The First of the Three Spirits

• The Ghost of Christmas Past appears to Scrooge

  1. The first spirit appears as the clock strikes one - even though Scrooge had fallen asleep after two. The time is completely impossible - so the chapter feels magical. Writer's Techniques: The striking clock is repeated throughout the story, to show that time has passed, and that a new section in the book is beginning. The clock also adds suspense to this chapter, as Scrooge is left counting down until the ghost appears

  2. The spirit tells Scrooge that it's the spirit of Scrooge's own past - and it claims to be there to help him

  3. Scrooge wants the spirit to put its cap on to hide the "bright clear jet of light" (which symbolises truth) that shines from its head. This could suggest that Scrooge is reluctant to face the truth of his past actions. The spirit also implies that Scrooge's mean and miserly attitude has helped to create the cap that suppresses its light
• Scrooge reacts emotionally to the visions

  1. When Scrooge sees his past, he acts completely differently to how he behaves in Chapter One - when the people from his old village wish each other Merry Christmas, it fills him with "gladness". Theme - The Christmas Spirit - This is the first point in the story when Scrooge reacts positively to the mention of Christmas. This suggests that Christmas was once important to him.

  2. Seeing his old school has a "softening influence" on Scrooge. This contrasts with the earlier description of him as "Hard and sharp"

  3. Scrooge sobs with pity when he sees himself in a lonely schoolroom. Chapter One - he's learning to empathise with other people

  4. However, this is a happy memory for Scrooge as well as a sad one - the young Scrooge is kept company by the characters from the books he's reading. This show us Scrooge's imaginative side
• Scrooge loved his sister

  1. In the next vision, Scrooge's sister, Fan, says that their father has changed and is "much kinder" now - Scrooge is allowed to come home from school, and they'll be together for Christmas

  2. The transformation of Scrooge's father foreshadows Scrooge's own transformation, and suggests that his change will also positively affect the people around him

  3. Scrooge is reminded of his sister's "large heart". We learn that Fan is dead and that Fred is the son of the sister Scrooge loved. This forces Scrooge to reconsider his relationship with Fred - he feels "uneasy in his mind" about the way he's treated him.

  Writer's Techniques - Dickens uses the five senses to make Scrooge's past more vivid. For example, he mentions the "cheerful voices" of Fezziwig's party, and the "thousand odours" of his old village. This contrasts with the dullness of his present life
• Fezziwig is an example of a good boss

  1. The spirit shows Scrooge a vision of a Christmas Eve party, thrown when Scrooge was an apprentice to Mr Fezziwig. Scrooge enjoys re-living the party again

  2. Scrooge speaks "like his former, not his latter, self" when he defends Fezziwig's generosity to the spirit. This suggests that Scrooge didn't used to think that money was more important than happiness - and his attitude could be changing back

  3. Scrooge begins to understand the effects of his meanness towards Bob Cratchit, and the power that he has to improve Bob's life. Fezziwig gives Scrooge an example of the kind of boss that he could choose to be
• The reader sees that Scrooge has a sad past - KEY EVENT

  1. The following vision shows Scrooge "in the prime of life", but he doesn't look it - his face shows "signs of care and avarice". Becoming obsessed with money has physically aged him

  2. His fiancee, Belle, is breaking off their engagement because Scrooge has "changed". She sees that his love of money is becoming more powerful than his "nobler aspirations"

  3. Belle knows Scrooge well - she guesses that his coldness comes from his "fear" of the world. Belle clearly loved Scrooge deeply - this helps the reader see that Scrooge wasn't always unlovable and hints that he can change

  Character - Scrooge - Scrooge fears poverty - he says that they're nothing "so hard as poverty". It's this fear that drives him to greed and selfishness.

  'Avarice' is another word for greed - usually in relation to money or material goods
• Belle's family represents the life Scrooge could have had

  1. Scrooge sees Belle's daughter, and regrets never having had children. It makes him sad, and his sight grows "very dim"

  2. Belle's husband describes seeing Scrooge in his office, "Quite alone in the world". This depiction of a lonely Scrooge contrasts with the happiness of Belle's family

  3. Scrooge is upset by these scenes - in a "broken voice", he begs for the visions to end. It's now clear that Scrooge does care about family and love, but the choices he's made have left him lonely instead

  4. Scrooge tries to get the spirit to put its cap on again - but this time he tries to force it onto its head. He's trying to shut out the truth of his past again - it's painful for him to remember

  Theme - Family - Scrooge mourns the loss of the family he never had. Dickens shows that a family can bring comfort and joy