A Christmas Carol
Many times, as you can see in The Three Musketeers,
the mind, body, and spirit characters work to transform a fourth
character. Nowhere in literature is this so blatantly clear than in
Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." The three ghosts of Christmas not
only display their character in their appearance and actions; they also
display it with what they show Ebenezer Scrooge.
The Ghost of Christmas Past has two physical characteristics that stand out above all others. The light that emanates from his head and the belt around his tunic. Light is often used as a symbol of knowledge - that which illuminates the uncertainty of darkness. The Ghost resists Scrooge's efforts to have him cover the light with a cap. The Ghost suggests Scrooge has spent too much time ignoring the lessons of his past and that it's time to revisit them for his 'reclamation.'
"You recollect the way?" inquired the Spirit. "Remember it!" cried Scrooge with fervor, "I could walk it blindfolded." "Strange to have forgotten it for so many years!" observed the Ghost
The belt the Ghost wears is an allusion to Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place," (NIV)
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge the significant events from his youth. All are factual and immutable. The Ghost gives no commentary or speculation. His comments are limited to clarification and Socratic questions - questions designed to make Scrooge think and draw his own conclusions.
Upon returning to his room from his outing with the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge finds a massive feast laid out with Christmas decorations all around. Then he sees a couch:
In easy state upon this couch there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn...
The feast, the size of this Ghost, and the reference to "Plenty's horn" are enough to mark him as a body character, but the characteristics go even deeper. This Ghost appears, at first, to be very prideful. He says things like "Look upon me," "Come in! and know me better, man" and "You have never seen the like of me before!" Personally, I believe the Ghost is reflecting Scrooge's pride back to him because what the Ghost brings to his attention during their time together is Scrooge's pride and greed - both of which are characteristics of the body character.
"There are some upon this earth of yours," returned the Spirit, "who claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are strange to us, and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us."
The Ghost wants Scrooge to see what life looks like without pride, hatred, selfishness, etc., so he shows Scrooge how the Cratchits celebrate Christmas. Between the Ghost's appearance and the lesson he has to teach, the Ghost of Christmas Present is clearly a body character.
Before the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears, The Ghost of Christmas Past reiterates the characteristics of all three Spirits by showing Scrooge three children. The first is Ignorance, which was overcome by the Ghost of Christmas Past. The second is Want (or 'greed' in today's definitions) and was overcome by the Ghost of Christmas Present. The third child was Doom, and could only be overcome with the help of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
This Ghost is actually a spirit. It has no bodily form, save a hooded cloak, and it does not speak. Everything this Ghost shows Scrooge occurs after Scrooge's death. Scrooge's body never appears, but he gets to see what kind of legacy he will leave when he is gone and it disturbs him. It is the final piece that makes Scrooge change his heart - his own spirit - for the better. This change of heart is unbelievable to his friends and family as he makes his rounds on Christmas day.
This transformation would not have been possible with any one Spirit alone. He needed all three - mind, body, and spirit - to be completely transformed. It can be argued that he needed them in that order for the transformation to occur, but I think I'll save that discussion for some other time.
The Mind Character: The Ghost of Christmas Past
The Ghost of Christmas Past has two physical characteristics that stand out above all others. The light that emanates from his head and the belt around his tunic. Light is often used as a symbol of knowledge - that which illuminates the uncertainty of darkness. The Ghost resists Scrooge's efforts to have him cover the light with a cap. The Ghost suggests Scrooge has spent too much time ignoring the lessons of his past and that it's time to revisit them for his 'reclamation.'
"You recollect the way?" inquired the Spirit. "Remember it!" cried Scrooge with fervor, "I could walk it blindfolded." "Strange to have forgotten it for so many years!" observed the Ghost
The belt the Ghost wears is an allusion to Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place," (NIV)
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge the significant events from his youth. All are factual and immutable. The Ghost gives no commentary or speculation. His comments are limited to clarification and Socratic questions - questions designed to make Scrooge think and draw his own conclusions.
The Body Character: The Ghost of Christmas Present
Upon returning to his room from his outing with the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge finds a massive feast laid out with Christmas decorations all around. Then he sees a couch:
In easy state upon this couch there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn...
The feast, the size of this Ghost, and the reference to "Plenty's horn" are enough to mark him as a body character, but the characteristics go even deeper. This Ghost appears, at first, to be very prideful. He says things like "Look upon me," "Come in! and know me better, man" and "You have never seen the like of me before!" Personally, I believe the Ghost is reflecting Scrooge's pride back to him because what the Ghost brings to his attention during their time together is Scrooge's pride and greed - both of which are characteristics of the body character.
"There are some upon this earth of yours," returned the Spirit, "who claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are strange to us, and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us."
The Ghost wants Scrooge to see what life looks like without pride, hatred, selfishness, etc., so he shows Scrooge how the Cratchits celebrate Christmas. Between the Ghost's appearance and the lesson he has to teach, the Ghost of Christmas Present is clearly a body character.
The Spirit Character: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Before the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears, The Ghost of Christmas Past reiterates the characteristics of all three Spirits by showing Scrooge three children. The first is Ignorance, which was overcome by the Ghost of Christmas Past. The second is Want (or 'greed' in today's definitions) and was overcome by the Ghost of Christmas Present. The third child was Doom, and could only be overcome with the help of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
This Ghost is actually a spirit. It has no bodily form, save a hooded cloak, and it does not speak. Everything this Ghost shows Scrooge occurs after Scrooge's death. Scrooge's body never appears, but he gets to see what kind of legacy he will leave when he is gone and it disturbs him. It is the final piece that makes Scrooge change his heart - his own spirit - for the better. This change of heart is unbelievable to his friends and family as he makes his rounds on Christmas day.
This transformation would not have been possible with any one Spirit alone. He needed all three - mind, body, and spirit - to be completely transformed. It can be argued that he needed them in that order for the transformation to occur, but I think I'll save that discussion for some other time.
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