Title: A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Stories
Author: Charles Dickens
Published by: Signet Classics
Published in: November 1984 (Originally in December 1843)
Pages: 200
“Bah," said Scrooge, "Humbug.”
-- Stave 1: Marley's Ghost
Honestly, is there any other stories more popular in modern Christmas celebration other than Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol? It has been retold so many times, far too often I bet, in any forms imaginable; be it movies, animated, theatres, even modern AU (Alternate Universe). This story, along with its message, is still relevant even today. Dickens managed to combine every Christmas stories he'd heard in his lifetime, and inject his social commentary on the poor in the Great Britain.
Our main character is Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser. Along with his business partner, Jacob Marley, they built a successful business firm. However, our story began 7 years before the actual plot began. Jacob Marley died, leaving Scrooge alone to manage their firm with Bob Cratchit, their assistant. In case you didn't notice based on his name or have been living under a rock, Scrooge hated Christmas with a passion. There was one instance where his nephew invited him to join their Christmas dinner with the whole family, which he vehemently rejected. Then came along two men asking him to donate for the poor, which he also rejected. He reluctantly gave a day off for Christmas for Bob Cratchit, and cut off his salary for it. That night, ignoring every possible Christmas celebration and cheer, Scrooge went home.
When he got home, though, he received an unpleasant surprise. Marley's ghost came and warned him of his lifestyle. Marley could not rest, as his stinginess caused him to be punished in the afterlife, and he came to warn Scrooge of the upcoming 3 ghosts who would come visit him: Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present, and Ghost of Christmas Future.
Scrooge's Christmas eve was about to become... life-changing.
EGGLYSIS
A Christmas Carol has a very simple premise: what if someone so despicable, so iredeemable, get a chance to reflect on his wrongdoings from another perspective? With this story, Dickens also managed to remind us of the poor around us. How we have the power to give back and help them, instead of just sitting around enjoying our wealth. I read somewhere that Dickens initially wanted to create a pampglet as a social commentary, but then decided to write a story instead.
What a story that is. A very effective way to show his intention, I'd say even more effective than the pamphlet. In a season of joy and good cheer, it asks us to think of our fellow unfortunate humans and how to share Jesus' love the way He came down to redeem us.
Overall, A Christmas Carol...
