The Three Ghosts of Christmas
Yesterday, I made a post about Christmas and I recommended that my readers should read Charles Dickens' book, A Christmas Carol. I read the book as a little boy and I hated the character of Ebenezer Scrooge. See, Scrooge was a shyster (super stingy), very unkind to both his workers and relatives. On top of that, he cared a little less than nothing for vulnerable little kids (he replies “humbug” to anyone who wishes him a merry Christmas, and did not care that poor Bob Cratchit had a child, Tiny Tim, who was crippled. Above all, Scrooge despised Christmas. He despised love, giving, and kindness!
My Word edit, my copy is miles away from me.
A few years ago, I read It again, and I was a bit sympathetic towards that scrub, it was a stage where I was obsessed with the bread, but then the new lessons I learnt through the three ghosts of Christmas thawed my heart that was beginning to freeze. See, one night, Scrooge was visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, decked in some gnarly looking chains. The ghost of Marley told Scrooge that he was suffering in the afterlife because of how he treated people and - wait for it - Christmas! He told Scrooge that except he changed his ways he was going to end up like him, in heavy ice cold chains. He gave him heads up about the three ghosts of Christmas that would visit him. Come along let me give you the down-low on the ghosts.
The setting of Bob Cratchit's house? Image Source
The Ghost of Christmas Past
Scrooge was already in bed when he was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, a creepy little figure. The ghost looked mysterious, it was both young and old at the same time, with a mysterious light shining out of its head. This therefore means that the Ghost of Christmas Past represents memory. This ghost takes Scrooge back to his childhood to see his innocence, his excitement about Christmas. This can be seen as a window of redemption being opened to Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Past.
So, let me ask you, how excited were you about Christmas as a child?
The Ghost of Christmas Present
This youthful ghost became more and more energetic as he took Scrooge from the house of Bob Cratchit where he was touched by the manner in which the poor family celebrated Christmas, to the house of his nephew, Fred, where he heard Fred's friends talk smack about him. Dickens' described the ghost as jovial both in appearance and speech. This ghost is our trope for empathy and love that should characterize Christmas. It is here Scrooge made a turnaround and loosened his grip on the string of the purse. Another question, what does Christmas mean to you now?
I am the Ghost of Christmas Present
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
I won't describe this ghost because I don't want to scare you. The hooded ghost, shrouded in black, was the scariest of all three Christmas ghosts who took Scrooge to a tombstone which had his name. Scrooge actually heard some people talking about him in a bad light. Hell, they said he won't be missed. Scrooge was that bad people spoke ill of him in ‘death’. I think you understand that nobody will live forever. Someday, you'll be no more, question is what will you be remembered for? Will you be missed? Especially at Christmas?
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come [Image Source(https://pixabay.com/photos/skull-mirror-horror-scary-4248008/)
In your hand lies the power to cheer someone up and even live a lasting impression of love on them this Christmas. Do something nice for someone. See you tomorrow.