A Christmas Carol Group

Question:

jj91482242
jj91482242
Student
High School - 11th Grade

Which ghost has the biggest impact on Scrooge in A Christmas Carol and why? Show evidence to back up your point.

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Posted by jj91482242 on Tuesday October 13, 2009 at 2:45 PM and tagged with a christmas carol, characterization, characters, feelings, impacts, scrooge.

Answers:

  1. appletrees
    appletrees Teacher
    College - Junior

    eNotes Editor

    It may be said that each ghost has a significant impact on Scrooge. The Ghost of Christmas Past makes him relive the errors and shame of his youth, and causes him to regret the way he treated his true love. The Ghost of Christmas Present shows him how his present actions cause pain to others, and fill him with pity for Tiny Tim and his family. But when the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come arrives, Scrooge says he fears him most of all. This spirit shows him his own death, and that of Tiny Tim, and the hateful legacy he leaves behind. It is this vision of the future that forces Scrooge to change his entire outlook and behavior.

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    Posted by appletrees on Wednesday October 14, 2009 at 7:49 AM

  2. ms-charleston-yawp
    ms-charleston-yawp Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Although this is generally an opinion question, I think I can safely say that the final ghost of A Christmas Carol (the Ghost of Christmas Future) definitely has the greatest impact on Scrooge.  The reason why I say this, not disagreeing with the first responder of course, is that there are significant grunts and complaints made by Scrooge after Marley, the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present that prove the first three were not able to completely convert Scrooge. 

    For example, Marley isn't even able to convince Scrooge that ghosts even exist as Scrooge tells himself that Marley's Ghost may have been a simple "complaint" of the stomach.  Next, the timeless forceful action of Scrooge using the strange cap of the Ghost of Christmas Past to put out the light of truth.  That certainly doesn't speak to conversion.  Also, the Ghost of Christmas Present continually asks Scrooge, after Scrooge gives a usual monetary and materialitstic comment, if that is all Scrooge has learned from these visions. 

    It is only the Ghost of Christmas Future who gets that honor:  the honor of Scrooge's full conversion.  There is something about seeing a Grim Reaper type figure pointing towards a gravestone with your name that secures the straw that broke the camel's back.  It is only after this fourth ghost that we come to "The End of It," and discover the heartwarming change in Scrooge that we all love so well where Tiny Tim "who did not die" exclaims yet again:  "God bless us, every one!"

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

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    Posted by ms-charleston-yawp on Monday November 2, 2009 at 9:01 AM