A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a short and memorable book. The main character, Ebeneezer Scrooge, is a miser, dislikes people, and hates Christmas. The story begins in earnest, in the most haunting scene, when his old and dead business partner, Jacob Marley, appears on Christmas Eve and warns him of a “ponderous chain” awaiting him.

Subsequently, Scrooge is visited by three spirits: the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. His future is in grave danger.

The most significant scenes are Jacob Marley’s ghostly appearance and warning and the Spirit of Christmas Past, who reveals events and lessons from Scrooge’s early life that went unheeded. In this episode, Scrooge is confronted with a great man, his old boss, who kept Christmas well.

Dickens, one of the greatest storytellers, is known for his character development. His brief sketch of Fezziwig, Scrooge’s former boss, is insightful and makes one consider the importance of gracefully serving people.

Christmas is a great time to read this story, and it is an easy introduction to Dickens.

Film versions abound. The 1970 musical Scrooge, starring Albert Finney and Alec Guinness, is entertaining. However, the most famous and probably the best movie features Alastair Sim.

Finally, whether or not you decide to read the book or encourage your kid to do so, I recommend the article Dining with Scrooge. It highlights crucial lessons about service and celebrating Christmas.