The Ghost of Christmas Past

A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a dynamic character in literature. Throughout the novel, Scrooge is shown Christmas events from his past, present, and future. The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge how his relationship with Belle made him this way and why, The Ghost of Christmas Present shows how Christmas is fun if you can put joy in it and what Scrooge has inside him that he has to let go, and The Ghost of Christmas Future shows what Scrooge has waiting for him but no one seems to care about it.

A mean man named Ebenezer Scrooge, who never like Christmas, and was never in the Christmas spirit. He had his own business with his clerk/friend Bob Cratchit. Bob doesn’t really get paid a lot and Scrooges’ nephew, Fred came in happy and saying “Merry Christmas”. And knowing Scrooge he yelled out an angry ‘Bah! Humbug!’ in reaction to his nephew’s ‘Merry Christmas!’ (Chapter 1). Late, after returning to his old, dusty, stony apartment, Scrooge sees a ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley. Marley tells Scrooge that there are spirits, three at that, which will visit him during each of the next three nights. It states “I am here tonight to warn you,” Marley said, “that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate.” You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.” (Chapter 1) And after his leaves, Scrooge falls fast asleep.

The Ghost of Christmas Past, a good-hearted man with creepy-looking children with brightly glowing heads. The spirit takes Scrooge on a journey into the past to previous Christmases from the curmudgeon’s earlier years. No one can see him and Scrooge revisits his childhood school days, and in those school days he was “ A solitary child” it states “Scrooge was a solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.” (Chapter 2) And his practice with a jolly merchant named Fezziwig, and his engagement to Belle, she leaves Scrooge because his lust for money messes him up to love another. In chapter 2 it states that Belle said “If we had never met, and you were to meet me tomorrow, you would not pursue me. We met when we were both poor, and now you are rich and I’m not good enough. I release you. I hope you will be happy with the life you have chosen.” (Chapter 2) Scrooge, deeply moved, sheds tears of regret before the phantom returns him to his bed.

The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge after finding his laugh. (In the movie) A majestic giant man in a green fur robe takes Scrooge through London to tell the Christmas as it will happen that year. Scrooge watches the large, Cratchit family prepare a miniature feast in its meager home. He discovers Bob Cratchit’s crippled son and may soon die, Tiny Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness that warms Scrooge’s heart. When Scrooge found this out, he asks the ghost, “Tell me if Tiny Tim will live.” The Spirit tells him “I see an empty seat,” replied the ghost, “and a crutch without an owner. If these shadows don’t change in the future, the child will die.” (Chapter 3) The spirit took Scrooge to his nephew’s house. And we all know what’s going on down there, their all having laughter and good-humor, talking about Scrooge. Who suffers from his ill whims? Himself, always. Here, he has decided to dislike us and won’t come and dine with us. What’s the consequence? Only he is alone and miserable on Christmas.” “He loses some pleasant moments, by not making merry with us, and loses pleasant companions. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. (Chapter 3) Scrooge didn’t like it, the ghost took him too many different places, blessing the houses and Scrooge was touched. Toward the end of the day, he shows Scrooge two starved children, Ignorance and Want, living under his coat and if Scrooge doesn’t change now, his future would await him. He vanishes as Scrooge notices a dark, hooded figure coming toward him.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to come leads Scrooge through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating to an unnamed man’s recent death. Scrooge sees businessmen discussing the dead man’s riches, some people without a home trading his personal effects for cash, and a poor couple expressing relief at the death of their unforgiving creditor. Scrooge, anxious to learn the lesson of his latest visitor, begs to know the name of the dead man. After begging the ghost to know who this man is in Chapter 4 ”Spirit!” said Scrooge, shuddering from head to foot. “I see, I see. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. If there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by my death, show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you!” Scrooge finds himself in a churchyard, the spirit pointing to a grave.

Scrooge awakens on Christmas morning, a new man intent on doing well and celebrating the season with all of those around him. Scrooge went to go buy a turkey with his money for the first time. He wanted to buy it for Bob, to make his payment at work. Scrooge was walking around town greeting, meeting, and being generous to random people. In chapter 4, Scrooge met 2 men and had a conversation. “My dear Sir,” said Scrooge, “How do you do? I fear I wasn’t pleasant to you yesterday. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness to …” here Scrooge whispered in his ear.

“Lord bless me!” cried the gentleman, “My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious? I don’t know what to say to such generosity.” Scrooge went on to the Christmas service at the church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses. (Chapter 4) He then goes to his nephew’s house, Fred let Scrooge in to have and wonderful party/feast. It was a very hearty welcome. Scrooge then went to the office but Bob wasn’t there. Bob came a little late, “I’m very sorry sir” said Bob “I’m behind time” Scrooge didn’t care, in fact, Scrooge said “I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” he continued, jumping from his stool and poking Bob in the chest, “and therefore I am about to raise your salary. A merry Christmas, Bob.” (Chapter 5) Scrooge became a better person. And to Tiny Tim, who didn’t die, he was a second father to him. Scrooge turned into a good man, master, and friend to everyone in the neighborhood. Scrooge had become a changed man.

Cite this page