Change
A Christmas Carol is a very simple story: a selfish man sees the error of his ways and becomes nice. This means that at its heart is a process of change.
A Christmas Carol is a very simple story: a selfish man sees the error of his ways and becomes nice. This means that at its heart is a process of change.
How does Scrooge change? Why does he change? Who was he before? And who does he become?
How does Scrooge change? Why does he change? Who was he before? And who does he become?
Dickens wrote the book with a simple message at its heart: he wanted us to value people more than money.
Dickens wrote the book with a simple message at its heart: he wanted us to value people more than money.
During the opening of the book, Scrooge sees no value in anything except money, but during his visits with the three ghosts he first remembers the fact that he used to enjoy life; and then he sees other people enjoying life - whether they have money or not; and then he sees the real cost of his bad attitude when he sees his own neglected gravestone. This experience changes Scrooge forever.
During the opening of the book, Scrooge sees no value in anything except money, but during his visits with the three ghosts he first remembers the fact that he used to enjoy life; and then he sees other people enjoying life - whether they have money or not; and then he sees the real cost of his bad attitude when he sees his own neglected gravestone. This experience changes Scrooge forever.
Another lovely note that relates to change is the way the story starts. Though its famous opening line has earned its place in the history of literature, the story itself starts a few pages later with another immortal opening: Once upon a time...
Another lovely note that relates to change is the way the story starts. Though its famous opening line has earned its place in the history of literature, the story itself starts a few pages later with another immortal opening: Once upon a time...
The line is a clear reference to classic fairy stories, and for a very good reason: at the heart of almost all of the great fairy tales is a process of change. Beauty and the Beast, the Frog Prince, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and many more, all contain significant moments of transformation and with the use of this line Dickens is giving a nod to those iconic tales.
The line is a clear reference to classic fairy stories, and for a very good reason: at the heart of almost all of the great fairy tales is a process of change. Beauty and the Beast, the Frog Prince, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid and many more, all contain significant moments of transformation and with the use of this line Dickens is giving a nod to those iconic tales.
Scrooge is described as
"Solitary as an Oyster"
Scrooge is described as
"Solitary as an Oyster"
Like Scrooge, oysters have a strong shell to protect them - but they are also capable of turning sand into pearls - one of the most remarkable changes in nature...
Scrooge during the opening of the book
Scrooge during the opening of the book
During the opening of the book Scrooge is presented as a pretty horrible guy - he's a "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, covetous old sinner" who thinks poor people should either be sent to jail or just hurry up and die! He refuses invites for dinner, is horrible to his clerk and to a local carol singer, and spends his life alone.
During the opening of the book Scrooge is presented as a pretty horrible guy - he's a "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, covetous old sinner" who thinks poor people should either be sent to jail or just hurry up and die! He refuses invites for dinner, is horrible to his clerk and to a local carol singer, and spends his life alone.
However, even at this early stage Dickens suggests that Scrooge is capable of something more. He's most famously compared to an "oyster" - which is something with a hard shell, but which produces pearls out of sand in one of the most wonderful metamorphoses in nature.
However, even at this early stage Dickens suggests that Scrooge is capable of something more. He's most famously compared to an "oyster" - which is something with a hard shell, but which produces pearls out of sand in one of the most wonderful metamorphoses in nature.
When he is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge is told that unless he changes he will be punished after death. The punishment is interesting though as it really is just an extension of what he was while he was alive. Marley, like Scrooge, was obsessed with money and when he dies this passion becomes a chain made of padlocks and ledgers and safes - all the things he used for his work - that weighs him down.
When he is visited by the ghost of Jacob Marley, Scrooge is told that unless he changes he will be punished after death. The punishment is interesting though as it really is just an extension of what he was while he was alive. Marley, like Scrooge, was obsessed with money and when he dies this passion becomes a chain made of padlocks and ledgers and safes - all the things he used for his work - that weighs him down.
In certain respects, this fate suggests that unless Scrooge changes he will remain the same way forever, even after death; this sounds deceptively obvious when you put it like that but is actually a really wise observation. We all have things that we'd like to change about ourselves, and all Marley observes is that unless Scrooge changes he will remain that way.
In certain respects, this fate suggests that unless Scrooge changes he will remain the same way forever, even after death; this sounds deceptively obvious when you put it like that but is actually a really wise observation. We all have things that we'd like to change about ourselves, and all Marley observes is that unless Scrooge changes he will remain that way.
As I say it seems obvious really: you either change or you will remain the same; but it's amazing how many people in the world don't seem to understand this simple truth.
As I say it seems obvious really: you either change or you will remain the same; but it's amazing how many people in the world don't seem to understand this simple truth.
Scrooge and the spirits
Scrooge and the spirits
In many ways, The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge why he became who he was - the mistreatment he received as a child, combined with a genuine (and quite sensible) fear of poverty meant he pursued wealth with a single minded drive. But, what's crucial in this stave is that it shows how Scrooge wasn't always this way. He had friends as a child; he enjoyed the creativity and playfulness that comes from books; he enjoyed the dance he and Dick setup while they worked for Fezziwig; he even fell in love with a woman who went on to become a happy mother of a happy family.
