Payton Lake 3 English 1/10/11 In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens used symbolism to put his message through to the

audience. The author intended this story to be read by wealthy people like Scrooge, who are greedy with their money, however, anyone else that needs to learn the true meaning of Christmas and being happy should read this story as well. As the author said, a tale that renews the joy in caring that is Christmas (Back cover). As for the characters, all four ghosts have symbolic meaning. Although they all have very powerful purposes and characteristics, the Ghost of Christmas Future seems to be the most powerful in representing Charles Dickens message to the people reading A Christmas Carol.

The Ghost of Christmas Future had many characteristics that help to symbolize the stories purpose. For instance, the ghost is completely covered in black, which shows that the future is grim and possibly sad. The ghost has no face showing, and mist following around him. These characteristics show that the future is vague and undecided. He also has an outstretched hand, guiding the way for mankind. The spirit does not speak, which shows that the future can still be changed. As well as the characteristics, a big effect that took place on the Ghost of Christmas Future was where he took Scrooge. One of these important places was a shop where a few poor London citizens were selling Scrooge s belongings that they had stolen from him. Another place the ghost of Christmas Present took Scrooge was to town where some people were talking about Scrooge s death and how pleased they were that he had finally passed away. One of the last places the ghost took Scrooge was the Cratchits house where Tiny Tim had died because his family was

too poor to allow him any help. The Ghost of Christmas Future was definitely the most powerful in showing that true Christmas spirit comes from giving with love and that nothing good can come of being greedy.

Symbolism is an important part of writing because it puts meaningful ideas into writing. Symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols, or investing things with a symbolic meaning or character. In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens used symbolism to prove that money isn t everything and that you shouldn t need or want to have money to be happy. Fred, Scrooges nephew, said:

There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! (Dickens pg. 50)

Before Scrooge had seen all four ghosts, he had been a cold, greedy businessman who cared nothing of Christmas. Even at the mention of Christmas, he would say Bah, humbug! (Dickens pg.4) Unlike his nephew, Scrooge thought of Christmas as only a time to loose money. He had said:

What else can I be, when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! Out upon merry Christmas. What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in them through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should! (Dickens pg. 4)

Scrooge was a perfect example of someone who doesn t know much about how Christmas is a wonderful, happy time, as well as Fred who showed the opposite .

Charles Dickens used all the ghosts in A Christmas Carol to represent his message through to the audience. It s important for people like Scrooge to know the meaning of being happy and what it can bring you. Happiness brings kindness to your life and others in it while it can even make other people s day a whole lot better. As Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, everyone! (Dickens pg. 85)