I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel,
I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man.
A merry Christmas to everybody!
Charles Dickens- One of the greatest and most admired writers, Charles Dickens has written many novels as well as short stories. David Copperfield, A tale of two Cities and Oliver Twist remain his most popular novels till date. The abridged version of Oliver Twist was there as a part of my curriculum in school days. I remember we had a few songs too on the character Oliver! The original version, which undoubtedly would be more fun to read, is in my ’to-read’ list. Dickens’ strongest qualities in writing were vivid characterizations and his subtle sense of humour. One could require a dictionary or a thesaurus around occasionally to read his rich literature laced with similes, but it’s worth the effort!
A Christmas Carol was the first he wrote in the series of small books.
Story: The story starts on a freezing and foggy day of Christmas Eve. Ebenezer Scrooge, the owner of the firm ‘Scrooge and Marley’s’ is a coldhearted workaholic, who has never known anything other than his work. His partner Jacob Marley passed away seven years ago on Christmas. Scrooge is ignored by one and all, ranging from his neighbours to the street dogs. He has no friends in the world, and this hardly makes a difference to him. He likes the fact that he is disliked by all! Of all, he hates Christmas time the most since he feels family get-togethers and celebrations are a waste of valuable time.
After a routine day at work on the Christmas Eve, when Scrooge returns to his lonely home, he is greeted by a guest waiting for him. The visitor is none other than the ghost of his ex-partner Marley who passed away long ago. Terrified at such a spectacle and after grasping that this is no dream, he asks of the spirit its reason to be visiting him and why it appears to be chained. To this, the phantom replies that when he was alive, he only went about his own work and never looked around at people who were suffering or needed his help because of which he has landed in a pitiable condition today. His spirit is chained and he knows no peace. He asks Scrooge not to commit the same mistake as he did. He mentions that for Scrooge to live peacefully, 3 spirits would be visiting him that night. Next moment, the ghost vanishes.
The Ghost of Christmas Past - The first spirit, a short and gentle one, appears on the stipulated time and takes Scrooge out on a journey to his past- through his schools, old streets and old acquaintances celebrating Christmas with their families. This pleasant journey reminds Scrooge of his clean and innocent heart he had long back and moistens his eyes.
The Ghost of Christmas Present - The second spirit is a giant who takes Scrooge on a journey of present times. He shows the life of current acquaintances like his poor office clerk who is celebrating Christmas with his little family and Scrooge’s own nephew celebrating with his family. To Scrooge’s dismay, he hears these families criticizing him on his cold manners and wicked heart. Now he yearns for the little joys of life that he has been missing all these years.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come- This phantom is the gloomiest of all who doesn’t speak a word. By now a transformed man, Scrooge does not fear to be led out to the future by this unknown ghostly figure for he is confident that this last journey will do him good just as the others did. The phantom now takes him on a journey where people are laughing and joking over someone’s death. Not a soul was grieved by this death, people were just happier and merrier. Dreadfully, he realizes that the ‘someone’ is none other than him lying in the most neglected grave. He promises the phantom that this would never happen as he would mend his ways.
Scrooge wakes up a different man in the morning and utters the very words mentioned in the beginning of this write-up. To his pleasant surprise, he realizes that it is Christmas day and all the adventures have occurred in a single night. Out he runs to celebrate Christmas with the city. He sends a turkey as an anonymous gift to his poor clerk and also acts as a benefactor for his family for the rest of his life. He celebrates Christmas at his nephew’s place.
A few attractive quotes -
Describing Scrooge- He was hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.
Describing Christmas time- There, all the children of the house were running out into the snow to meet their married sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, and be the first to greet them. An old, old man and woman, with their children and their children’s children, and another generation beyond that, all decked out gaily in their holiday attire. Every man on board, waking or sleeping, good or bad, had had a kinder word for one another on that day than on any day in the year;
My Opinion: The story is beautifully written in just 5 crisp chapters and 77 pages. I was instantly transported to the times described in the story. I could vividly imagine each scene, each cozy home enjoying Christmas by the fire and each snow laden street!
We may not be as hard or arrogant as Scrooge, but this story set me thinking. Are we gradually drifting away from our dear ones? Have we done something to brighten up any stranger’s life? Can we do any favour without expecting a return? Although this book was written in 1843, it contains a deep message relevant even today. I look forward to read this story once a year. Deserves 5 stars and even more!