A mean-spirited, miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his counting-house on a frigid Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the anteroom because Scrooge refuses to spend money on heating coals for a fire. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, pays his uncle a visit and invites him to his annual Christmas party. Two portly gentlemen also drop by and ask Scrooge for a contribution to their charity. Scrooge reacts to the holiday visitors with bitterness and venom, spitting out an angry "Bah! Humbug!" in response to his nephew's "Merry Christmas!"
Later that evening, after returning to his dark, cold apartment, Scrooge receives a chilling visitation from the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley. Marley, looking haggard and pallid, relates his unfortunate story. As punishment for his greedy and self-serving life his spirit has been condemned to wander the Earth weighted down with heavy chains. Marley hopes to save Scrooge from sharing the same fate. Marley informs Scrooge that three spirits will visit him during each of the next three nights. After the wraith disappears, Scrooge collapses into a deep sleep.
He wakes moments before the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past, a strange childlike phantom with a brightly glowing head. The spirit escorts Scrooge on a journey into the past to previous Christmases from the curmudgeon's earlier years. Invisible to those he watches, Scrooge revisits his childhood school days, his apprenticeship with a jolly merchant named Fezziwig, and his engagement to Belle, a woman who leaves Scrooge because his lust for money eclipses his ability to love another. Scrooge, deeply moved, sheds tears of regret before the phantom returns him to his bed.
The Ghost of Christmas Present, a majestic giant clad in a green fur robe, takes Scrooge through London to unveil Christmas as it will happen that year. Scrooge watches the large, bustling Cratchit family prepare a miniature feast in its meager home. He discovers Bob Cratchit's crippled son, Tiny Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness and humility warms Scrooge's heart. The specter then zips Scrooge to his nephew's to witness the Christmas party. Scrooge finds the jovial gathering delightful and pleads with the spirit to stay until the very end of the festivities. As the day passes, the spirit ages, becoming noticeably older. Toward the end of the day, he shows Scrooge two starved children, Ignorance and Want, living under his coat. He vanishes instantly as Scrooge notices a dark, hooded figure coming toward him.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leads Scrooge through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating to an unnamed man's recent death. Scrooge sees businessmen discussing the dead man's riches, some vagabonds trading his personal effects for cash, and a poor couple expressing relief at the death of their unforgiving creditor. Scrooge, anxious to learn the lesson of his latest visitor, begs to know the name of the dead man. After pleading with the ghost, Scrooge finds himself in a churchyard, the spirit pointing to a grave. Scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to read his own name. He desperately implores the spirit to alter his fate, promising to renounce his insensitive, avaricious ways and to honor Christmas with all his heart. Whoosh! He suddenly finds himself safely tucked in his bed.
Overwhelmed with joy by the chance to redeem himself and grateful that he has been returned to Christmas Day, Scrooge rushes out onto the street hoping to share his newfound Christmas spirit. He sends a giant Christmas turkey to the Cratchit house and attends Fred's party, to the stifled surprise of the other guests. As the years go by, he holds true to his promise and honors Christmas with all his heart: he treats Tiny Tim as if he were his own child, provides lavish gifts for the poor, and treats his fellow human beings with kindness, generosity, and warmth.
This literary work is really good; the lesson of this story is properly delivered reason for it to be easily understood. I totally like it because it reminds me on how to be a good person and how to be good in other people.
ReplyDeleteSome people may have once been so far astray that they no longer possess a true sense of self. Just like Scrooge, the main character, described as a miser, deems everything, even himself, as a business, In his case, he was lucky that he was given a chance to see what is actually happening to him and what might happen if he continues to be selfish and thinking only for his own sake.
This literary work makes me realte to the situation what we commonly have, If we have a neighbor who is like scrooge, he surely doesn't have a lot of friends, no one loves him and specially ALONE; but opposite to scrooge? A person who is is beneficent and cordial to everyone? Consequently, everyone adores her and sends her a multitude of presents on every festival.
Personally, I really believe that life is just like a movie, and we are the actors and actresses in the movie. We go through plenty of happy, mad, miserable or gorgeous times in our lives. In those processes, we can learn a lot of things, despite the fact that we may have scars of wounds strung together like beads, we have to bestir ourselves. Then one day, we may abandon wealth, and then rest in peace! What we did and how we behaved will be left behind in the world, and people may still discuss, comment on, or even question our deeds. If you are a bad guy, nobody will think of you after your death. If you are cordial to others, people will extol your deeds and remember you forever.
Holistically, this story is such a good piece! I am really convinced that our presence in the world is a mission itself and that we should make the very most of it. However, we shouldn’t cash in on it to bully or oppress others, but rather get along with one another. a person who is good to other people will be remembered after he fades on earth It’s because everyone will regale him with respect. So let's continue to be good! :))