The Main Character in a Christmas Carol free essay sample

The main character in A Christmas Carol is named Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a stereotype of those who had power over those who didnt. Throughout the opening stave the character of Scrooge is established and it is quite clear what he is like. For example Dickens describes the character of Scrooge: No wind that blew was bitterer than he. This use of metaphors tells the reader a lot about the character Scrooge, and that he does not have a very good attitude or personality.This is shown especially because in the winter streets of London it is very cold and for Scrooge to be more bitter than the cold air just says that he is a mean and horrible person. Ebenezer Scrooge continues his stingy, greedy ways on Christmas Eve. He rejects a Christmas dinner invitation, and all the good tidings of the holiday, from his jolly nephew, Fred; he yells at charity workers; and he overworks his employee, Bob Cratchit. We will write a custom essay sample on The Main Character in a Christmas Carol or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page At night, Scrooges former business partner Jacob Marley, dead for seven years, visits him in the form of a ghost. Marleys spirit has been wandering since he died as punishment for being consumed with business and not with people while alive. He has come to warn Scrooge and perhaps save him from the same fate. He tells him Three Spirits will come to him over the next three nights: the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.The first Spirit; The ghost of Christmas past, in my opinion, is extremely meaningful as it personifies memory. For example It was a strange figure like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man. So the spirits description suggests to us that the character Scrooges childhood experiences can come back to him if he allows them to. Also the spirit is described here as: from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light.Remembering that the ghost of Christmas past is the personification of memory this light symbolizes the illumination that comes from ones past and the cap the spirit wears symbolizes the ability everyone has to extinguish the light of memory, if he or she choose to do so, however at the end of stave two Scrooge tried to remove memories from the past but was unsuccessful: though Scrooge pressed it down with all his might, he could not hide the light: which screamed form under it. That quote also shows Dickens intelligent use of words because if you Screamed you are trying to escape.The other phrase Dickens used to describe the ghost of Christmas past is: Its hair which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age;and The arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same. Both of these quotes compliment Dickens use of imagery as they give you a clear picture in your mind of what the spirits properties are. One other phrase in the story Dickens wrote was: It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round it waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. This says one thing, and that is that memory is pure, it cant be modified and its free from any influence to change. When the character, Scrooge meets the first spirit, the spirit starts to show Scrooge his past. Scrooge is taken to a country field and Scrooge himself recognizes the place as it was where he spent his childhood. Good heaven said Scrooge, clasping his hands together, as he looked about him. I was bred in this place. I was a boy here! There is an overwhelming flood of sensory connection with the place; this even brings a tremble to Scrooges lip and a tear to his cheek. This is evidence that in a moment, the past has become more alive to Scrooge than ever before.This shows already a big change in the character Scrooge has happened because this same character who could spare no time over his deceased business partner now tremble at the confronting memories of his youth. This evidence tell the reader that in a short time Scrooge has learnt lessons and that potentially as the story goes on Scrooge will learn more vital lessons. Of the many film versions of Charles Dickenss A Christmas Carol, the 1951 with Alastair Sim as Scrooge is the most faithful to the spirit of the book. It is, indeed, THE Christmas classic.This movie captures all the things that A Christmas Carol is supposed to be. Watching Alastair Sim interpret the role of Scrooge and then looking at other actors, I see his incredible facial expressions, the loss of soul that haunts him, the vulnerability, the loss of love from his once betrothed, and the terrible loneliness suffered at the hands of a vengeful father and the loss of his kind and loving sister, Fan. Scrooge is shown to be calculating at every point in time, but seems to know that in many ways he is wrong. His greed becomes his mistress and he cant forsake her. Greed seems to be a repetitive them in this story. The scene I remember most is how Scrooges greed drives away Belle, the young woman he loves. She cannot stay with him because he has made profit his main priority and she wont be second priority in his life. Scrooge really is so interested in his own profit that he doesnt make her stay with him because he realizes that she is right about his priorities. Because money is all that matters to him, money is all he is left with. Belle marries and has a family while Scrooge grows old, and rich, alone. However, there is as much greed as there is regret in this story. For example, when Scrooge learns that Tiny Tim will die if the future is unaltered, Scrooge is saddened. But when the Ghost of Christmas Present reminds him that when the collectors came to ask for a donation for the poor, Scrooge told them that those who were dying should go ahead and do it to decrease the population. Looking at Tiny Tim makes him realize that he was wrong to make such a statement and that those he might well consider an unnecessary surplus, could very well be those like Tim. The Ghost of Christmas Present once again uses Scrooges own words to make him regret his previous disrespect towards the poor.The ghost warns Scrooge that Want and Ignorance must be fought against or else the world is doomed and it is part of Scrooges duty to help fight against these social ills. Seeing these hideous monsters personified makes Scrooge realize how important it is to rid society of these self-created problems. Watching this movie is like reading the book and picturing it in your head. Charles Dicken’s message in A Christmas Carol is more relevant than it’s ever been. Mankind is our business and it’s important to practice kindness and compassion all of the days of the year and not just one.