Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits

Stave Two begins with Scrooge being awakened at midnight by the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past. This spirit appears as a strange, childlike figure with an old face and a bright light emanating from its head.

Vocabulary: Stave - A narrative section or chapter, typically in a poem or song

The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge on a journey through his own history, showing him scenes from his past Christmases. These visions are designed to remind Scrooge of the joy and warmth he once felt during the holiday season.

Example: The spirit shows Scrooge his lonely childhood at boarding school, where he was left alone during Christmas. This scene evokes sympathy for Scrooge and provides insight into the origins of his bitterness.

One of the most significant scenes in this stave is Scrooge's memory of his old employer, Fezziwig. Fezziwig is shown hosting a joyous Christmas party for his employees, demonstrating the positive impact a generous employer can have.

Quote: "He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count 'em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune."

This quote highlights the theme of social responsibility, particularly for those in positions of power or wealth. It contrasts sharply with Scrooge's own treatment of his employee, Bob Cratchit.

The stave concludes with Scrooge being shown a vision of his former fiancée, Belle, breaking off their engagement due to his growing obsession with money. This painful memory causes Scrooge to beg the spirit to take him home, demonstrating the emotional impact these visions are having on him.

Highlight: The Ghost of Christmas Past serves to remind Scrooge of the person he once was and the values he once held, laying the groundwork for his eventual transformation.

Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits

Stave Three introduces the Ghost of Christmas Present, a jolly giant clad in a green robe trimmed with white fur. This spirit takes Scrooge on a tour of London on Christmas morning, showing him scenes of joy and celebration among people of all social classes.

Quote: "There are some upon this earth of yours who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us."

This powerful statement from the Ghost of Christmas Present criticizes those who use religion or tradition as an excuse for cruelty or selfishness, a theme that resonates throughout the novella.

The spirit takes Scrooge to visit the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Here, Scrooge witnesses the Cratchit family's Christmas celebration, despite their poverty. He is particularly moved by the plight of Tiny Tim, Bob's sickly young son.

Highlight: The scenes at the Cratchit household serve to humanize the poor in Scrooge's eyes and challenge his previous dismissive attitude towards charity.

Later, the spirit shows Scrooge a vision of his nephew Fred's Christmas party, where the guests are playing games and making merry. Fred speaks kindly of his uncle, despite Scrooge's rudeness, demonstrating the power of forgiveness and family bonds.

Example: During a game of "Yes and No," Fred's guests try to guess what Scrooge is thinking of. The answer turns out to be "a disagreeable animal, a savage animal, an animal that growled and grunted sometimes, and talked sometimes, and lived in London, and walked about the streets, and wasn't made a show of, and wasn't led by anybody, and didn't live in a menagerie, and was never killed in a market." This humorous description of Scrooge himself highlights how others perceive him.

The stave concludes with the spirit revealing two emaciated children hidden beneath his robes, personifying Ignorance and Want. This powerful image serves as a warning about the consequences of neglecting society's most vulnerable members.

Quote: "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

This quote emphasizes the societal dangers of ignorance and poverty, reinforcing Dickens' critique of Victorian society's treatment of the poor.

Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits

Stave Four introduces the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, a silent, shrouded figure that fills Scrooge with dread. This spirit shows Scrooge visions of a future Christmas, focusing on the aftermath of the death of a miserly man who is clearly meant to be Scrooge himself.

Highlight: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the fear of death and the unknown future, serving as the final push in Scrooge's journey towards redemption.

Scrooge witnesses various scenes of people reacting to this man's death with indifference or even joy. He sees businessmen casually discussing the funeral, and a group of thieves selling the dead man's stolen belongings.

Quote: "If there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by this man's death, show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you!"

This desperate plea from Scrooge demonstrates his growing awareness of the consequences of his actions and his fear of dying unmourned and unloved.

The spirit then takes Scrooge to the Cratchit household, where he learns that Tiny Tim has died. This scene powerfully illustrates the human cost of Scrooge's miserliness and lack of compassion.

Example: Bob Cratchit, returning from visiting Tiny Tim's grave, breaks down in tears while comforting his other children. This poignant moment emphasizes the impact one person's actions (or inactions) can have on others.

Finally, the spirit leads Scrooge to a neglected grave in a rundown churchyard. Here, Scrooge realizes that the grave belongs to him and that the unmourned dead man in the visions was himself.

Quote: "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

This pivotal moment marks Scrooge's complete transformation. He vows to change his ways and embody the spirit of Christmas in his daily life, setting the stage for the novella's joyful conclusion.

Stave One: Marley's Ghost

Stave One introduces Ebenezer Scrooge as a miserly, cold-hearted man who hates Christmas. The story opens on Christmas Eve, with Scrooge working in his counting house and refusing to donate to charity or give his clerk Bob Cratchit the day off.

Quote: "Every idiot who goes around with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart."

This quote demonstrates Scrooge's extreme hatred for Christmas and festivity. His violent imagery emphasizes how deeply he opposes the holiday spirit.

Scrooge's nephew Fred visits to invite him to Christmas dinner, but Scrooge rudely dismisses him. Later that night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley.

Highlight: Marley's ghost warns Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits over the next three nights. These spirits aim to help Scrooge avoid Marley's fate of being condemned to wander Earth bound in heavy chains as punishment for his greed in life.

Quote: "I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."

This quote from Marley's ghost introduces the theme of personal responsibility. It suggests that one's actions in life have consequences that extend beyond death.

The stave ends with Scrooge dismissing Marley's warning, setting the stage for his encounters with the three spirits.