He is polite and apologetic to the spirit and tells him that the previous spirits lesson is working now, which suggests that he is finding some value to these visions, even though they are painful. He feels ready for anything and is thus quite shocked when the clock strikes one . Marley joins in the chorus, and Scrooge looks out after him to see multitudes of similar ghosts, all with chains of their own, trying to help the living but unable to: "The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever." He tracks the sound as it comes up the stairs and along the passage, and before his astonished eyes, the cause of the sound passes through the heavy door into Scrooge's chamber: it is Marley's ghost. In A Christmas Carol, Dickens also indicts those, Christian or not, who place money above people. Summary. He is shown the error of his ways by the ghosts that visit him and is redeemed by his own willingness to change. His behavior changes due to a mixture of shock, fear and guilty conscience. Victorian England was a country divided by economics. (one code per order). Teachers and parents! Purchasing Scrooge's nephew Fred is a strong foil for Scroogea character whose opposite characteristics highlight those of another character. Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! Scrooge sees his nephew, Fred, with his family. Scrooge acknowledges now that he only went with that spirit because he was forced to do so, but he admits that he learned something valuable from the ghost, and this makes him eager to see what lessons this new ghost has to teach him. erb337. The Ghost takes Scrooge to see different groups of people enjoying themselves at Christmas. This street is the stereotypical image of Christmas, full of treats and spices and happy, musical voices. . When Scrooge returns to his bed, he is painfully remorseful about his past life choices. In Stave 3, Scrooge is awakened from his sleep for his next specter appointment by the sound of the church bell striking one. Before this, Scrooge never paid any attention to Cratchits family and didnt care about their health or anyone elses. The exploitation and premature growing-up of Victorian children was a real concern for Dickens, and something he focused on in his work. The experience with the second spirit is used to develop empathy in the character of Scrooge. The ghost of his long-dead partner, Jacob Marley, appears and tells him that he will be haunted by three ghosts.. Scrooge has his lonely dinner in a dingy tavern and goes home to his gloomy suite of rooms. Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol | Who is Bob Cratchit? His chain is made up of symbols of what he chose to value during his time on Earth, and he is doomed to wear it for eternity. They stop, and as the echoes die away, a loud clanking arises from the basement, "as if some person were dragging a heavy chain over the casks in the wine-merchant's cellar." How many X Games gold medals does Travis Pastrana have? All rights reserved. Scrooge is a different man after his journey with the ghosts. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. This change in weather represents how Scrooge has become a lot kinder and more generous. Of the four spirits and the visions they showed him, this one spurred him most directly to change. Margaret has taught both college and high school English and has a master's degree in English from Mississippi State University. Scrooge learns to see the balance between money and family. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. It also reminded him of the people who used to be in his life, and the pain that he has experienced in the past. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Here, the ghost shows Scrooge a pair of starving children who travel with him beneath his robes--their names are Ignorance and Want. The scene at Bob Cratchit's unassuming little abode is pivotal to the development of the novella. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 The church clock strikes one, startling Scrooge, who awakes in mid-snore. | Stave 3 Quotes In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door. Even as he stares, the face disappears and the knocker looks as it always has before. His brothers, are those who promote the same, the people that Scrooge has never affiliated himself with. How is Scrooge presented in Stave 3 quotes? These children represent the failings of a society which disregards its children. succeed. He doesn't do any good with it." What lesson does Scrooge learn in Stave 3? Ignorance and Want, who appear in stave 3 of A Christmas Carol, represent the failings of a society that seeks to be progressive but fails to meet the most basic needs of its . Scrooge is so frightened that his legs trembled and he was filled with a solemn dread, which shows he is terrified of what the future might hold. From this point on, Scrooge vows to change and he does. Why Did Charles Dickens Write A Christmas Carol? The family is more than content despite its skimpy Christmas feast. Christmas, in Dickens' mind, should not bring about self-denial, renunciation, or emotional withdrawal. Upon doing so, the feast and the room vanish instantly and Scrooge finds himself alongside the spirit in the midst of the bustling city on Christmas morning. Even though he is poor, he shows courage and huge generosity of spirit he asks God to bless. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!" They drink to Scrooges health, and with that, the ghost pulls Scrooge away from the scene. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. He demonstrates this again when he sees his headstone, reminding the ghost that he would not have been shown the visions if there was no hope for him. The spirit replies that given the current conditions in the Cratchit house, there will inevitably be an empty chair at next year's Christmas dinner. The spirit says that Scrooge's life may be "more worthless" than that of Tiny Tim which forces him to be more humble and not have such a high opinion of himself compared to the poor. Dickens conviction about the suffering of children no doubt explains the bizarre and unexpected conclusion to Stave III. