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Boyhood
Scrooge was a happy young boy but he spent most of his time alone. "'The school is not quite deserted,' said the ghost. 'A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still'" (Dickens 31). Direct characterization. -
Christmas Party
Scrooge sees how well his boss treated him and wished he had treated his clerk better. "No. I should like to be able to say a work or two to my clerk just now! That's all" (Dickens 37). Indirect characterization, speech. -
The Breakup
Scrooge cares more about money than love so his girlfriend breaks up with him. "You may-the memory of what is past half makes me hope you will have pain in this. A very, very brief time, and you will dismiss the recollection of it, gladly, as an unprofitable dream, from which it happened well that you awoke. May you be happy in the life you have chosen!" (Dickens 38). Indirect characterization, effects. -
Redemption
Scrooge has regrets and wants to become a better man. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"(Dickens 73). Indirect characterization, speech. -
Tiny Tim
Scrooge asks the Ghost of Christmas Present if Tiny Tim will live and the Ghost quotes his words from earlier. "'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" (Dickens 52). Indirect characterization, actions. -
Man's Children
Scrooge sees the Ghost of Christmas Present's children, Ignorance and want, and he feels bad for them. The Ghost quotes his words from earlier. "'Have they no refuge or resources?' cried Scrooge. 'Are there no prisons?' said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. 'Are there no workhouses?'" (Dickens 60). Indirect charhacterization, speech. -
Christmas Day Turkey
Scrooge wakes up on Christmas day and is filled with Christmas spirit and joy. He wants to help people and be a better man. "Do you know whether they've sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there? Not the little prize Turkey: the big one? ...I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's!" (Dickens 77). Indirect characterization, actions. -
The Thieves
Some thieves steal some of Scrooge's stuff after he dies and they talk about what a bad person he was. "'If he wanted to keep them after he was dead, a wicked old screw,' pursued the woman, 'why wasn't he natural in his lifetime? If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with Death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself'" (Dickens 65). Indirect characterization, effects. -
Scrooge Sees His Own Body
Scrooge sees his dead body but is too scared to move the sheet covering it. "He thought of it, felt how easy it would be to do, and longed to do it;" (Dickens 67). Indirect characterization, thoughts. -
The Tombstone
Scrooge sees his own tombstone. "Scrooge crept towards it,
trembling as he went, and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE"
(Dickens 72). Indirect characterization, looks.
