How Does Scrooge Change In A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol Essay

A cold-hearted sinner, Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol has been called one of the most dynamic characters in literature. He changed in many ways from the beginning to the end of the book. Scrooge changed from a miser to a giver, an antisocial to a man who enjoys conversation, and a grump who no one likes to a kinder man whom is loved by everybody.

At the beginning of the book, Scrooge would not give anything to anyone. He would only let his clerk have one coal to keep himself warm even in the winter. As well as this, he chose not to donate to the poor and destitute, a noble cause. Later, when he is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, he sees the younger version of himself who seems lonely, and no one loves him. Seeing this, he realizes that he wants no one to feel the same way, and decides to become more generous. “There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should have liked to have given him something.” (pg. 38) This passage, dictated by Scrooge, shows that he is becoming a changed man, and a more generous one.

At the beginning, one of the few phrases Scrooge would say was, “Good afternoon!”, which he used to dismiss a conversation he deemed “unworthwhile”. Later in the book, when the Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge, he sees the Christmas party occurring at Fred’s house, where he previously refused to go. Seeing the party, Scrooge actually got excited and thought it fun. This opens his heart to be more social and later in the book, he is depicted starting conversations and shouting in the street. “A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!” This quote shows Scrooge shout in the street. To some, this may seem maniacal, but he nonetheless expressed himself, which he wouldn’t have done