In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens renders the theme of fate, which is reflected in the three Spirits of Christmas. The Spirit’s demeanor and looks symbolize Scrooge’s life in the past, present, and future implying his fate if he does not rethink his behavior.
The first Spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Past, looks like a “supernatural medium” between a child and an old man (Dickens 29); he has a beam of light shining within him. He is approachable and answers Scrooge’s questions, but controlling and strict. He represents the cheerful and bright young years of Scrooge.
The Spirits’ central role is in developing the theme of the book by illustrating the lost opportunities for Scrooge’s accomplishment as a person and the urge to rethink their attitude to life. Dickens’ detailed description of the Spirits’ appearance and behavior is used to enhance the characters’ symbolic meaning. Indeed, the Spirits represent several ideas. The Ghost of Christmas Past embodies innocent memories of the past, the Ghost of Christmas Present represents empathy and generosity of Christmas as the manifestation of the philosophical meaning of the ability to give, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the embodiment of the fear of death and loneliness. The Ghosts’ different appearances and consecutive appearances throughout the story lead the main character and illustrate the true meaning of life.
Works cited
Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. Chapman & Hall, 1843.
Sun, Liwei. “The Analysis of Charles Dickens’ Novel A Christmas Carol – From the Essence of the Novel to Western Culture.” Francis Academic Press, 2017, pp. 252-256.