“A Christmas Carol”

1. “A Christmas Carol” A Review

2. Key Characters • Scrooge—stingy, bitter, rich old miser who hates Christmas and anything having to do with the holiday. • Marley—Scrooge’s old business partner, deceased one year prior to the setting of the story. • Bob Cratchit—Scrooge’s poor assistant and father of Tiny Tim and several other children. • Tiny Tim—crippled little son of Bob Cratchit.

3. Key Characters Continued • Ghost of Christmas Past—Shows Scrooge his past mistakes and the events that have shaped the person he has become • Ghost of Christmas Present—Shows Scrooge unseen events that are happening around him over which he has control. • Ghost of Christmas Future—Shows Scrooge the events that will happen if he does not change his miserly ways.

4. Main Settings • 1840s Britain, Christmastime • Scrooge’s business office • Scrooge’s bedroom • Cratchit house • Cold, snowy, crowded streets

5. Major Plot Events • Scrooge gives Cratchit a hard time about wanting Christmas off. • Scrooge refuses to give money to help the poor and instead states that the poor should hurry up and die and get “rid of the surplus population.” • Scrooge goes home and readies himself for bed. He is confronted by Marley’s ghost.

6. Major Plot Events • Scrooge is told that several spirits will be visiting him in the coming nights before Christmas Day, each with a different message for him. • The first spirit, Past, shows Scrooge his days as a school boy in a boarding house abandoned by his grumpy father, then takes Scrooge to the scene of his apprenticeship. Past also shows Scrooge a scene in which Scrooge’s fiancée leaves him due to his changed personality and miserly ways.

7. Major Plot Events • Scrooge begins to see the mistakes he has made and how they have shaped his current situation in life: lonely, old, and miserly without friends or loved ones to care for. • Present then visits Scrooge and shows him several important scenes that are taking place in the present: the Cratchit family home where it becomes clear to Scrooge how sick Tiny Tim is, and his niece and nephew discussing Christmas and Scrooge’s attitude toward the holiday.

8. Major Plot Events • Scrooge knows that the Ghost of the Future will be showing him what is yet to happen, and wonders if these events can be avoided if he changes his ways. • Future shows Scrooge the death of Tiny Tim, Scrooge’s own death and the reactions of people in the community, and Scrooge’s grave. • Scrooge vows Future that he will change his ways.

9. Major Plot Events • Scrooge buys a turkey to be sent to the Cratchit home, which is received with joy by the Cratchit family. • Scrooge visits his niece and nephew on Christmas day and shows them his changed attitude toward the holiday. • Scrooge raises Marley’s salary and gives him a Christmas bonus. He is redeemed for his past transgressions.

10. Theme • People can change their character completely if they see how their past actions impacted their present and possibly future conditions. • People can redeem themselves for past transgressions through a humble nature and acts of kindness toward others.