A CHRISTMAS CAROL

“A Christmas Carol” was written by Charles Dickens in 1843 and remains a holiday favorite throughout the world. A testament to its popularity is the word “Scrooge” commonly used to describe people lacking in holiday spirit. “A Christmas Carol” can be found performed at theatres throughout the world during the holiday season and still attracts very large crowds.

“A Christmas Carol” tells the story of a mean old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge who has no compassion for anyone regardless of the season. He is especially mean to his employees, including Bob Cratchit, a kind family man struggling to make ends meet. “A Christmas Carol” takes place on Christmas Eve when Scrooge is visited by four ghosts throughout the night. The first ghost to make an appearance in “A Christmas Carol” is that of Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s long dead business partner. Marley shows Scrooge how he is forced to walk eternity bound in chains due to the unkindness he showed towards his fellow men while on earth and warns Scrooge against sharing his fate. Throughout the night, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future all visit Scrooge to give him glimpses of how things could have been or can be different by mending his unkind ways. The glimpse of Scrooge’s future is the most frightening in “A Christmas Carol” and forces Scrooge to reconcile himself to loneliness and a cold grave of he does not change his mean spirit.

“A Christmas Carol” is a tale reminding us that although unkindness is felt more during the Christmas season, it is your conduct all year which makes the difference. Charity and benevolence towards fellow men reap rewards above material possessions. “A Christmas Carol” is a delightful tale which has entertained families throughout the years and teaches an important moral lesson about how if one does not give love, they can expect to receive very little in return.