A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: Book Report

Introduction

A Christmas Carol is a story about Victorian England's division between the rich and poor, the Haves and Have-Nots. London was a great world power, rich from industry and colonial influence, yet poverty ran amok through its streets and factories. The greatest pleasure in A Christmas Carol is watching Scrooge's transformation from a money-pinching grouch to a generous gentleman. His redemption is made possible through free will. While Scrooge is shown visions of the future, he states in Stave Five that they are only visions of things that 'Maybe, not what 'Will' be. He has the power to change the future with his present actions, and Dickens tries to impart this sense of free will to the reader. If Scrooge can change, then so can anyone.

The setting of A Christmas Carol is dark and dismal London in the Victorian era. This is a London of contrast where new buildings are being built yet there were slums where people lived in the most horrible of conditions. A London of two sides where poverty and wealth live side by side but not in harmony.

The characters in A Christmas Carol were an interesting and diverse cast. They include people of wealth and poverty, old age and youth, and pessimistic and optimistic individuals.

Ebenezer Scrooge

The protagonist, Scrooge is a cold, penny-pinching creditor whose redemption to kindness and selflessness forms the arc of A Christmas Carol. Scrooge represents the Victorian rich who neglect the poor and think only of their own well-being. The most motivation Dickens provides for Scrooge's character is his depiction of him as a young boy where he is neglected by his peers and, it appears, by his father. These events seemed to shape Scrooge and made him determined to live only for himself as he aged.

Bob Cratchit

Cratchit is Scrooge's overworked employee, a timid man afraid to stand up to his boss's demanding ways. The father of a family poor in wealth but rich in love, he cares especially dearly for his crippled son, Tiny Tim. Cratchit is a symbol for the Victorian era poor. He is good-hearted and hard-working but unable to climb out of the oppressive conditions of poverty.

Ghost of Christmas Past

The first ghost to visit Scrooge, the small, elderly figure represents memory. He takes Scrooge to the past in order to remind him of the happiness he experienced in the past.

Ghost of Christmas Present

A giant clad in robes, this ghost has 1800 brothers and a life span of one day. He represents celebration and charity. He brought Scrooge around to see how others were enjoying their Christmas despite them being poor.

Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

This fear-inducing, silent phantom represents death, but also presents the possibility that the future is not determined, but open to be changed by the choices we make in our lives.

Fred

Scrooge's nephew, Fred represents the joy and sharing of Christmas. He refuses to let Scrooge's 'Bah! Humbug!' attitude brings him down and is overjoyed when his uncle converts and attends his party.

Tiny Tim

Cratchit's crippled son who represents the overwhelming goodness of the Christmas spirit.

Jacob Marley

Scrooge's old partner, Marley appears to Scrooge as a ghost and warns him about the dangers of being obsessed with money. He explains that his fate will be similar to his own, where he will be forced to carry the chains he forged in life, if he doesn't change his ways.

Fezziwig

Was a young Scrooge's jolly, a selfless boss who made sure that all the people around him were happy and enjoyed life.

Belle

Scrooge's former girlfriend, she breaks up with him because of his greed. It had become clear that Scrooge loved money more than he loved her.

Fan

Scrooge's younger sister.

Summary

A Christmas Carol is an incredible story which tells the journey of Scrooge from an evil penny-pinching grouch to a warm-hearted businessman who seeks out to right the wrongs of his past actions and to live his life in a more generous and positive way. It really teaches the reader just how much our lives are affected by the choices we make and by the gift God has given us, that gift being free will. The story follows Scrooge in his daily life and shows the reader just how miserable an individual he is. Scrooge soon is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Marley who tells Scrooge he must change his life before it is too late or he will end up like Marley and spend eternity carrying the chains he's forged in life. He tells Scrooge that he would soon be visited by three ghosts and he will be given to escape the fate of damnation. Scrooge was then visited by three ghosts the ghost of Christmas past, the ghost of Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas yet to come. Looking back on his past Scrooge felt happiness when seeing his early years but as time passed he saw that he had made many mistakes and did not treat people fairly. When Scrooge saw the present Christmas he was sad that he decided not to participate in his nephew's Christmas party and was surprised to see that people were happy even though they had no money. While viewing Christmas yet to come Scrooge saw that his death brought others joy and this affected him deeply and inspired him to change his ways. the following morning Scrooges' transformation is complete as he becomes completely overjoyed with the Christmas spirit. He goes out about the town and begins to undo the wrongs he had done to people and inspire them that he can change and be a better person. Dickens is able to convey many lessons in A Christmas Carol from the possibility of redemption, the damaging effects of isolation, and the importance of love and compassion.

Conclusion

At the end of our journey has Scrooge completely converted from a miserable grouch to happy go lucky people-friendly businessman. Scrooge brings a little of the Christmas spirit into every day, respecting the lessons of Christmas more than any man alive. In A Christmas Carol when Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, he learns that he was not responsible for his poor treatment as a child but that he is responsible for his decisions as an adult. The Ghost of Christmas Present teaches him that family is the most important thing and that mankind is the business that he should be concerned about. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come teaches him that he must change immediately.

My favorite scene in the novel was when Scrooge was visited by the ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. This scene really drove the message home for Scrooge and showed him clearly what events would unfold if he refused to change his wicked ways. The reason I like the scene is because it completely brings the story full circle and emphasizes how all of us have free will to make decisions in our lives and shows us that our decisions have both good and bad consequences so we should all choose what we do in our lives very carefully and look at all options as to how they affect others both short and long term. I also really liked the scene where we were introduced to Fan because it gives us an example of someone good and she is a great role model as to how one should live their life. This scene also gives us insight as to what drove Scrooge down a road of hostility and why he is so cold towards others.

The scene I disliked the most is the one where Scrooge breaks up with Belle. This is an important scene as it represents the final evolution of Scrooge from an innocent boy to a money-loving grouch. The fact he chose money over his first true love is very tragic and shows just how far he had descended into his dark world of money over everything else. By losing Belle and her love it is as if we are witnessing the loss of Scrooges' humanity.