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The ghost is reminding his charge that he has a lot to atone for. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. 'I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!' Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out . The journey into his past demonstrated to him that he chose to be alone. Further, Scrooge speaks to the spirit submissively, saying. Scrooge hears mournful wailing, cries of desperation, and sorrowful laments. Bob Cratchit is Scrooge's clerk and works in unpleasant conditions without complaint. This article will take a deeper look at the Ghost of Christmas Present and analyze what this character represents, where this character appears, and the role the Ghost of Christmas Present plays in developing the character of Ebenezer Scrooge. All of the generous characters in the story are financially downtrodden but succeed in being good and happy despite their lot, whereas Scrooge needs to go through a traumatic awakening in order to find happiness. The reader follows Scrooge from childhood to his adult years, witnessing moments that are lonely, poignant, loving, cheerful, and pivotal. He spends all day in his counting house looking after his money but is so cheap that he keeps his house in darkness, his fire small and allows no extravagance even on Christmas day. The Ghost of Christmas Present is joyful, opulent, bountiful, and generous. The journey into his past demonstrated to him that he chose. erb337. As the Ghost of Christmas Present nears the end of his mission to save Scrooge, he reveals two children hiding beneath his robe. Marley is wrapped in a long, heavy chain made up of the tools of the money-lending trade, and tells Scrooge that he has been doomed to an eternity of helplessly witnessing human sufferingand that Scrooge will be, too, if he doesn't change his ways. At the beginning of the story, Scrooge is a miserly man who seems to hate people. The church clock strikes one, startling Scrooge, who awakes in mid-snore. Scrooge is extremely reflective as he watches Christmas present unfold. In Stave 3, The Second of the Three Spirits, the second spirit, The Ghost of Christmas Present, arrives. Free trial is available to new customers only. 'Mankind was my business. Additionally, she holds a Teaching Certificate with a Special Education endorsement and is a Google Certified Educator. The storys structure and Scrooges character development are engineered so that as Scrooge becomes aware of his own poverty and learns to forgive and listen to his buried conscience, he is able to see virtue and goodness in the other characters and rediscovers his own generosity he even becomes a symbol of Christmas in the final stave. Dickens shows how the citys poverty has caused a generation of lost childhoods Peter and Martha work as hard as their father does, but though theyve lost their innocence, Christmas makes them innocent again and music soothes their woes. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. The spirit appears to be seated on a throne of lavish foods fit for a feast. This highlights how he represent generosity since the poor would have very little food at Christmas. He regrets that he didnt give anything when the boy was singing at his door. (including. In extreme contrast, the Ghost of Christmas Present is opulent. Sometimes it can end up there. What lesson did Scrooge learn from the third spirit? Why does the Ghost of Christmas Past show Scrooge the boarding school where he was left alone in A Christmas Carol? The Ogre of the family. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. He is not missed nor mourned by others. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Bob Cratchit is Scrooge's clerk at his counting-house. The room that the spirit occupies is lushly decorated with gifts from nature, such as berries and the "crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy." Compare how Mrs. Cratchit decorates her old dress with ribbons, while Scrooge leaves his house bare. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses. You can view our. His scabbard is empty, as he promotes peace and plenty over Scrooge's miserliness. The spirit then takes Scrooge to the meager home of Bob Cratchit, where Mrs. Cratchit and her children prepare a Christmas goose and savor the few Christmas treats they can afford. Scrooge expresses concern and a desire to help two sickly children, named Ignorance and Want, hiding in the spirit's robes. When the spirit takes him to the Cratchits home, Scrooge watches Tiny Tim. Welcome to the ninth video in my \"'A Christmas Carol' GCSE English Literature Revision\" series! 'Now, I'll tell you what, my friend,' said Scrooge, 'I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. Appearing on a throne made of food, the spirit evokes thoughts of prosperity, satiety, and merriment. erb337. This, at the end of Stave 3, creates suspense and shows that Scrooge is taken by surprise by the final ghost. Scrooge has forgotten his grumpy ways and has found himself happy and excited but he is reminded that this is not the reality, that he has not been joining in with Christmas, and that this happy vision cannot continue because time is running out. Dickens is telling us that anyone can change. These draconian rules forced many poor people into prisons and provisional workhouses. 