Ebenezer-Scrooge

EbenezerScroogeFaye50714190431EbenezerScrooge,fromCharlesDickens’s“AChristmasCarol”,istheultimatemodelofhowpeoplewhoisoriginallyamammonbelievercouldtransformintoahelpfulandfriendlyperson.Scroogeexperienceda“wake-up”callfromtheGhostofJacobMarley,showinghimtheagonythatawaitshimifhedoesn’tchangehisways.Changelikesuchmiracledoeshappenamongpeople.Inthebeginningofthestorybeforethechangetookplace,EbenezerScroogehasnotmuchhumanitytooffer.IfScroogeisnotthatcold-bloodedandselfishhecouldnotbenominatedasthemosttypicalcharacterofamiserandrankedjustafterMr.GrandetbyBalzac.…hewasatight-fistedhandatthegrindstone,Scrooge!asqueezing,wrenching,grasping,scraping,clutching,covetous,oldsinner!Hekepttohimselfandhadnofriendsandattendednosocialevents.HisloyalclerkBobiskeptwithasmallfireinadismalofficeintheveryChristmasEveafternoon.HisnephewcomestoinvitehimforaChristmasuniondinnerathisplacebutwhathishospitalityrewardedisashoutof“Humbug”.Allpeople,thosewhosingjoyfulsongsonthestreets,orthetwocivilianswhoaskforacharitycontributionbutfailedandevenScrooge’snephew,theirwishforScroogeaMerryChristmaswereallstronglyrebuked.Beforethechange,heisdescribedasanindifferentmanwithhardenedfeatureswhosharedlittleandhungontoeverypenny.Whatincidentleadtohisdramaticchangeintheendthen?EbenezerScroogeFaye50714190432WhatisthemagicpowerthatchangesScrooge?Whenthenightfalliscoming,Scroogewentbacktohislonelyandsomberhome.Marley'sghostvisitsandwarnsScroogethatthreespiritswillvisithim.Scroogeattendsdifferenttimesinhislifewiththespirits.TheGhostofChristmasPasttakehimonajourneytovisithispainfulchildhood,duringwhichheexpresseshisrepressedfeelingsandgainsnewinsightsrelatedtohowhispastshapedhismoneybeliefsandbehaviors.GuidedbytheGhostofChristmasPresent,thefactsheignoredfreehimuptoseetheworldwithclarity:howdifficultBobisdoingwithhisfamilyandhispoorhandicappedsonTinyTim.TheGhostofChristmasFutureshowedhimwhatwouldhappenifhedidn’texternalizewithreallifeaction.Heisscaredthatifhedoesnotchangehewillbethealoneandnotatallmisseddyingoldmanhehadseeninthefuture.Whatcananextrememiserreallyachieveafteranightmarelifethreaten?WhenherealizesitisChristmasmorninghebeginstofeeljoy,andthatisthegreatesteffectofhischange.Hehadnotexperiencedjoyinmanyyears.Really,foramanwhohadbeenoutofpracticeforsomanyyears,itwasasplendidlaugh,amostillustriouslaugh.Thefatherofalong,longlineofbrilliantlaughs.HehugsthemaidandgreetsheraMerryChristmas.HebuysthebiggestturkeyandevenpaysforthedeliverytoBob’shouse.Hegoestohisnephew’sChristmasparty,thoughhehadwitnessedtheironicjokesabouthimhestillstepsouttoEbenezerScroogeFaye50714190433makethechangehappen.ThestoryendedwiththesceneinawarmandlivelyfamilyhallonanunprecedentedpreciousChristmasDay.Scroogeisestablishedwithinthefirstchapterasagreedyandstingybusinessmanwhohasnoplaceinhislifeforkindness,compassion,charity,orbenevolence.Lateronafteraseriesofawareness,Scroogebecomesadifferentmanovernight,andnowhetreatshisfellowmenwithkindness,generosity,andcompassion,gainingareputationasamanwhoembodiesthespiritofChristmas.Thestorycloseswiththenarratorconfirmingthevalidity,completeness,andpermanenceofScrooge'stransformation.