A Christmas Carol Group

Question:

julio0808
julio0808
Student
College - Freshman

In "A Christmas Carol", what does the spirit of christmas future look like?

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Posted by julio0808 on Tuesday March 10, 2009 at 7:16 PM and tagged with a christmas carol, spirit of christmas future.

Answers:

  1. pmiranda2857
    pmiranda2857 Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The ghost of Christmas future is shrouded in mystery, all at once looking like a shapeless, faceless form in a black robe, while at the same time, it looks like the Grim Reaper or death.

    Symbolically, the spirit represents the unknown, the future which is not written.  However, it is also symbolic as death which is what Mr. Scrooge has to confront in this part of the story in order to earn redemption for his soul and change his ways.

    Dickens keeps the character undefined, because it depends on what Scrooge decides during his night of visits from the spirits.  If Scrooge learns the valuable lesson that Jacob Marley wants him to understand in order to change his fate, or destiny and his life after death.  Or if he decides not to change, the future, fulfilled will reflect the hollow, empty life he now has along with an uneventful death that no one will mourn.

     

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/christmas-carol/

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    Posted by pmiranda2857 on Thursday March 12, 2009 at 3:16 PM