“Each Ghost Marks an Important Step in Scrooge’s Journey of Redemption.”

808 Words4 Pages
‘The Christmas Carol’ written by Charles Dickens in 1843 is a great story of how one man can rebuild his life for the better. Dickens really captures the reader’s attention with great reference to spirits and a great story line. The ghosts in the novel all play a crucial element in the reconstruction of the main character Ebenezer Scrooge’s life. Whether it is during the second stave when the reader is presented with the knowledge of the first spirit, throughout the third stave when the reader meets the Ghost of Christmas Present or in the fourth stave when the unnerving phantom drifts into the story, it is obvious that all three of the spirits are vital components in Scrooge’s journey of redemption. During the second stave the reader gets introduced to the first spirit on Scrooge’s quest to become a better person, the Ghost of Christmas Past. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge back to re-live certain areas of his childhood, which begins to stir up old emotions in his mind. They attend Scrooge’s former boss Mr. Fezziwig’s dinner ball. He begins to remember all the joy and happiness Mr. Fezziwig had once shown his younger self. At this point Scrooge is already questioning the very way he acts towards people. “No. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now! That’s all.” It is apparent here that Scrooge is feeling somewhat remorseful towards his clerk for not treating him in the kindest way earlier on in the novel. “You’ll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?’ ‘If quite convenient, sir.’ ‘It’s not convenient, and its not fair.” From the way Scrooge is complaining to his clerk that ‘its not fair’ to have Christmas day off and to when he comprehends how bitter he was towards him, it is distinct that the Ghost of Christmas Past helped him come to this realization. As the novel progresses so does Scrooges’ quest to seek self-improvement.
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