2. Scrooge-quotes-stave 3. Together they visit Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's clerk, who is with his family, including his sick son Tiny Tim. The spirit disappears as the clock strikes midnight and Scrooge eyes a hooded phantom coming toward him. When he sees the very large spirit, the narrator says that Scrooge looked at it reverently, which is quite a contrast from the way he initially treated the Ghost of Christmas Past. He doesn't do any good with it." How does Scrooge change throughout the play? He visits the streets of London, his clerk Bob Cratchit and his family, miners, shipmates, and his nephew's house. Overwhelmed by this vision, Scrooge lingers timidly at the door, but the second spirit commands Scrooge to "Come in! The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Compare and contrast themes from other texts to this theme, The ThemeTracker below shows where, and to what degree, the theme of Greed, Generosity and Forgiveness appears in each chapter of. Are there no prisons? said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. The street and shop fronts are a glorious display of foods, towering, brightly colored. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Scrooge is a cold-hearted tightwad: though Marley was his only friend, he conducted business on the day of Marley's funeral because he saw a chance to make a profit. But it had undergone a surprising transformation. Explore a summary and analysis of Stave 3 and examine how the second spirit appears. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. . Curiously drawn by the light, Scrooge approaches the doorway to find the second spirit that appears to be a gigantic man, tall and robust. The Cratchits really appreciate their food. In turn he also sees how many poor, honest people surround him. Readers view the scene through Scrooge's eyes, his choice of words conveying a sense of wonder at Bob's behavior. He is wrapped up in his work and cares nothing for the needs of others. Marley makes it absolutely clear that he brought about his fate through his own selfish actions. The spirit orders Scrooge to touch his robe. Scrooge was not a friend to his fellow man. Scrooge is interrupted in his vision by a hearty laugh. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him. He shows his care for his uncle by pledging to continue visiting Scrooge regardless. He doesnt do any good with it.. The straightforward answer is, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come had the most effect on Scrooge. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief. What is the ghost of Christmas present sitting on? As Scrooge progresses in his journey of enlightenment he is 'reborn' as a new person which is reflected through the words in the lexical field of youth and innocence. Scrooge was the Ogre of the family. Scrooge is portrayed as a monster, and his family dont like him but feel obligated to toast him. However, he informs Scrooge that he will be given a chance to save himself when three spirits visit him over the next three days. 2 How does Scrooge change throughout the play? What he comes to see through the lessons of the final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, is that when the final tally is taken, his life, in the eyes of his fellow man, will be worth nothing. The Ghost of Christmas Present alludes to people who label themselves Christians yet do not embrace key Christian values, such as loving and caring for those in need. At first, Scrooge reluctantly follows the spirit on the journey of his past Christmases. Scrooge is the proprietor of a money-lending establishment, a business that lent money to people who found themselves in need, with exorbitant interest rates and predatory lending terms. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 The Ghost of Christmas Present has a torch that he uses to bestow blessings upon people on Christmas day. In stave 3, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present. Stave 3 Quotes The sight of these poor revellers appeared to interest the Spirit very much, for he stood with Scrooge beside him in a baker's doorway, and taking off the covers as their bearers passed, sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch. Scrooge, as a man of business, a man who is cold and relies solely on his mind (not feelings) to be prepared for all business situations, tries to be prepared again. He stumbles to his bed and falls into a deep, exhausted sleep. At the same time, many prominent politicians and theorists were attempting to justify these conditions with arguments designed to de-legitimize the rights of the underclass, a move that further hindered the ability of the poor to affect the governing of their own society. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "Secret, And Self-contained, And Solitary As An Oyster". Create your account. There is no doubt whatever about that. Scrooge learns to see the balance between money and family. Already a member? Bob Cratchit represents the ideal Christmas character. He refuses the invitation of his nephew, Fred, to attend Christmas dinner with a hearty "Bah, humbug! Scrooge's nephew's reply to Scrooge's distain for Christmas is a contrast to Scrooge's "Bah, humbug!". He symbolizes the members of the upper-class who built their wealth by taking advantage of a large pool of workers who had no laws to protect them. These people are brought together by singing Christmas songson Christmas people always come together, even in the loneliest placesmaking Scrooge stand out as someone who has, Freds home stands out from the cold and darkness of the winter streets. The final spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come who leads Scrooge through scenes relating to a mans death. Complete your free account to request a guide. In Staves 1 and 2, the reader learns that Scrooge was not always a terrible person. Stave 2 Quotes It was a strange figure-like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a child's proportions. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia? Sonya Shelton has taught English, Math, and Social Studies to elementary and middle school students since 2016.