marley

• The author Charles Dickens makes heavy use of the supernatural throughout the story A Christmas Carol in order to guide the miserly protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge towards his eventual transformation into a Kind and Generous man
• The first words of the text are "Marley was dead to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. Old Marley was dead as a doornail."
• The reference to Hamlet's father appearing as a ghost


  Implies that Marley will appear to Scrooge as a ghost at some point
• The opening paragraphs immediately capture the attention of the reader and create an impression of the importance of Marley to the plot and his relationship with Scrooge
• Scrooge and Marley were


  Partners for many years
• Scrooge's roles in Marley's life and death

  • Sole executor
  • Sole administrator
  • Sole sign
  • Sole residuary Legacy
  • Sole friend
  • Sole mourner
• Scrooge chose to keep Marley's name on the door and answer to both names, showing he did not want to forget about him
• Marley is the older version of Scrooge and this connection means he is probably the only person Scrooge will listen to, making him a crucial factor in Scrooge's transformation
• Doors


  Symbolize the start of a new chapter in life or new possibilities
• Marley: 'I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link and yard by yard. I girded it on of my own free will and of my own free will I wore it.'
• Marley appears to be in a purgatory, an in-between place between Heaven and Hell where the souls of sinners were sent to suffer until they repented
• Marley: 'Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business. Charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business.'
• Marley is the only reason Scrooge is getting a second chance at redemption