ghost of christmas past

• • The Ghost of Christmas Past, representing memory, is introduced in Stave II and declares it has come for Scrooge’s welfare and reclamation :
  • In part, its role is to begin Scrooge’s transformation
• • The spirit is presented as: wise, gentle, forceful and enigmatic 
• • It is described in great depth and through a range of dualities and paradoxes:
  • It is described: “like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man”, “Its hair… was white as if with age; and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it”, “It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand… of that wintry emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers” 
  • These dualities and paradoxes could be used to illustrate Scrooge’s contradictory qualities, as the spirit shows a younger Scrooge who was once capable of having feelings for others
• • Dickens further describes the spirit as having “a bright clear jet of light” springing from its head:
  • The light could be seen as symbolic of Illumination, memory, and guidance:
  • The light could be viewed to highlight and expose Scrooge’s past and present behaviour
  • At first, Scrooge is defiant and challenges the authority of the spirit though he begins to accept its guidance
  • Light is also symbolic of goodness and it is in contrast to Scrooge’s dreary existence
• The spirit confronts Scrooge with a series of memories and visions from his past and Scrooge’s response conveys how distressing they are for him: 

  • Vision 1: Scrooge sees himself as a young boy at school and when the other children abandon him, Scrooge weeps for his former self left alone:
  • This vision forces Scrooge to display emotion and it begins to create empathy for his character
• • Vision 2: Scrooge sees his sister Fan, who comes to bring him home from school, having been given their father’s permission to do so:
  • This vision forces Scrooge to consider his behaviour towards Fan’s son, Fred, who is affectionate to Scrooge in the same way Fan once was 
  • Vision 3: Scrooge sees the Christmas ball held by his former employer, Mr Fezziwig, where he had acquired his work apprenticeship:
  • In this vision, Scrooge is forced to see how Mr Fezziwig is a much kinder employer than he is, which makes him reflect on his conduct towards Bob
• • Vision 4: Scrooge sees himself with his fiancée, Belle, who abandoned him due to his obsession with wealth:
  • In this vision, Scrooge is confronted with a lost love
  • Vision 5: Scrooge sees Belle as a happy, older married woman with children:
  • This vision makes Scrooge reflect on how his life could have been much different with a wife and family
• • Scrooge attempts to extinguish the spirit’s light but fails to do so as he “could not hide the light”:
  • His inability to extinguish the light depicts the power of reflection and self-discovery
• • Although Scrooge is reluctant to confront his past as it exposes him to pain and regret, it is necessary for his redemption