An Analysis on the Character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in the novel of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. His role in the Charles’ novel attracts the present-writer’s attention to make some criticism regarding his characteristic in social life. In line with this objective, there are four statements which support the idea of this criticism.

1. Life for wealth

Charles Dickens, in this case, puts Ebenezer Scrooge in higher class than other communities around.   His whole life is of course just dedicated for wealth. He works so hard to collect the wealth more and more through his company which was established together with his friend, Jacob Marley, who has died for seven years ago.   On the page 7, Charles shows the evidence through the dialogue between Scrooge and his nephew, Fred, who invite him for dinner in his home as the celebration of Christmas. Through long conversation that Scrooge denies his invitation then he says,

“What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in ‘em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will,’ said Scrooge indignantly, ‘every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!”

Based on this conversation, Scrooge implies that the wealth is more important than the celebration of Christmas. As quoted from his statement, “If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart,” it can be interpreted that he chooses to work rather than accepting the invitation of his nephew for dinner in Christmas day.

2. Having no faith of Christmas

Before Fred invites him for dinner in his home as the celebration of Christmas, Fred prays for him.

“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” cried a cheerful voice.

“Bah!’ said Scrooge, ‘Humbug!” said Scrooge arrogantly.
Then he emphasizes with other statement, “Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.”

How dare he is towards the God. Such statement truly shows his arrogant nature, and implicitly depicts him as a person who has no believe to the Christmas day, and even he underestimates it through his words, “Merry Christmas! What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.”

This statement clearly reveals his mindset that Christmas day cannot make people richer. Thus, based on this statement, he obviously has no belief to the majesty of Christmas.

3. Denying the beneficence for other human beings

Scrooge is a stingy-wealthy person. His wealth and favor cannot be distributed freely. On the page 9, there are two portly gentlemen come into his house to ask the donation for poor people. Unfortunately they both just get refusal from Scrooge rudely. On the page 11 he says,

“…..What shall I put you down for?”

“Nothing!” Scrooge replied.

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned — they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.”

This is the example of Scrooge careless towards other people. He has no contribution for other people. Moreover, he says that those people who need the donation are idle. What he states is not entirely true. It can be difficult to get job or probably their salary are too low. He can think positively about those people before giving judgment as idle people. Then he can give his favor by donate some of his wealth.

4. The change of evil character

The change of his evil character into good is affected by the spirits that visit him. They are the ghost of Jacob Marley, the ghost of Christmas past, Christmas present, and the ghost of Christmas yet to come. There are two important points in the change of his bad character.

a. Believing on Christmas

On the page 101, the beginning of Stave 5: The End of It, he said,” I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!' Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. 'The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh, Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees!'

This is obviously stated that he glorifies the Christmas, and his earnest is emphasized on his words, “I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees!”

b. Helping poor people

The stinginess ends together with the end of the last chapter. His favor toward Bob Cratchit represents his character change into an angle with no doubt. In the dialogue with Bob Cratchit is the evidence of his favor that he will raise Bob’s salary.

“Now, I'll tell you what, my friend,' said Scrooge, 'I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,' he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again; 'and therefore I am about to raise your salary!”

       My Thesis:

Based on the analysis previously mentioned, the present-writer concludes the character of Scrooge into two different important points.
• Evil character of Scrooge: Rude, Stingy, careless, and arrogant.
• Good character of Scrooge: more religious, careful, full of smiles, and generous.