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   jennifer-taubenheim Teacher
   Middle School

   eNotes Editor

   Marley comes to warn Scrooge of the future that is waiting for him if he does not change his ways. He says that it is the job of men to live among and help their fellow man when they are alive. If they do not do so, they are condemned to do so in death. They will wander through the world and see the hurting and suffering in the world, wanting to interfere and do good, but being unable to do anything but observe. As he speaks, Scrooge sees that Marley wears a chain and he asks about it. Marley says that he wears the chain that he created in his life. “I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you?” Scrooge sees that it is made of “cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel.” In other words, the tools of his business. The chain is created by caring more about money than people. To further make his point, Marley allows Scrooge a glimpse of the ghosts who are wandering and wailing in emotional pain just outside his own window.

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   Posted by jennifer-taubenheim on Tuesday March 3, 2009 at 5:57 PM