Central to Scrooge's transformation in A Christmas Carol, as he goes from possible damnation to Redemption
Marley's ghost
Aimed to make Scrooge fearful about what awaits him in the afterlife if he doesn't change
Described as motionless but with its hair and skirts and tassels still agitated, conveying an unearthly quality
Removing the bandage around its head convinces Scrooge the ghost is real, as this was a common practice to stop the jaw of the dead from gaping open
Marley's ghost
Must wander the world and witness what he cannot share but might have shared on earth and turned to happiness
Ghost of Christmas Past
Personification of memory, brings to light many of the things Scrooge has forgotten, both good and bad
Presented as a creature of contradictions, both old and young
Its job is to make Scrooge remember his past so he can see the impact his choices have had
Ghost of Christmas Present
Personification of generosity, wants to show Scrooge what could be shared with others
Described as a glorious, glowing, jolly giant, with imagery of abundance and richness
Dressed in green, with an open coat and bare feet to symbolize naturalness and generosity
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Personification of death, resembles the traditional Grim Reaper
Introduced as a solemn, sinister phantom, evoking dread, melancholy, and mystery
Shows Scrooge a version of the future that is uniformly unhappy
The four ghosts create different effects to evoke fear, awaken emotions, show the power of sharing and cheerfulness, and inspire Scrooge to reform and share his wealth with others
Ghost of Christmas Present
The second of the three ghosts to guide Scrooge on his path to Redemption
Associations of the Ghost of Christmas Present
Familiar to modern readers as elements of Father Christmas or Santa Claus
References to ancient Roman, Celtic and Norse traditions as symbols of fertility, peace and joy
The torch he carries is compared to the Horn of Plenty, associated with harvest time and abundance of food
The Ghost of Christmas Present is the anti-Scrooge, his complete opposite in look, personality and attitude towards Christmas
Scrooge's reaction to the Ghost of Christmas Present
Submissive and respectful, a complete shift in the power dynamic from the last ghost
Authority of the Ghost of Christmas Present
Perhaps due to the ancient traditions he symbolizes, he speaks to Scrooge in a commanding way which Scrooge responds to meekly and obediently
The Ghost of Christmas Present's purpose
Not just to guide Scrooge to his Redemption, but also to be a mouthpiece for Dickens' views on poverty and social injustice in Victorian England
The Ghost of Christmas Present delivers scathing moral discourses on the selfishness of the rich and their heartlessness towards the plight of the poor
Scrooge's stinginess and cruel behaviour
Have dire consequences for the lives of those he interacts with
The Ghost of Christmas Present uses Scrooge's previous remarks against him to make him understand the reality of what he is inflicting on the poor with his callous indifference to their suffering
The theme of light is present in how people celebrate Christmas, representing joy, kindness and peace
Fred, Scrooge's nephew, hosts a Christmas dinner for his friends with music, laughter and party games, despite the awful way Scrooge has treated him</b>
Dickens strongly believed in the power of education for the masses and its ability to lift people out of poverty by giving them opportunities to improve their lives
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Has an immediate dark and eerie presence, wearing a long black robe and being compared to a Grim Reaper figure, a personification of death
The approach of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Described as slowly, gravely, silently, creating an ominous tone
Scrooge is understandably terrified by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come's appearance and treats him with great respect
At this point in the story, Scrooge has already made up his mind to change his ways and live as a better man solely from what the other ghosts have shown him
Nobody grieves for Scrooge's death or is even sympathetic about it, as he had such a negative impact on those around him</b>
Scrooge's desperate plea to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Hints that there is hope and that he will be able to change his fate in the future
The ultimate purpose of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
To encourage readers to think about what sort of legacy they are leaving behind once they have died, how people will remember them, and what they did to make the world a better place