Marley's Ghost

• Physical appearance:

  • 'The chain he drew was clasped about his middle'- the chains are weighing him down and aren't going to let go of him. He won't be able to escape.'
  • 'Marley in his pig-tail, usual waistcoat, tights and boots'-what he usually wore.
  • 'The chilling influence of it's death, cold eyes'- the emotions aren't there anymore'.
• Why Marley appears with chains and safes trailing behind him:

  • Like Scrooge Marley was obsessed with money, and this is holding him back.
  • The obsession has turned against him.
  • He is now a prisoner- cannot escape his past.
  • Visual representation of what Scrooge is like.
• • The opening sentence states that Marley is dead- 'Marley was dead to begin with'
  • He keeps on being mentioned as dead- 'Dead as a doornail'
  • Dickens lists that Scrooge doesn't have an imaginary mind.
  • Makes it very clear that the door knocker is just a normal one.
  • Scrooge thinks he sees things.
  • He checks to see if the Ghost is in the house.
  • Scrooge says- ' Pooh, pooh!' and closed the door with a bang'- mocking his own stupidity.
  • Scrooge has been slightly unerved.
• Marley's ghost doesn't have any emotions anymore as he is dead- 'The chilling influence of its death- cold eyes'- shows that he is every emotionless.
• Scrooges reaction to Marley:

  • 'Pooh, pooh!'
  • 'He did look cautiously behind it'- he is spooked about the ghost.
  • 'How now! What do you want with me?'- he is spooked by him, but is trying to hide it.
  • 'Scrooge fell upon his knees. and clasped his hands before his face'
• Marley has come to visit Scrooge to warn him about the three ghosts- 'You will be haunted by three spirits', 'I am here to warn you'.
• What has happened to Marley because of how he behaved on Earth?

  Marley is stuck as a ghost as he has behaved like Scrooge on Earth- 'I wear the chain I forged in life', 'I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere'.
• What is Dickens telling the reader about life/ how we should behave if we are wealthy?


  Dickens is saying that wealthy people are quite selfish, but should be generous to people, you have to do things in your life and not leave it too late.