Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. In 1843, when A Christmas Carol was written, England had particularly stringent laws in governing the payment of debts and the condition of penury. In the novel, a miserly London man finds the true meaning of Christmas when three ghosts take him to visit his past, present, and future. Scrooge's nephew Fred is a strong foil for Scroogea character whose opposite characteristics highlight those of another character. The spirits joyful air is in sharp contrast to Scrooges demeanor, just as his copious feast has never before been seen in Scrooges house. Active Themes Scrooge, as a man of business, a man who is cold and relies solely on his mind (not feelings) to be prepared for all business situations, tries to be prepared again. One of the things that the spirits are determined to teach Scrooge is the value of knowledge and conscience over ignorance. From this point on, Scrooge vows to change and he does. Summary. 40 lessons As Scrooge's time with The Ghost of Christmas Present comes to an end, he notices that the spirit's hair is now gray. Which Ghost made the biggest impact on Scrooge? Marley explains that every man is required to help his fellow man, and if he chooses not to, after death he must stay amongst the living, witnessing their anguish but unable to help. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! However, since the present is one day, the ghost gets older as they travel. He realizes that he has not been behaving well and he mends his ways. erb337. 17 terms. Scrooge is immediately presented as an unpleasant character who is completely obsessed with making money. Dickens stresses the coldness of Scrooges bearing. Are there no workhouses? (Stave 3). Stave 3 - The Ghost of Christmas Present - Scrooge is taken to the home of Bob Cratchit, then to a few other Christmas gatherings including a community of miners and a party aboard a . erb337. Stave 3. Who is the ghost of Christmas of present referring to as he asks scrooge if he has walked forth with the ghosts more than eighteen hundred elder brothers. In Stave 4, Scrooge learns the truth about the value of his life as it applies to other people. You'll be billed after your free trial ends. It was his own room. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. In Stave 3, Scrooge is submissive and open to learning from his journey with the Ghost of Christmas Present. Even though it is by no means a feast, they all marvel at the sight of the goose and pudding, and congratulate Mrs. Cratchit as if it were the biggest theyd ever seen. This picture is designed to address and undermine Victorian class prejudice and awaken Dickens' readers to the harsh realities of poverty. In Scrooge we see a man who is transformed from a greedy, selfish miser into a generous and good-natured character by the end. Summary. ', 'Our contract is an old one. The church clock strikes one, startling Scrooge, who awakes in mid-snore. Scrooge cries out for comforting words from Marley, who says that he has none to give; however, he does come with an offer that can help Scrooge: three ghosts will visit Scrooge over the next three nights. He hates Christmas and those who celebrate it. His eyes sparkle, contributing to his cheerful demeanor. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. He realizes that, as Jacob Marley said, mankind is his business. Why Did Charles Dickens Write A Christmas Carol? Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Why is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come introduced at the end of Stave 3? erb337. As he watches, it began to sway, gently at first, but harder and harder until it peals loudly, and every other bell in the building joins in. Even though he is poor, he shows courage and huge generosity of spirit he asks God to bless. The ghost then took Scrooge to a warehouse. 6 How is Scrooge starting to change in the story? The journey into his past demonstrated to him that he chose. The Ghost of Christmas Present alludes to people who label themselves Christians yet do not embrace key Christian values, such as loving and caring for those in need. He feels ready for anything and is thus quite shocked when the clock strikes one . Already a member? He sits amid a festive scene like a Christmas card, full of plenty. . Scrooge in Stave Three: Key Quotations and Analysis DystopiaJunkie 11.1K subscribers Subscribe 11K views 2 years ago Welcome to the ninth video in my "'A Christmas Carol' GCSE English. Dickens uses the spirit in Stave 3 to encourage others to balance enjoying abundant blessings with sharing those blessings with those in need. Sometimes it can end up there. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. (His equations, long since debunked, postulate that population growth will occur according to a geometric sequence, while food supply will grow according to an arithmetic sequence.) His long, brown curls are crowned with a wreath of holly and sprinkled with icicles. What Ghost has the most effect on Scrooge? Scrooge is part of the fun and joins in excitedly like a child. The final spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who leads Scrooge through scenes relating to a mans death. Ignorance and Want, who appear in stave 3 of A Christmas Carol, represent the failings of a society that seeks to be progressive but fails to meet the most basic needs of its . He went to church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. Even as he stares, the face disappears and the knocker looks as it always has before. Readers learn that Scrooge sacrificed love, companionship, and happiness, over time, in pursuit of wealth, or Gain, as it is referred to in the novella. Scrooge is so incensed that he chases him away with a ruler. The spirit replies that given the current conditions in the Cratchit house, there will inevitably be an empty chair at next year's Christmas dinner. Scrooge finally displays empathy for his clerk, Cratchit, when he witnesses the love and joy present in the family's Christmas Day celebration, despite their meager meal and Cratchit's son. Wed love to have you back! The room that the spirit occupies is lushly decorated with gifts from nature, such as berries and the "crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy." Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Dont have an account? He obeys Scrooge's rules and is timid about asking to go home to his family early on Christmas Eve. As he unlocks his door, he realizes that the large knocker is Marley's face, with an unearthly glow around it. Scrooge is extremely reflective as he watches Christmas present unfold. The ghost of his long-dead partner, Jacob Marley, appears and tells him that he will be haunted by three ghosts.. Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol Background. 11 terms. Charles Dickens' novella A Christmas Carol is written in five staves similar to verses or stanzas. Instant PDF downloads. Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits. As the people pass. Word Count: 749. There is nothing in him but self-interest and greed. Scrooge acknowledges now that he only went with that spirit because he was forced to do so, but he admits that he learned something valuable from the ghost, and this makes him eager to see what lessons this new ghost has to teach him. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Report Content | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. The spirit disappears as the clock strikes midnight and Scrooge eyes a hooded phantom coming toward him. He has changed from a selfish and inconsiderate man to a charitable, caring man with a kind heart. He is shown the error of his ways by the ghosts that visit him and is redeemed by his own willingness to change. How does Scrooge change throughout the story? In Stave 3, Scrooge visits scenes of people preparing to celebrate Christmas in the streets of London on Christmas day. 'I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!' Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed . Youve successfully purchased a group discount. The exploitation and premature growing-up of Victorian children was a real concern for Dickens, and something he focused on in his work. Though Scrooge is a rich man, he deprives himself of comforts he could easily afford. After the men leave, a young caroler sings "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" outside Scrooge's door. Stave 3 Quotes In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. Margaret has taught both college and high school English and has a master's degree in English from Mississippi State University. Glad to be awake, he hopes to confront the second spirit just as it arrives. In this video, I think about the character Ebenezer Scrooge, and in particular, how he is presented in the story's third stave.I discuss how Scrooge is shown to change across this stave: initially, he is money-obsessed and ignorant, but as he sees the sights of Christmas Day, he grows more sympathetic and begins to open his heart, despite being poorly thought of by must people from his time. In Stave 1, the main character Ebenezer Scrooge appears along with the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who has died seven years earlier on Christmas Eve. "Scrooge was the Ogre of the family." Scrooge is portrayed as a monster, and his family don't like him but feel obligated to toast him. They drink to Scrooges health, and with that, the ghost pulls Scrooge away from the scene. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Without visits from the spectres, Scrooge has no hope of escaping the same fate. Christmas is a religious holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. He allows people into his life, and does his best to help the needy anywhere he can. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. Scrooge refuses to give money In Stave I Scrooge is asked to make a donation for the 'Poor and destitute' of society. You are changed. He spends all day in his counting house looking after his money but is so cheap that he keeps his house in darkness, his fire small and allows no extravagance even on Christmas day. Ebenezer Scrooge's counting house is open for business, and he sits at his desk keeping an eye on his clerk, Bob Cratchitt. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Which metaphor shows how the Cratchit family view Scrooge in Stave 3? Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. How is Scrooge starting to change in the story? He formerly ran his business with his partner, Jacob Marley, who died seven years before "A Christmas Carol" begins. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business! As the Ghost of Christmas Present nears the end of his mission to save Scrooge, he reveals two children hiding beneath his robe. There are few things better than a good laugh, says the narrator, and Freds is contagious. If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with Death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself.'. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Dickens makes Tiny Tim smaller and more fragile than the typical child to emphasize the disparity between his small means and his tremendous spirit. It is Scrooge's nephew Fred, come to visit his uncle and invite him to Christmas dinner.