How Is Scrooge Presented In A Christmas Carol

“They owe me money and I will collect what is due me.”(Dickens,2).The only word most fit to describe Ebenezer Scrooge is “greedy.” The story, A Christmas Carol, a popular English novel written by Charles Dickens, includes this cold, heartless man’s journey to finding Christmas love, that of which he is most lacking. This spectacular novel has the same story and lessons portrayed, in two similar, yet different pieces of art: a film and a drama.
The drama’s general story mostly adheres to the novel’s original tale. It includes Scrooge’s visits from the Christmas spirits of Past, Present, and Future. With Past, Scrooge is brought back to his boyhood school and is shown the replay of his lonely, but studious childhood. He sees familiar memories

that stood out as he was growing up: his sister Fran, his apprenticeship to Fezziwig and the party he threw, but most importantly, when he lets go of his true love, replacing his love for her with his love for money and riches(Dickens,16-17). Present shows Scrooge his employee, Bob Cratchit and his family, right then in their own house, very poor, with a lame son, Tiny Tim, who will not live much longer. However, they show great gratitude for small, simple things. Scrooge is obviously touched. He is also shown by Present, his nephew and his wife, holding a Christmas party, and also making fun of how cruel Scrooge is. Future, an eerie spirit shows Scrooge his future of dying alone, no one caring about it, and people stealing his possessions after he is gone. They then go see the future Cratchit family. Tiny Tim is now dead and the family mourns his passing. Lastly, Scrooge is shown his tombstone. He begs for forgiveness and promises to be better(Dickens,32). He is true to his word. He is ultimately filled with Christmas love and helping and serving others. The drama’s depicting is very similar to the film.
The film has many relationships with the drama as well.

In the film, the three ghosts of Christmas also appear. The gentle spirit of Christmas Past guides Scrooge through his boyhood, emphasizing his loneliness, and then how happy he is when later on his employer, Fezziwig, throws a festive party and Scrooge notices how such a simple party could make him love his master so much. The film also includes the sad parting of Scrooge and his true love after he obtains a new idol. Scrooge can’t bear to see his past self leave his beloved. Present is a jolly man with heavy apparel and surrounded with plenty of lavish food. He shows Scrooge Bob Cratchit and his family in a very poor home, with very little in general, yet they are somehow happy and hoping for the better. Their lame son, Tiny Tim will not live for very long either. ”He told me, coming home, that he hoped that people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see.”(Dickens,22) . After that, they go see Scrooge’s nephew Fred and his wife having a great holiday party. They play word games and mock Scrooge because of how cold he is(Film 1984). Fred and his wife show great love for each other. At the end of Scrooge’s time with Present, he is shown the two horrible and homely children within Present’s robe: Ignorance and Want. He is warned to avoid them. Present then leaves Scrooge in a dark forest. Scrooge is

incredibly fearful. He then encounters the ghost of Christmas Future. Future, a frightening spirit who does not speak as a man, presents Scrooge with his horrid future. He sees his death, he sees how others mock his death, he sees others stealing his wealthy possessions. Yet, Scrooge does not realize that the dead man is himself(Film 1984). Finally, Scrooge is shown the tombstone of the dead man. Engraved on the tombstone is his own name: Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge cries out and fears for his salvation. He begs to be given another chance. Weeping he wakes in his bed on Christmas morning. He rejoices and goes about all day filling others with Christmas love: donating money to the poor, raising Bob Cratchit’s salary, buying the Cratchit family a turkey, and going over to his nephew’s house and meeting his wife. He helps save Tiny Tim and becomes almost a second father to him. The film tells the same heart-felt story as the drama.
While these two may seem to be very similar, it is hard to ignore some differences between them as well. One that stands out happens in the film. After Present shows Scrooge his nephew’s party, and before showing him Ignorance and Want, Present shows Scrooge a homeless camp. He sees a very poor family with two children struggling for food and warmth(Film 1984). Scrooge is shown this because earlier he had claimed to have been supporting these types of camps, although he had never seen one. The drama lacks this scene that the film shows. Another contrast between the two takes place in the drama. Throughout the whole time in the drama, the ghost of Marley keeps reappearing to narrate the story. Marley appears as a ghost only once in the film however. One last example of the diversity between the drama and film is the variation in Future’s communication. In the drama, Future is completely silent. He cannot speak. He simply motions with his hands and arms(Dickens,27). Opposing the drama, the film shows Future screeching and screaming eerily to communicate with Scrooge. These are a few contrasts noted between the film and the drama.
A Christmas Carol has been produced in a drama and film, yet the main points and story remain the same between the two. Although there are a few minor variations as well, the lesson that is taught still pulls through. Greed and hate is not the way to ultimate happiness. Scrooge discovered what it meant to be filled with the Christmas spirit, thanks to Marley and all the other spirits. Because of them, he had discovered that he had another chance to become a good man, and become one he did.