Essay On Ebenezer Scrooge

Ebenezer Scrooge is a lonely character at the beginning of the novel. Dickens use of language reflects this when outlining his relationship with his former clerk. Scrooge was his “sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner”. The repetition of the word “sole” adds emphasis on the solitary nature of the lives led by Marley, and now by Scrooge. Dickens sums him up as a “wrenching, grasping, … covetous, old sinner”. The collection of verbs here defines Scrooge’s character whose intention is to grab every last penny he can from anyone he encounters. Scrooge is described as “hard and sharp as flint” and thanks to this simile, he seems to have a hard exterior which could cause pain to others.

Dickens suggests there could be something worthwhile to be found within Scrooge too. There’s also a literal and metaphorical coldness associated with the early description of Scrooge: “a frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature about with him”. Dickens use of language again emphasises Scrooge’s cold-hearted nature and attitude towards others. Scrooge rejects his nephew’s wishes with “Bah! Humbug!”, refusing to give any money to the two gentlemen who are collecting money for the poor. He resists giving his Clerk, Bob Cratchit, any time off for Christmas saying “it’s not convenient”. However, when faced with Marley’s ghost, we are shown a more vulnerable side to Scrooge. From earlier in the novel, Dickens makes it clear that what we reap, we sow in life and in order for people to care about us, we must care about them first. While visiting his old school, the ghost describes how Scrooge was a “solitary child, neglected by his friends”. At this, Scrooge shows some emotion and