In many ways, The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge why he became who he was - the mistreatment he received as a child, combined with a genuine (and quite sensible) fear of poverty meant he pursued wealth with a single minded drive. But, what's crucial in this stave is that it shows how Scrooge wasn't always this way. He had friends as a child; he enjoyed the creativity and playfulness that comes from books; he enjoyed the dance he and Dick setup while they worked for Fezziwig; he even fell in love with a woman who went on to become a happy mother of a happy family.
And it's in the scene with Belle where she talks most openly about his change when she says: "I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off, one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you." The Scrooge we met at the beginning didn't seem like someone who'd ever had a noble aspiration in his life.
And it's in the scene with Belle where she talks most openly about his change when she says: "I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off, one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you." The Scrooge we met at the beginning didn't seem like someone who'd ever had a noble aspiration in his life.
This scene also confirms that Scrooge is capable of change: if he can change one way, then he can change back!
This scene also confirms that Scrooge is capable of change: if he can change one way, then he can change back!
The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge some of the things he can enjoy if he does change. He sees London's streets littered with people playing and laughing and enjoying each other's company; he sees the Cratchits getting by quite happily on what little they have because they have each other; and Scrooge sees, for the first time, the party Fred has kept inviting him to and actually has a wonderful time playing the kinds of parlour games that Victorians enjoyed so much. In the end, Scrooge doesn't want to leave!
The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge some of the things he can enjoy if he does change. He sees London's streets littered with people playing and laughing and enjoying each other's company; he sees the Cratchits getting by quite happily on what little they have because they have each other; and Scrooge sees, for the first time, the party Fred has kept inviting him to and actually has a wonderful time playing the kinds of parlour games that Victorians enjoyed so much. In the end, Scrooge doesn't want to leave!
The final ghost, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, is a dark warning of what will happen if he doesn't change: he will die alone, forgotten, and his grave will be neglected.
The final ghost, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, is a dark warning of what will happen if he doesn't change: he will die alone, forgotten, and his grave will be neglected.
Scrooge at the end of the book
Scrooge at the end of the book
As soon as Scrooge awakes he's a new man. His nonsense expressions, repetition and Dickens's excessive use of exclamation marks emphasises just how excited he is - "Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!" he calls while jumping around the room. The fact that he keeps calling out "hallo" emphasises how much he wants to communicate - something the old Scrooge didn't feel at all.
As soon as Scrooge awakes he's a new man. His nonsense expressions, repetition and Dickens's excessive use of exclamation marks emphasises just how excited he is - "Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!" he calls while jumping around the room. The fact that he keeps calling out "hallo" emphasises how much he wants to communicate - something the old Scrooge didn't feel at all.
But some of the specific phrases really highlight his change best: "I am as light as a feather," he says, suggesting he's lost his chains; while "I am as happy as an angel," suggests he's become a good man now; "I am as merry as a schoolboy," is a direct reference to his own school days when, at times at least, there is a suggestion that he was happy.
But some of the specific phrases really highlight his change best: "I am as light as a feather," he says, suggesting he's lost his chains; while "I am as happy as an angel," suggests he's become a good man now; "I am as merry as a schoolboy," is a direct reference to his own school days when, at times at least, there is a suggestion that he was happy.
The most telling of all, though, his is claim that "I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby." If ever there was a better expression of someone being re-born I'd like to see it. This is also a nice quote to link to a line from the scene with Belle where he claims that his selfishness was a part of him growing up - as though it was tough and mature to think only of yourself.
The most telling of all, though, his is claim that "I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby." If ever there was a better expression of someone being re-born I'd like to see it. This is also a nice quote to link to a line from the scene with Belle where he claims that his selfishness was a part of him growing up - as though it was tough and mature to think only of yourself.
In this book Dickens is trying to teach us that it isn't big or clever to be selfish. BUT it is both big and clever to accept when you're wrong and be brave enough to start all over again...
In this book Dickens is trying to teach us that it isn't big or clever to be selfish. BUT it is both big and clever to accept when you're wrong and be brave enough to start all over again...
A small note: When Scrooge's sister comes to collect him from school she says the following: "Father is so much kinder than he used to be! He spoke so gently to me one dear night when I was going to bed, that I was not afraid to ask him once more if you could come home."
A small note: When Scrooge's sister comes to collect him from school she says the following: "Father is so much kinder than he used to be! He spoke so gently to me one dear night when I was going to bed, that I was not afraid to ask him once more if you could come home."
On the basis of this, it would seem that Scrooge was not the only member of his family who was a terrifying tyrant before going through some process of change and becoming kind. It could be that the whole story is simply him following in his father's footsteps.
On the basis of this, it would seem that Scrooge was not the only member of his family who was a terrifying tyrant before going through some process of change and becoming kind. It could be that the whole story is simply him following in his father's footsteps.
If this is the case then Dickens is preempting some of the work of Sigmund Freud, who was born two years after A Christmas Carol was first published, and who began to try building a model of human development. In this model he did extensive studies of how sons mirror and then become their fathers, alongside a lot of other very strange observations...
If this is the case then Dickens is preempting some of the work of Sigmund Freud, who was born two years after A Christmas Carol was first published, and who began to try building a model of human development. In this model he did extensive studies of how sons mirror and then become their fathers, alongside a lot of other very strange observations...
