was happier. Reading the story as an adult I got to see things that I missed through the absorption of the story through our cultural zeitgeist.

“The school is not quite deserted,” said the Ghost. “A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.” - Stave 2, The first of the three spirits

Christmas isn’t a happy time for all

Scrooge had reason to dislike Christmas time. Sure, the ghosts shock it out of him to stop moping around and being a Meiser. But Dickens gives us reasoning as to why Scrooge is such a Grinch. While in boarding school he was neglected by his friends and family. He was all alone at Christmas time. We see Scrooge display his breakdown on reflection on his younger days

Then, with a rapidity of transition very foreign to his usual character, he said, in pity for his former self, “Poor boy!” and cried again. - Stave 2, The first of the three spirits

Scrooge is taken home to his family from boarding school. In the story his Sister, who has no name come to get him one Christmas to bring him home because

Father is so much kinder than he used to be - Stave 2, The first of the three spirits

Scrooge had an unhappy Childhood. He had brief Christmas happiness as an apprentice under Mr Fezziwig with his Christmas celebrations. But we see the final nail in the coffin for Scrooge. One Christmas time, he got dumped by his girlfriend. She had her reasons, but the Spirit pressed on and showed him how his old girlfriend was going in life. Scrooge saw that she is now married to another with a bunch of children. Scrooge doesn’t want to see this regret flung into his face. So much so that Scrooge smooshes the first spirit with it’s own extinguisher. And that is where the Stave ends.

“I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, “in the poor chimney corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved.” - Stave 3, Scrooge’s Third Visitor

Death

This story puts life into perspective by showing us death. This story is all about death. It opens with the funeral of Scrooge’s business partner Mr. Jacob Marley. The first Stave tells about Scrooge’s younger sister’s death. We are warned about Tiny Tim’s Death from the Ghost of Christmas Present. Then the final Ghost shows us what happens when Scrooge is dead.

The Ghost of Mr Jabob Marley did not like his station in the afterlife and wanted to warn his friend. And instead of waiting until the end of life, Marley gave Scrooge an opportunity to be confronted with an overview of his life to reflect on.

The fact of life is thrust upon Scrooge; you will die. When faced with death, the finality of your life you’re left with this question “Was it worth it?”

“I shall love it, as long as I live!” cried Scrooge, patting it with his hand. “I scarcely ever looked at it before. What an honest expression it has in its face! It’s a wonderful knocker!—Here’s the Turkey! Hallo! Whoop! How are you! Merry Christmas!” - Stave 5, The End of If

Transformation

What makes the Christmas Carol so heartwarming is the transformation of Scrooge from grumpy old man to an absolute Christmas nut! The journey he goes through, to face death, not only his own but Tiny Tim’s as well changes him to a different person. Forcibly a happy person at the start but keeping up with what he has realized by sharing what he has with others; money, turkey and time. Scrooge uses his money to get a child in the street to purchase a turkey to give his employee as a Christmas surprise. Then he spends the latter part of Christmas day with his remaining family.

This classic by Charles Dickens serves to remind and have us reflect that we can change. We can change our attitudes, decisions and minds on something when put into perspective. We might not have had good memories or experiences at a certain place or time, but we can choose to change. We might have ghosts come to tell us about our lives but can transform ourselves into something different.

1. https://www.imdb.com/list/ls577200923/