The ghost of christmas present

• "there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see"


  The ghost is jolly.
• "Come in! and know me better, man!"


  The ghost is friendly.
• "Slander those who tell it ye!"

  The ghost is severe.
• "To a poor one most ... Because it needs it most")

  (Stave , pages 65 - 66)

  The ghost is compassionante. It sprinkles incense and water from its torch as a blessing, and it restores the "good humour" or angry people so that they can enjoy Christmas.
• "Plenty's horn"

  (Stave 3, page 59)

  The ghost is closely associated with abundance and generosity. For example, the torch the spirit carries resembles "Plenty's horn" (a symbol of abundance from Greek and Roman mythology) and it generously sprinkles blessings from it on those who need it most.
• "Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in! and know me better, man!"

  (Stave 3, page 60)

  The ghost is welcoming. The Ghost invites Scrooge to join him in a welcoming manner.

  The word 'exclaimed' makes the Ghost seem excited to see Scrooge. His invitation to 'know me better' is generous and open-hearted.
• "Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air."

  (Stave 3, page 60)

  The ghost is jolly. Dickens describes the ghost as open and cheerful - in actions and appearance.

  Theadjectivesthat Dickens uses are positive and present a solid big and 'joyful' character, in contrast to the indistinct spirit of Christmas Past.
• "was an antique scabbard; but no sword was it in, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust."

  (Stave 3, page 60)

  Its scabbard has no sword in it, and its rusted - suggesting that Christmas should be a time for peace, not fighting other people.
• "If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

  (Stave 3, page 74)


  The ghost is honest. When Scrooge asks whether Tiny Tim will live, the Ghost answers with the words Scrooge had previously spoken to the portly gentlemen who were collecting for charity

  The Ghost of Christmas Present uses Scrooge's own words against him. In his honest response, that Tiny Tim is likely to die, he holds a mirror up to Scrooge and his behaviour.
• "most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

  (Stave 3, page 90)

  The ghost is prophetic. The Ghost predicts that Mankind, Scrooge included, will suffer unless the lessons of generosity and tolerance are learned.

  He presents two children called 'Ignorance' and 'Want' hiding under his cloak. He warns that 'Doom' awaits Scrooge unless a change is made.

  
  

  Dickens thought that ignorant people needed to be educated. Dickens felt education was very important.

  
  

  Ignorance causes doom.
• "Doom"


  The spirit speaks emotionally about the way that society ignores the problem of poverty. It argues that society denies the problems of ignorance and want, and suggests that ignoring these problems will eventually lead to society's "Doom".
• "sympathy with all poor men"


  The ghost has sympathy with all poor men", and is "sorrowful" at the sight of Ignorance and Want. The spirit cares about the poor and challenges Scrooge's previous harsh words about poverty - calling them "wicked".