plot summary

• stave one

  Ebenezer Scrooge is at work in his counter house. Scrooge turns down his nephew's, Fred, invitation to his Christmas party and the request of two men who want charity for money. Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley, who tells scrooge that, due to his own greedy life, he has to wander the earth wearing heavy chains. Marley tries to stop Scrooge from doing the same. He tells scrooge that three spirits will visit him during the next three nights. Scrooge falls asleep.
• Stave 2 'the first of three spirits' 


  He wakes and the ghost of Christmas past soon appears to him- they embark on a journey into scrooges past. Invisible to those he watches, scrooge revisits the childhood school days; his apprenticeship with a jolly merchant named Fezziwig and his engagement to belle, who leaves scrooge as he loves money too much to love another human being.Scrooge sheds tears of regret before returning to his bed.
• stave 3 'the second of the three spirits'

  scrooge waits for the second ghost. he is surprised when no spirit arrives. instead he follows a light and finds himself in a transformed version of his own room. the ghost of Christmas present shows scrooge Christmas as it happens that year; scrooge sees the Cratchit family eat a tiny meal in their little home, tiny Tim, whose kindness and humility warm scrooges heart and Fred's Christmas party. Towards the end of the day the ghost shows scrooge two starved child-like figures; ignorance and want. he vanishes as a dark hooded figure coming.
• stave 4 'the last of the spirit's'

  the ghost of Christmas yet to come takes scrooge through a sequence of scenes linked to an unnamed man's death. scrooge is keen to learn the lesson. he begs to know the name of the dead man. he finds himself in a churchyards with the spirit pointing at a grave. scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to read his own name. he is desperate to change his fate and promises to change his ways he suddenly finds himself safely tucked in bed
• stave 5 'the end of it'.

  scrooge rushes out onto the street hoping to share his new found Christmas spirit. he sends a turkey to the Cratchit's house and goes to Fred's party. as the years go by, he continues to celebrate Christmas with all his heart. he treats tiny Tim as if he were his own child, give gifts to the poor and is kind, generous and warm.