Words of the Past, Present, and Yet to Come

Preface

Published in December of 1843, A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas, written by Charles Dickens became a well known story of why the Christmas spirit is an essential ambiance for the time of year of holidays. A Christmas Carol is about a man, Ebeneezer Scrooge, who at first has no inclanation to be bothered by Christmas cheer and spirit. All that changed when is long dead business partner, Jacob Marley, came to visit him one night to warn him that Scrooge had “yet a chance and hope of escaping [Marley’s] fate” (Stave 1, 1843). Marley informed Scrooge that he would be visited be three different spirits at the strike of one. The first spirit was the Ghost of Christmas Past; he should Scrooge what his past Christmas’ had done to or for him. The following spirit was the Ghost of Christmas Present; he allowed Scrooge to witness the Christmas of his coworker and his nephew to show Scrooge’s abscence in the events. Lastly the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come; this showed Scrooge’s fate if he dd not change his ways about Christmas and is was a horrible fate to fufill. Scrooge in the end realized what he needed to do to embrace the Christmas spirit and renewed himself into a better man.

Words of the Past, Present, and Yet to Come

December 27, 1843

Dear Marley, 

I heed your warning every day when I wake from slumber. I do not want to become the man that I once was rude and unapproachable. I want to become the man my nephew wants to spend his time on, and a man that people can rely on for business. I know you have long been dead, but I wanted to inform you of my adventures and reckonings with the spirits. 

After your frightful visit, I awoke to the clock striking midnight. That is when I first feared for my life. All of a sudden a bright blinding light formed into a figure at the foot of my bed. It was the first spirit. The spirit took me by surprise, for it was gentle and calm. The appearance of the spirit was very bright, “the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it held under its arm.” (Stave two, 1843). I asked the spirit of its name, it was the Ghost of Christmas Past. We went on a tumultuous adventure Marley! To some of my best lived childhood Christmas’. We went to those when I was a very young boy, all the way to when I appreticed with Old Fezziwig. I was a wonderful time, though it made me realize I had lost my Christmas spirit in some of those times. I have now realized what it takes for me to regain that spirit and kindness.

With sencerity,

Ebeneezer Scrooge

December 28, 1843

Dear Marley, 

I have rekindered much of my spirit from spending time with my nephew, Fred. The second ghost that made its appearance showed me what I have been absent from all these years. The Ghost of Christmas Present allowed me to witness the Christmas spirit in the people I spoke to almost everyday. It showed me my nephew’s Christmas party and the games they played. The laughter that filled the room and the warmth that filled everyone’s faces. Even though one game i was the joke it put even more realization upon my life that I needed to experience Christmas cheer. 

The second main place the spirit took me to was that the home of my clerk, Bob Cratchit. His family has no wealth, but that did not stop them froming experiencing the joy of Christmas. The small children were so excited for the feast Mrs. Cratchit had prepared, even though it was nt spectacular to my eye. It did not matter to them that they were poor and that their clothes were tattered, and that their feast was not grand; “they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time” (Stave 3, 1843). Marley, oh dear Marley! I wish you would have been here to witness how grateful I have become for the family I have now. It is wonderful to feel the spirit among them. 

With sencerity,

Ebeneezer Scrooge

January 1, 1845

Dear Marley,

It is a brand new year and I have decided to continue my resoulution of having a kinder spirit in myself. When the final spirit cam to visit me, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, it showed me of what would be portrayed if I did not change my harsh, impertinent ways. I would be in the same hellish spot as you my dear Marley. My burdens and debts chained to me  forever. I do wish you had the chance to better yourself as I did, but I am now grateful for the chance to embrace those around me and to provide Chirstmas cheer when the time is right. Thank you my dear friend for heeding the warning of what would become of me.

With sencerity,

Ebeneezer Scrooge

Works Cited

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. 1843. Project Gutenberg,

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm. Accessed 29 April 2020.