\u201cThe Ghost of Christmas Present\u201d by John Leech from the first edition of A Christmas Carol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nLike his older brother, the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Ebenezer Scrooge many scenes of Christmas. Here Dickens is at his \u201cDickensiest\u201d in lavish descriptions of food and festivity, all of which accentuate the joyfulness of Christmas. At first an observer of such delights, in time Scrooge begins to participate in the Christmas games as if he were actually present in the celebrations. He does this most of all as he watches the Christmas party of his nephew, Fred, who, in spite of having been mistreated by his uncle the day before, nevertheless wishes Scrooge a Merry Christmas in absentia<\/em>.<\/p>\nWhat has turned Scrooge into a man who delights in Christmas parties? His observation of genuine celebration leads, it seems, to an openhearted desire to become an enthusiastic celebrator. Dickens believes that festivity, especially of the pure-hearted variety, is contagious.<\/p>\n
The Impact of the Crachit Family<\/h3>\n
Yet, what touches Scrooge\u2019s heart in Stave III isn\u2019t merely his looking upon numerous Christmas parties. One scene in particular has special impact upon his soul. It comes as he observes the family of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Though this family has little in the way of money, they abound in love and joy. The center of their passion is Tiny Tim, the Cratchit\u2019s sickly little boy, who walked with a crutch and was supported by \u201can iron frame.\u201d This sweet boy may have a crippled body, but his heart is bigger and stronger than most. He\u2019s the one, after all, who offers the generous wish: \u201cGod bless us every one!\u201d<\/p>\n
Viewing Tiny Tim in his weakened state, Scrooge asks the Spirit \u201cif Tiny Tim will live.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf these shadows remain unaltered by the Future,\u201d the Spirit responds, \u201cthe child will die.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, no,\u201d said Scrooge. \u201cOh no, kind Spirit! say he will be spared.\u201d<\/p>\n
To which the Spirit quotes Scrooges own words from Stave 1: \u201cIf he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.\u201d Confronted in this way, \u201cScrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.\u201d<\/p>\n
Precisely at this point in the story, Bob Cratchit offers a toast to Mr. Scrooge, \u201cthe Founder of the Feast.\u201d Even though his family is none too happy to drink to Mr. Scrooge\u2019s health, they dutifully follow their father\u2019s lead. Thus, compacted into a minute\u2019s worth of action, Scrooge feels compassion for Tiny Tim, learns that the boy will die unless something unexpected happens, is confronted by his former hard-heartedness, repents profoundly, and then witnesses the extraordinary grace of his mistreated clerk, Bob Cratchit. Now that\u2019s a formula for personal transformation!<\/p>\n
Dickens uses Tiny Tim, perhaps more than any other character, to warm the icy heart of Ebenezer Scrooge. This reflects Dickens\u2019s own experience of being touched by children, especially their suffering. I noted earlier in this series that the first sign of tenderness in Scrooge comes as he observes his own childhood loneliness. This prepares him to be compassionate with other children. Dickens once wrote to a friend, \u201cCertainly there is nothing more touching than the suffering of a child, nothing more overwhelming\u201d (Annotated Christmas Carol<\/em>, p. 97).<\/p>\nThe Strange Ending of Stave III<\/h2>\n
Dickens\u2019 conviction about the suffering of children no doubt explains the bizarre and unexpected conclusion to Stave III. As the Ghost of Christmas Present nears the end of his mission to save Scrooge, he reveals two children hiding beneath his robe. They are \u201cwretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable.\u201d Who are these emaciated beings? \u201cThis boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.\u201d Their presence calls forth compassion from Scrooge, who asks, \u201cHave they no refuge or resource?\u201d Once again the spirit hurls Scrooge\u2019s own words back in his face: \u201cAre there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?\u201d And with this, the Ghost of Christmas Past disappears along with his pitiful children.<\/p>\n
So what in Stave III contributes to the transformation of Scrooge\u2019s heart? I\u2019ll answer this question in my next post and add some theological reflections.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Part 9 of series: Christmas According to Dickens Why Did Ebenezer Scrooge Change? Stave III When we last left Ebenezer Scrooge, he had just finished being visited by the first of three Christmas Spirits, the Ghost of Christmas Past. He fell into bed, exhausted. At the beginning of Stave III, Scrooge awakes, ready for the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16659],"tags":[16694,16684,16690],"class_list":["post-2882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christmas-according-to-dickens","tag-a-chirstmas-carol","tag-charles-dickens","tag-ebenezer-scrooge"],"yoast_head":"\n
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