Remorse/Guilt

• Regret


  Regret is instrumental in 'A Christmas Carol' as it plays a crucial role in Scrooge's transformation.

  The three Ghosts all show Scrooge various past actions which enable him to gain hindsight.

  Through seeing his actions from the perspective of the Ghosts he is shown his cruel and unforgiving actions in a different light, this allows Scrooge to see the error of his ways and gives him motivation to change.
• Theme Development

  Regret is an emotion which is littered throughout the novel as Scrooge has many things in his life which he regrets. Dickens exhibits to the reader through these experiences that while regret may be a powerless emotion, we are able to use it and create actions to change our ways.
• “It isn’t that they were so much kinder than myself… but there was a deal of good in them”
• The Ghost of Old Marley


  Old Marley expresses his regret for his sinful actions in his

  life.

  Marley states that there is "no space of regret can make amends for one's life of opportunity misused" this is to say that life is an opportunity for everyone to do good and when this is not done is leads to regret which is futile unless we use it to

  fuel our change.
• Fanny (Scrooge's sister)

  The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his younger self with his little sister Fanny.

  • While Scrooge is happy to see her at first he becomes sad as he reveals that she "died a woman" leaving behind Scrooge's last surviving relative Fred.
  • When Scrooge remembers the way he treated his nephew earlier Scrooge becomes "uneasy in his mind", meaning he feels guilty for the way that he talked to him.
• Belle

  In Stave 2 The Ghost of Christmas Past communicates to Scrooge the moment where he started to become the man that he is at the start of the Novella.

  • Belle expressed her disapproval of the man that Scrooge is becoming, one who is only concerned with money and wealth.
• The Caroller

  As Scrooge reminisces about his childhood years, watching his

  younger "neglected" self, he begins to feel regret for the way he behaved towards the little boy who came to sing a carol at his door.

  • Scrooge realises that he should have "liked to give him something". This a big step for Scrooge as he is a man of business and due to this was very "tight fisted" with his money.
• The Portly Gentlemen

  • In Stave 5 it is evident that Scrooge regretted his interaction with the Portly Gentleman as "It sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met".
• A Christmas present Ignorance and Want

  "Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief."

  grief."

  The verb "overcome" typifies the wave of emotion that has come upon Scrooge as he is able to see his words from another perspective and he is ashamed of them.
• Ghost of yet to come 


  This is the climax of Scrooge's regret where it all comes together and Scrooge acknowledges his mistakes and finally commits to making a change.

  • Scrooge regrets the way he lived his life pleading and asking the Phantom how he "may sponge away the writing on this stone!", this is the last remark before the Phantom disappears.
  • The exclamation mark in the sentence reflects the conviction which Scrooge, which is why finally after this statement the work of the Ghosts are done.