Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol

Next year will be the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. I have been a fan of the great man since reading Christmas Carol when I was quite young. I have read it more often than any other book I own and have now added it to my e-book collection. It has also been in my thoughts as my daughter made her first appearance in a school show on Monday, as Scrooge.

What I love about the story is the way Dickens uses the supernatural to make the reader realise the real meaning of Christmas and the way it appeals across generations. It is populated by people that exemplify Dickens' own genius for creating characters and are the secret of the novella's continuing popularity. 

Scrooge begins as the very epitome of avarice and greed, the Victorian 'man of business' exposed as heartless and uncaring. Christmas is a day that costs him money, he cares nothing for and knows nothing of his employee Bob Cratchit.

Bob is the antithesis of his employer. He is a dedicated family man and someone who sees Christmas as a joyous time to spend with his family. He must suffer Scrooge's mistreatment for the sake of his wife and children.

Marley's Ghost

Jacob Marley's ghost is the spectre of what may happen to Scrooge if he does not mend his ways. Dickens' perfect use of the chains as punishment for the people who have ignored their duty to their fellow human beings is brilliant. The links they should have made with other people have become they chains binding them to earth.

The ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come, each have their own characteristics. The first two ghosts throw Scrooge's own words back at him and as a result make him look in the mirror and begin the transformation to the man he should be.

The characters shown to Scrooge on his journey include the effusive Mr and Mrs Fezziwig who are everything that Scrooge isn't. Scrooge defends them vehemently when the ghost of Christmas past dismisses what they did for their employees at Christmas. It is a glimpse at the person Scrooge used to be before money became his obsession.

It is a short book and there isn't the range of less sympathetic characters that normally populate Dickens' novels. Scrooge is the only 'nasty' character until the final ghost shows him the future. Scrooge's character is reflected in the  'men of business' discussing whether to go to his funeral and the vagabonds arguing over the bed clothes that were stolen while he lay still warm on the bed. Scrooge does not realise who they are talking about until the spirit shows him his own headstone and the transformation is complete.

Scrooge then becomes the spirit of Christmas himself and embraces his responsibility to humanity not just at Christmas but all through the year.

The story was published in 1843 and is one of Dickens' most enduring and best-loved stories. It is also the most filmed story ever with over 60 movies made over the years. Despite that, if Dickens came back for Christmas 2011 he would see child poverty in Britain on the rise once again and the 'men of business' going on their merry way. I wonder what he would he think.

If you haven't read Christmas Carol, you should, it is a masterpiece. If you prefer to watch it with your family,  I recommend the 1951 version starring Alastair Sim which was called Scrooge and Patrick Stewart's TV version from 1994.

You can see more of the magnificent original illustrations to the book here.

No matter your faith or if you have none,  I wish you all a peaceful and happy holiday period.