My Opinionated Answers (THE LIBRARY message #3391)

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Posted by Cassia on December 16, 1997 at 19:01:26:

In response to Depth and insight, written by Mark on December 15, 1997 at 11:39:02

] Oh really? For depth of character, please describe Scrooge, not the caricature that the countless adaptations have made him, but as the book makes him.

Scrooge is a man who cares only for his business, while not caring a jot for his common man.

] And why does Fred return every year to invite him to his Christmas party. And why does Scrooge not go?

Fred invites Scrooge because Scrooge is Fred's only living relative. Although Fred doesn't have much, he is willing to share what he has and his most valuable possession is his home. Scrooge believes Christmas to be a humbug, just a way to get something for nothing, you'd think he'd go just for the free food. Obviously, not an actor by trade.

] And why does Jacob Marley come back? Why does he arrange for the three spirits? Does this help his penance?

Scrooge is the closest thing Marley had to a friend. Perhaps, after death Marley grew more generous?

] Why does Bob Cratchit stay with Scrooge, and refuse to condemn him? Why do all those who best know Scrooge refuse to condemn him? Are we to believe everybody in his closest circle is super-Christian except him?

Bob stays with Scrooge because he would need a very good reference to get another job at his time of life. Think of Howard's End, a clerk only had until he was about twenty-one to find a place and keep it, after that employers would begin to think,'If he's so good, why isn't he working?' No we aren't to believe everyone else is a super-Christian, merely that they are Christians and will not judge him uncharitably due to their Christian feeling. Judgement is to be left to God.

] Why does Scrooge think Christmas is a humbug? What has made him think so? Greed and avarice is the easy answer. What other reasons are there?
Scrooge has no emotional bottom. He hasn't learned how to build sound social structures in his lifetime. Nearly abandoned by his father, Scrooge was left alone for most of his formative years and the only emotional link he has, his sister, Fanny, later dies. Dealing with the emotional/social side of life is just as much of a skill as anything else is and Scrooge has never learned, never got the chance to learn, really.

] For insights, why is the boy, "Ignorance", and the girl, "Want"? Why not the other way round? And why boy-girl? Why not boy-boy, or girl-girl, or even dog-cat?

Is this a serious question?

] What is on the mind of the three Ghosts? Love, hatred, indifference, compassion, apathy? Why are they there? What do their personifications symbolize? Why does Ghost #2 wait fifteen minutes for him, while all the other ghosts come and fetch him?

The Ghosts are compassionate, they only exist to guide Scrooge through his ordeal. They are symbols of God's love and his willingness to give us another try.

] Are the ghosts real? Did they really come or are they the products of an "underdone potato"?

The ghosts are completely real within the real of this fantasy. Do you believe in magic?

] What really turned Scrooge around? A simple nightmare? I doubt it. Old habits die hard. Why was his change permanent?

During his trial by fire Scrooge learns that change is possible, in fact, he learns to hope fervantly that change is possible since it is the only thing that can save him from Marley's fate. It was a permanent change because Scrooge, unlike the rest of us, know what his life of death will be and he wants to have another option.

] What makes this story tick? Why is it a classic? Many stories just as sentimental have come and gone, leaving barely a ripple in their wake. But "A Christmas Carol" lives on. Why? Saying it's schmaltz just doesn't cut it, now does it?

The story ticks not because of its sentiment, as you said, that is a common ingredient. CC works due to its optimism, something even the worst of cynics find hard to resist. Nearly everyone wants to know that life can get better.

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