Ebenezer Scrooge

Overview

Ebenezer Scrooge is the main protagonist of Charles Dickens' 1843 novella "A Christmas Carol". He is depicted as an elderly miser who runs a financial business alongside his underpaid clerk Bob Cratchit.

A Christmas Carol

Sometime after the death of his business partner and close friend Jacob Marley, Scrooge is visited by the spirit of his dead friend to warn him the error of his ways and to announce that three ghosts will visit him to show him his wrongdoings.

Ghost of Christmas Past

Later that night, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. The spirit takes Scrooge back to his childhood and his early years as an apprentice for Fezziwig.

Ghost of Christmas Present

Shortly afterwards, the Ghost of Christmas Present introduces itself as a figure similar in appearance to Saint Nicholas. The spirit takes Scrooge to see Bob Cratchit and family - including his crippled son Tiny Tim. Scrooge begins to feel sorrow for Bob and his family, and this is the character's inevitable turning point for redemption.

Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Soon after the Ghost of Christmas Present vanishes, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come takes its place. This spirit takes the form of the Grim Reaper, and is the only ghost that doesn't directly communicate with Scrooge. He shows Scrooge the aftermath of Tiny Tim's death and reveals that Scrooge is to die soon after.

Epilogue

Scrooge awakens in his bed to find out that it had all been a dream, and later comes to find out that it is Christmas Day. Relieved at this information, Scrooge decides to raise money for charity and plans to visit Bob Cratchit and his family to have a Christmas dinner. When Bob arrives for the party, Scrooge pretends to be disappointed with him only to reveal it as a joke and that he will be giving Bob Cratchit a raise.