The lessons of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens - Dissertation sur la Littérature

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a timeless classic, still popular even after being published almost 176 years ago. Over the course of this novel, the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge learned many lessons. Each Spirit taught him a lesson that he carried with him throughout the whole novel, over the course of his iconic character arc. The first Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, taught Scrooge that he was previously content without money in his life, and what happened to him when he obtained it. The second Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, taught him that you can be happy without money, as his employee, nephew and fellow citizens were. The third and final Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Future, teaches him and the reader that there are consequences for your actions.

In my opinion, the final stave is the most enjoyable and its Spirit my favourite. However, the most important lesson is the one administered by the first Spirit, as it told Scrooge what his character was like in the prime of his life; Both the peak of his youth and the peak in terms of his morals. Firstly, this first and most important Spirit encountered by Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Past. This Spirit is the most important one as it instills fear, fear for change, in Scrooge and confirms what is stated by Marley in the first stave. Scrooge carries his teachings from this stave into the other staves. This is implied by Scrooges subtle actions, such as Scrooge reverently did so [in response to the Ghost of Christmas Presents Look upon me!] This is also signaled when Scrooge diminishes the first Spirit by pressing its cap down on it until it disappeared.

In conclusion, this Spirit was the most respected by Scrooge. Secondly, this Spirit clearly taught Scrooge the most valuable lesson. This lesson stirs Scrooges emotions the most, as characterized by Scrooges anger at the final vision from the apparition: Belles family, the family he could have had. It shows Scrooge what he was like before his exponential seduction by money, such as when he was happy even after a bitter argument with his father and the amount of happiness and joy that Fezziwigs minute party brought him. Later, he displays to him what he lost: His fiancé and a family. This destroys Scrooge emotionally. Overall, this Spirit was the most emotionally significant to Scrooge.

Thirdly and finally, this Spirit retold the moments that modelled Scrooges life, all of the positive and negative times. He was forced to repent in this moment from his own free will, instead of being guilted into doing so like the Ghost of Christmas Present did to him.

Everything from the Ghost of Christmas Past obliquely told him that he must change his ways, which is clearly the most effective way. The Ghost of Christmas Future had similar effects as this Spirit, but it appeared only for its creepiness. All in all, the Ghost of Christmas Past was the most important Spirit in every way. As expressed, this enormously short novels teachings were important to both Scrooge and the reader. However, the most important lesson from the Spirits was the one taught by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who was the most important and respected Spirit by Scrooge. The overall moral of this novel is: Dont become greedy or else youll be dragged across London by hallucinations.

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The lessons of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens