In ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge, the misanthropic and Christmas despising protagonist, works his way to redemption through the encounter of three Christmas spirits and the ongoing and loving spirits of his family and friends. He is initially portrayed as a narcissistic, selfish and bitter old man, but when haunted by humble, loving, fearful and joyful spirits, he evolves into a man enlightened by the celebration of Christmas. Of the many spirits that haunt Scrooge, The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, Yet To Come and the everlasting spirits of Bob Cratchit and Fred, not one is more eminent to his transformation than the other - each playing an equal and unprecedented role in his journey.
The Ghost of Christmas
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He was shown multiple scenes of people celebrating Christmas with joy, such as his nephew, the Cratchits, a crew of sailors etc. who were all of the lower class. The omniscient narrator presented a sentimentalised portrait of the Proletariat and how Christmas was about providing for the concerns of others and being gratified doing so through the use of emotive language to help readers sympathise and understand each group’s situation, along with the repetition of the lower class being happy and connected, unlike how Scrooge was towards society. This viewpoint is shared with Dickens who had a ‘Carol Theory’ and stated, “[Christmas is the] only time I know of … when men and women … open their shut-up hearts truly, and to think of other people below them as if they were really fellow passengers to the grave,” a viewpoint that Marxists can understand and agree on because of their belief. In understanding this, Scrooge is seen at the end raising Bob Cratchit’s wage and sending a turkey to his home for Christmas, an act dissimilar to him refusing to donate to the poor at the very beginning of the novella. This change, despite his initial stubborn heart, showcases the kind of impact the Ghost of Christmas Present made on him that was equally as notable as the rest of the