Redemption In A Christmas Carol

“The righteousness of the blameless keeps his ways straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness”(Prov. 11:5). The story, “A Christmas Carol”, is about a cold-hearted man named Scrooge who transforms himself into a jolly, kind man when three Ghosts teach Scrooge about the spirit of Christmas. In the story, Charles Dickens illustrates the theme of how no one is past redemption through the transformation of Scrooge’s personality by the lessons of the Spirits. At the beginning of the story, Scrooge’s selfish personality is revealed, and the Ghost of Christmas Past comes and shows him the memories and truth of his life long ago. In the text, Scrooge is visited by two portly gentlemen who ask Scrooge to donate to the poor because they are

The Spirit takes Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s house, where they meet Tiny Tim, Bob’s son. Tiny Tim is a cripple who has a big, loving heart. The Ghost tells Scrooge that, in the future, Tiny Tim will die. Scrooge then replies, “ ‘Oh, no, kind Spirit. Say that he will be spared’ ”(Dickens 12). Scrooge is already starting to prove that he is changing when he says this quote. Scrooge is finally starting to feel empathy towards others. And for once, he is seeing others as individuals who have a purpose in this world. Scrooge’s change is already starting to progress as he starts to feel compassion towards others. After a while, the Ghost of Christmas Present lifts up his robe. Under it, are two poor and hungry children named Ignorance and Want. When Scrooge sees them he says, “ ‘Have they no refuge or resource?’ ”(Dickens 24). Scrooge is starting to care for others as he says this quote. He realizes that just because they don’t have a job or make a lot of money, they still contribute to the world in their own way. Scrooge is learning how to move past materialistic things and see people for who they really are. The teachings of the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the true meaning of the spirit of

When Scrooge sees the Ghost, he is scared by its frightening appearance, but he knows that the Spirit’s lessons are important. He says, “ ‘But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart’ ” (Dickens 2). In this point of the story, Scrooge wants to change and is ready learn how to change his ways. He realizes that the Ghosts’ lessons are vital if he wants to change. He is ready to take on what the Spirit has for him because he knows that is the only way he will become a better man. The Ghost of Christmas Future takes Scrooge to different moments in the future, where a rich man died and no one cares about it. The Spirit then takes Scrooge to the man’s headstone, where he sees that his name is on it and realizes that he is the cold-hearted man who no one cared about. He then says, “ ‘Assure me that I yet may change these shadows you shown me, by an altered life’ ” (Dickens 18). Now that Scrooge has seen the future and the consequences of his life. Scrooge realizes that only kindness and goodness will pay off at the end of the road. Scrooge doesn’t completely change until this moment where he is shown how important it is to keep the Christmas Spirit in your heart. The Ghost of Christmas Future shows