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Introduction:

A Christmas Carol is a Christmas-based novella by Charles Dickens, published in 1843. It was made into a film in 2009. The story follows an elderly man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas and is mean-spirited. He meets three different Christmas spirits who lead him, showing him many different memories surrounding Christmas. The book is one of the most known books on Christmas. 

Plot:

On a cold Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly old man, sits in his counting house while his clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers without heat. Scrooge’s cheerful nephew, Fred, invites him to a Christmas party, but Scrooge bitterly replies and rejects the offer with “Bah! Humbug!” Later, he is visited by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him that he will suffer if he doesn’t change. Marley tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him over the next three nights. The first spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, shows Scrooge scenes from his lonely childhood, his happy apprenticeship with Fezziwig, and his lost love, Belle. Moved by these memories, Scrooge feels regret.

The next night, a jolly spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present takes him to see the Cratchit family’s modest Christmas and Tiny Tim, Bob’s sick son. Scrooge is touched by their kindness. The final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, shows Scrooge dark scenes related to a man’s death, leading him to a grave with his name. Terrified, he promises to change his ways and embrace the spirit of Christmas. Suddenly, Scrooge wakes up in his bed on Christmas Day, filled with joy. He rushes outside, sending a giant turkey to the Cratchits and attending Fred’s party, surprising everyone. As the years go by, he keeps his promise, treating Tiny Tim as his child and spreading kindness and generosity to all. Scrooge becomes a beloved figure, embodying the true spirit of Christmas.

Analysis:

Ebenezer Scrooge shows that he is a miser by not providing his clerk, Bob, with a refusal to spend money to heat coals. He also shows his hatred towards Christmas through his behavior and actions towards Fred, his cheerful nephew, who offers an invitation to a Christmas party. Through his mean-spirited ways, the author shows Scrooge’s character at the book’s beginning. After he rejects his offer, he meets the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who teaches him a lesson by bringing three spirits of Christmas to him over three nights. In the last scene of the memories, Scrooge sees a dark scene with a grave with his name. He was terrified of that delusion coming true and decided to change himself. He changed his personality and how he interacts with other people. These interactions he had shocked everyone around him. These reactions show the contrast between the old Scrooge and the Scrooge he changed into. The novel presents the theme of morals. Before the Christmas spirits came to find him, he didn’t have morals; after he met the Christmas spirits, he could utilize the morals to make himself a better person. The book also is based on the holiday, Christmas. The Christmas spirits might represent the three trinity of God and they show the way to becoming a better person. Also, this novel illustrates Scrooge taking a step toward becoming more like Christ in a kind and generous way. The author might have chosen the theme of Christmas because he was a Christian and maybe it was his favorite holiday. 

Conclusion:

A Christmas Carol is a Christmas novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1843. It was made into a movie in 2009. The book is about a miserly and elderly man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who hates Christmas and its spirit. His dead partner visits him, warning that for three nights consecutively, three Christmas spirits will come to show you the memories of Christmas. After he went through all the memories, he comes to appreciate Christmas and becomes a loving person. The novel goes over the theme of morals as Scrooge becomes a better person after the spirits visit him. The author also made the story based on Christmas because he was Christian. The story shows the contrast between the before Scrooge and after Scrooge.