:: Plot Summary::
 Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim (Sol Eytinge, 1867) |
It is Christmas Eve in 19th century London, and Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly owner of a successful counting house, spends yet another Christmas season trying to kill the joyful spirit of those around him. This day before Christmas finds Scrooge ignoring well-wishers, specifically his nephew, and allowing his underpaid clerk, Bob Cratchit, only one day off for Christmas. As Cratchit heads home to his humble family celebration, Scrooge reminds him to be in extra early the day after Christmas.
 Marley’s Ghost (J. B. Beale, 1908) |
At home, Scrooge receives a visit from the ghost of his long-dead business partner, Jacob Marley. The ghost explains to Scrooge that Marley is condemned to restless wandering because he did nothing good for mankind while he was alive. He tells Scrooge that there is still time to save himself from the same fate.
In an attempt to convince Scrooge to change while there is still time, Marley sends the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. The spirits take Scrooge on three journeys: The Ghost of Christmas Past forces Scrooge to visit neglected friends, his now-dead sister and his young sweetheart, who left him when his greed became overpowering. The Ghost of Christmas Present then takes him to two homes—Cratchit’s (where the youngest child, Tiny Tim, is ill) and Scrooge’s nephew’s.
 Ignorance and Want (John Leech, 1843) |
In each home, Christmas is celebrated joyfully, and the families even raise their glasses in toasts to Scrooge himself. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leads Scrooge to the sorrowful scene following Tiny Tim’s death, and eventually to his own terrifying and lonely grave.
These chilling scenes of the future finally spur Scrooge to action. He awakes a new man and begins to celebrate life. Overflowing with his new-found Christmas cheer, Scrooge showers the Cratchits with gifts and his nephew with long-overdue love, proving that even he can change.
