A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is an enduring classic that has been adapted and reinterpreted in countless ways since its initial publication in 1858. The novella tells the story of the bitter and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and how his life is changed by a series of visits from a quartet of ghosts that come to visit him on Christmas Eve.
At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold-hearted and miserly old money-lender. He despises Christmas and has little concern for the welfare of those around him, especially the poor who he considers a drain on society. Scrooge’s only companion is Bob Cratchit, his clerk, and his only friend is Jacob Marley, his former business partner who has been dead several years prior to the start of the story.
On the evening of Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by Marley’s ghost, who foretells that Scrooge will be visited by three more spirits - the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come. These spectral guides take Scrooge on a journey through time, allowing him to revisit his past, experience present events, and glimpse what may become of him in the future if he does not change his ways.
The first spirit, Christmas Past, shows Scrooge the torments of his unhappy childhood home, where an uncaring father had neglected him; the warmth and joy of his sister Fan’s wedding and subsequent death; and an old business partner, Peter Cratchit, who had shown Scrooge kindness. Christmas Past’s visit leaves Scrooge feeling sorrow for all of the wasted opportunities of the past.
The second spirit, Christmas Present, shows Scrooge the happiness of the Cratchit family, which he has previously ignored, and the thanklessness of the poor who “change their joys and griefs” for a meager Christmas dinner. Scrooge is ashamed of realizing how little he had done to improve the lives of those around him.
The last spirit, Christmas Yet-to-Come, reveals a future where Scrooge exists as a lonely and despised figure. Scrooge’s gravestone reveals to him that he had died without a single person mourning his passing.
Scrooge is so horrified by this vision of the future that he resolves to reform himself immediately. On Christmas morning, a greatly changed Scrooge visits Bob Cratchit’s house and gives the family a large goose and gift money. He celebrates with them and all of his other friends, becoming a generous and kind-hearted man in the process.
A Christmas Carol is not only a dramatic morality tale, but is also a brilliant commentary on Victorian society and its disregard for the working and underprivileged classes. It serves as a reminder of the importance of kindness and generosity to our lives and those around us. As Dickens wrote in the book's preface, “The spirit of Christmas Present which visits Scrooge is the spirit which ought to direct us all year-round.”
A Christmas Carol stands as an enduring testament to Dickens’s genius. The novel has become such an iconic classic owing to its timeless message of hope and goodwill. Its blend of ghostly apparitions as a narrative tool, sentimental sentimentality, and unforgettable characters has made it a holiday favorite across the generations.
