IRB 2 Character Development

In "A Christmas Carol", the author Charles Dickens develops the main protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge in a very dramatic and powerful manner. In the beginning of the novel, Dickens describes Scrooge as "hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire". This suggests that he was a very selfish and greedy man who never acted compassionate towards others. As Christmas arrives, Scrooge projects extreme negativity towards his thrilled nephew. “What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough,” insinuates that not only is Scrooge a cold hearted man, but he is also a very materialistic man who finds the slightest joy and value only in money. However, as the story progresses, Dickens allows Scrooge to experience his past, present, and future with three spirits who display his callousness, as well as their consequences. “’If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.’ Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.” After witnessing his own actions and words, Dickens has developed Scrooge to finally realize his wrongdoings. At this point in the novel, Scrooge begins to feel sympathy for Tiny Tim, a sick child of his colleague. Dickens clearly portrays the fear and caution that Scrooge has started to sense towards his possible future consequences, which allows the reader to feel a sense of humanity that was absent in him at the beginning of the story. At the end of the story, Dickens describes Scrooge “as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man as the good old City knew…” This explanation is the total opposite of how Dickens portrays Scrooge in the earlier chapters. Throughout the journeys with the three Spirits, Scrooge’s character is developed from being a greedy cold-hearted monster to a caring and affectionate man.