Christmas spirit Free Essay Example

If that spirit goes forth in life; it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world. ” This makes the reader feel that Ebenezer Scrooge will have a similar punishment, unless he can change his ways. Dickens also doubts Scrooge’s mind by foreseeing his future, “It was full as heavy and as long as this seven Christmas eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain! ” This emphasises if Scrooge cannot reform then that will be the consequence.

Marley’s ghost doesn’t want Scrooge to go down the same path that he has and end up with chains, locks and heavy pursers all tied up on him and to be helping the needy for the rest of eternity; because of his greediness, cruelty and being awfully uncharitable to other people, especially the poor. There are a lot of references to hell in this stave for example, “Invisible world”, “The air was filled with phantoms” and “Marley’s ghost” this suggests to the reader that Scrooge will go to hell if he cannot change his evil, covetous, stingy ways soon.

The ghost of Christmas past represents past memories, it has a light on its head to show hope and Scrooge’s good side, as Scrooge’s good side increases the light brightens. It visits Scrooge and takes him to where he grew up. “I could walk it blindfold. ” This creates the impression that Scrooge was feeling a touch of fun and joy, looking at himself at a young age.

This is significant because he was starting to feel more emotions and it shows how much fun he used to have. Plus, he wants to feel those emotions again.

Dickens shows some of Scrooge’s emotions by these past events, for instance, “Some shaggy ponies now were seen trotting towards them… Why did his cold eye glisten, and his heart leap up as they went past!. Why was he filled with gladness when he heard them give each other Merry Christmas … What good had it ever done him? ” This again shows Scrooge does have emotions, as it reminded him of the high spirit he used to have at Christmas time. Scrooge looked up to those boys and saw them as he wanted to be at that age (his idol).

Next, they went to Scrooge’s old school and there was “A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still. ” It was Scrooge and he knew who it was, “And he sobbed” This emphasises that Scrooge does have feelings and maybe this neglect made him the way he is now. Then, they came to Scrooge’s old home, where his younger self was being greeted by his sister, who was over the moon to see him and she loved him very much, “she died a woman, and had, as I think, children. One child, Scrooge returned … Your nephew! Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; and answered briefly, yes.

” This shows that he was thinking about the Christmas invite to his nephew’s house, but how he turned him down in an unforgivable manner and all the unkind things he had said to him, he felt guilty. The ghost then takes him to visit his old employer Feeziwig, who was a cheerful and generous employer, for example he says: “No more work to-night. Christmas eve… Let’s have the shutters up,” This made Scrooge feel guilty for how he treats his clerk Bob Cratchit. Finally, the ghost takes him to visit his old girlfriend Belle, who is ending their relationship because of his greed, the young Scrooge says: “Have I ever sought release?

In words. No never … In a changed of nature; in an altered spirit, in another. Hope as its great end. ” This signifies that Scrooge is changing from being a cheerful, loving, caring boy to a covetous, angry; working all the time, kind of man and his girlfriend will not stand for it. He then sees Belle married and surrounded by her loving children and he is made painfully aware of what his love of money has costed him in life. Dickens portrays the life that Scrooge could have had, such as, “A room not very large or handsome, but full of comfort.

” This creates the impression that poor people, may not have particularly good-looking or vast rooms, but they have all the love, care, kindness and comfort in that room, as long as they have each other that’s all they need. This is the image created throughout this book. Also, it shows what Scrooge is missing out on; it makes him regret the choices he made. In this stave we see a spark of Scrooge’s humanity and his first traces of guilt. The ghost of Christmas present represents Christmas spirit, generosity and goodwill. He is a warm, towering man with a huge robe.

The poor are represented as kind, caring and loving people with big hearts. Firstly, they go to the Cratchit’s house and see their Christmas taking place. The Cratchits are poor and needy, but are still loving, affectionate and kind, plus they have good Christian morals, as they say a prayer before dinner “… Grace was said. It was, succeeded with a breathless pause. ” This emphasises that the family may be poor, but they still have a good Christian lifestyle. This makes Scrooge think that money cannot buy happiness. Scrooge also sees Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit’s crippled son, and he begins to feel sympathy towards his situation.

He asks the ghost: “Tell me if Tiny Tim will live… if these shadows remain unaltered by the future, the child will die. ” This shows that Scrooge feels guilty for not giving his clerk more money as he witnesses their way of life. The ghost then takes Scrooge to visit his nephew Fred on Christmas day. Fred is having a splendid time and is celebrating a more modern Christmas with fun, laughter, drinking booze and playing games such as: similes and yes or no. It is less religious as they have more money and a “bright, dry gleaming house… ” However, they still have strong moral values like the Cratchits.