Staves Four and Five: Complete Transformation
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come delivers the knockout punch by showing Scrooge that actions have consequences. Seeing his own lonely death puts his obsession with wealth into perspective - money can't buy friendship or love, and it certainly won't keep him company when he's gone.
By Stave Five, Scrooge's transformation is complete and dramatic. Dickens shows this through direct contrasts - where once he was "hard and sharp as flint," he's now "as light as a feather" and "as happy as an angel." The man who refused charity now actively seeks out the "portly gentlemen" to make donations.
The change isn't just internal either. Scrooge's actions prove his transformation: he raises Bob's salary, joins his nephew's Christmas dinner, and spreads joy wherever he goes. From "Bah! Humbug!" to "A merry Christmas to everyone" - that's character development at its finest.
Exam Tip: When writing about Scrooge's transformation, use these contrasting quotes to show the before and after - it demonstrates clear analytical thinking.