Stave 4 Summary
Scrooge meets the terrifying Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge says to him,
I fear you more than any spectre I have seen.
However, despite his terror of this spirit, Scrooge has learned from his experiences with the first two ghosts to expect a helpful lesson.
The spirit takes Scrooge to the center of London, where Scrooge realizes that people are discussing someone who has just died, but in unflattering terms. They speak of him as someone unloved and laugh harshly about attending his funeral, but only if they get a lunch out of it. The scene then dissolves.
Scrooge and the ghost next appear in a poor and filthy part of town that is full of narrow, ramshackle streets. In a sordid secondhand shop run by Old Joe, three people meet up: a laundress, a woman named Mrs. Dilber, and a man wearing faded black. They are all fencing goods they have stolen from a dead man. They dislike him so much that they have taken the shirt off his back and ripped the sheets and curtains from his deathbed. They comment that the man who has died was so hard-hearted in life that he deserves this fate. Scrooge watches, not knowing who the man is, but understanding the parallels with his own life. He states,
The case of this unhappy man might be my own. My life tends that way, now.
The scene then dissolves to a dark bedroom where a dead man lies. Scrooge is chilled as he hears the scratching of rats behind the walls, thinking they want to get at the dead body—and the scratching of a cat who wants the rats. Scrooge doesn't know who the dead man is. However, after all the callousness he has heard expressed over this man’s death, he asks to be shown someone who feels emotion that the man died. In response, the ghost takes Scrooge to see a woman, Caroline, along with her husband and children, who are joyful over the man’s death. They were about to be ruined for not being able to pay a debt, but now that the man has died, they will have time to gather the money to repay the loan.
Scrooge is not pleased that the family is so happy about the unknown man’s death and now asks to see someone who feels a tender or sad emotion about death. The ghost then takes him to the Cratchit house, where the heartbroken Cratchits are mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Bob Cratchit speaks very kindly of Scrooge’s nephew, who is helping their son Peter get a better job. But it is clear the family is overcome and devastated by the loss of their youngest son.
Scrooge still does not realize that he is the dead man who has been the subject of all these scenes, excepting the one with Tiny Tim. At this point, he says to the ghost,
Tell me what man that was whom we saw lying dead?
The spirit points Scrooge to his house. His office is still there, but someone else is in it, and the furniture is different. The ghost then sends Scrooge toward a graveyard. There, in the weedy, overgrown churchyard, the ghost points at Scrooge's gravestone.
As he realizes that the hated dead man who has been the subject of these scenes is himself, Scrooge is utterly overcome with emotion. He falls to his knees and cries,
No, Spirit! Oh no, no!
He clutches the ghost, tells him he is a changed man, and begs the spirit to give him hope that he can alter this grim and horrible future into a better one. The spirit does not speak, but hope is foreshadowed in the image of his “kind hand” trembling and in Scrooge’s reasoning:
Why show me this, if I am past all hope!
As the stave ends, the ghost disappears, and all Scrooge sees is his bedpost.
Expert Q&A
In A Christmas Carol, how does Scrooge react to Tiny Tim's death?
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge reacts to Tiny Tim's death with great sadness, particularly as he considers the uncaring words he has spoken about the poor. Scrooge has previously refused to donate to charities to help the poor, believing that they should die and lessen the tax burden on himself and others. The prospect of Tiny Tim's death is transformative because it reveals to Scrooge the humanity of poverty.
What new lesson does Scrooge learn in Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol?
In Stave 4, Scrooge learns the harsh reality of his life's impact through the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. He realizes that, without change, he will die unmourned, his legacy reduced to theft of his possessions by indifferent strangers. This revelation humbles and frightens him, prompting a commitment to transform his life by valuing human connection over wealth. He vows to honor Christmas and embody the lessons of the past, present, and future.
What is the purpose of the discussion between Joe and Mrs. Dilber in A Christmas Carol?
The point of the long discussion between Joe and Mrs. Dilber in A Christmas Carol is to reveal to Scrooge how much people hate him and how insignificant he is. He has, by his actions and attitude, made himself a nobody in the eyes of others, and they will have no respect for him when he's gone.
In A Christmas Carol, who are the people in Joe's scavenger shop and what are they doing?
In Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," Stave Four reveals three individuals in Joe's pawn shop, capitalizing on Scrooge's death. Mrs. Dilber, Scrooge's charwoman, sells his bed curtains and sheets. A laundress, responsible for Scrooge's clothing and linens, also sells his belongings. Lastly, the undertaker's assistant tries to sell office equipment. These characters, rather than mourning Scrooge, seize the opportunity to profit from his demise.
In A Christmas Carol, why are Caroline and her husband relieved at Scrooge's death?
Caroline and her husband are relieved at Scrooge's death because they owe him money and struggled with payments. They hope his death will either forgive their debt or transfer it to a more lenient creditor, giving them time to gather the necessary funds. Despite their relief, they feel guilty for being glad about his demise.
What does Old Joe buy from the charwoman in A Christmas Carol?
In "A Christmas Carol," Old Joe purchases Scrooge’s bedcurtains, blankets, and the shirt meant for his burial from the charwoman. This transaction, shown to Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, reveals the grim reality that Scrooge died alone with no one caring for him, as his belongings are stolen and sold off. This shocking revelation significantly impacts Scrooge, underscoring his loneliness and lack of meaningful relationships.
What tenderness connected with a death does the spirit show Scrooge?
The spirit shows Scrooge the Cratchit family mourning the death of Tiny Tim, highlighting the tenderness and love within the family despite their grief. Scrooge sees Bob Cratchit walking slowly home, burdened by his loss, and later breaking down in tears. This scene contrasts with Scrooge's own lonely and neglected grave, prompting him to reconsider his ways and seek change.
Who is the dead man Scrooge discovers at the end of Stave 4 in A Christmas Carol?
At the end of Stave 4, Scrooge discovers that the dead man is himself when he sees his name on the headstone. Throughout the stave, he witnesses visions of a funeral no one attends and his possessions being stolen, yet he initially fails to recognize himself in these scenes. This revelation prompts Scrooge to vow to change his ways, realizing these events depict his future if he does not reform.
Describe the first scene Scrooge encounters at Old Joe's Scavenger Shop in A Christmas Carol.
In the scene at Old Joe's Scavenger Shop, Scrooge witnesses a grim and sordid environment where his possessions are being sold by his servants and an undertaker's assistant. The shop is filled with stolen items, including his bed curtains and burial shirt, as the scavengers mock the deceased. This scene highlights the insignificance of material wealth and forces Scrooge to confront the emptiness of his life and the lack of respect for him after death.
In stave 4 of A Christmas Carol, how does Scrooge's death ironically benefit the scavengers?
In stave 4 of A Christmas Carol, the irony that exists in how Scrooge’s death benefits the scavengers is that he never benefited them when he was alive. Then, he was such a mean old skinflint that he never gave anything to anybody. But now that he’s dead he’s finally of benefit to the poor and needy.
In A Christmas Carol, were the items sold to Old Joe from Scrooge's room or office?
The items sold to Old Joe came from Scrooge's house, not his office. In "A Christmas Carol," two women sell various belongings from Scrooge's home, such as sugar tongs, boots, and curtains. This scene highlights Scrooge's lonely death, emphasizing that his lack of relationships left his possessions unclaimed. It serves as a pivotal moment for Scrooge, prompting his transformation as he realizes the consequences of his cold, greedy life.
What does "the kind hand trembled" signify at the end of stave 4 in A Christmas Carol?
"The kind hand trembled" signifies that the Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come cares about Scrooge's fate and that there is hope for change. As Scrooge pleads for assurance that he can alter his destiny, the trembling hand indicates that he can indeed change his future if he amends his ways.
What does Scrooge observe when he asks the Spirit to show him someone who mourns the man's death in Stave 4?
When Scrooge asks the Spirit to show him someone who mourns a man's death, he is first taken to businessmen who discuss the death with indifference. Later, he sees unsavory characters selling the deceased's belongings at a pawn shop. Finally, the Spirit takes him to a couple who feel joy and relief at the man's passing, as it frees them from debt. Scrooge realizes the man is himself, highlighting his negative impact on others.
What are Scrooge's servants doing when visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?
When visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, Scrooge's servants are in a shabby shop selling his belongings, taken from his house after his death. This scene reveals to Scrooge the indifference with which people regard his passing. The items, including a seal, pencil-case, and old silverware, highlight his miserly life. This revelation is pivotal in showing Scrooge the negative impact of his frugal and isolated existence.
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