How Does Scrooge Change In A Christmas Carol

Characterization is a literary element used to describe a character's actions, speech, thoughts and interactions with other characters. Characters in literature sometimes make dramatic transformations. In A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, the character Scrooge entirely changes his his whole character from some grouchy, old man into someone who is jovial and full of glee.

In Stave 1, Dickens establishes Scrooge’s character as someone who is sulky and irritable. ‘What else can I be,’returned the uncle, ‘when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas! What’s the Christmastime to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, and not an hour richer; a time

”Then, with a rapidity with a transition very foreign to his usual character,he said in pity, for his former self, ‘Poor boy!’ and cried again. ‘I wish,’ Scrooge muttered, putting his hand in his pocket, and looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff ‘but it's too late now.’ ‘What is the matter?’ asked the Spirit. ‘Nothing, said Scrooge, ‘nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night, and I should like to have given him something, that’s all.’”(Stave 2, pg.38). When Scrooge was with the Ghost of Christmas Past, he sees himself as a child, lonely and is ashamed when he thought about the time of when he was shouting at the little boy that was caroling at his door the other night. ”’This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want…’ ‘Have they no refuge or resource?’ cried Scrooge?’ “Are there no prisons? said the Spirit turning on hm for the last time with his own words.” He asks the Ghost of Christmas present is there is anywhere for the children to go, because he actually feels sorry for them that they have nowhere to go, while the ghost reminds him of the words that he said earlier; “Are there no prisons?Are there no workhouses?” Seeing the moments of his past and present, him starting to regret some bad things he had done is an improvement from being a

”’Do you know the poulterer's, in the next street but one, at the corner?’ Scrooge inquired… ‘a remarkable boy! Do you know whether they’ve sold the prize turkey, the big one?... go and by it. I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s,’ whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands and splitting with a laugh.’”(Stave 5, pg.116-117). Scrooge was so jovial and generous-unlike his usual self-that he even sent a turkey to Bob Cratchit, his clerk. “‘Hallo!’ growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice as near a he could feign it. ‘What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?’ ‘I am very sorry, sir,’ said Bob. ‘I am behind my time.’ ‘You are?’ Repeated Scrooge. ‘Yes. I think you are. Step this way sir, if you please.’ ‘It’s only once a year, sir,’ pleaded Bob, appearing from the tank. ‘It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.’ ‘Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,’ said Scrooge, I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,’ he continued, leaping from the stool, and giving Cratchit such a dig in his waistcoat that he staggered back into the tank again- ‘and therefore I am about to raise your salary!’ Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the court for help and a straight-waistcoat.”(Stave 5, pg.120-121). Since Bob Cratchit is paid very little (about only two