Happiness In A Christmas Carol

Many people spend their entire lives searching for the key to a meaningful life. But the question is which is more valuable - financial success or happiness. In A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens, a greedy old miser named Scrooge endures such a search for meaning and ultimately finds the treasure of life. He needs the help of three spirits, who appear during the night on Christmas Eve, to help him see how his inconsiderate and greedy actions affect others and leave him alone. As a result of this experiment he changes from his selfish ways and allows himself to branch out, becoming more friendly, generous, and content in the process. A Christmas Carol illustrates that people can be happy without money or success as pure happiness
Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence…” (Dickens 23). Marley is contradicting Scrooge here, because these are all the things Scrooge wants nothing to do with. Marley is trying to put the world in perspective for him, and trying to show him that money is not what matters. When Scrooge wakes up the following night, ready to be greeted by the second spirit, he opens up the curtains (not wishing to be taken by surprise this time). He is prepared for the ghost to take any shape. But when the clock strikes and he is still alone, he becomes very nervous. But soon a reddish light appears. At first the light scares Scrooge more than any ghost could have, but soon he realizes that the light must be coming from somewhere else (the adjoining room). As her approaches it he hears, “Come in! - come in! and Know me better, man!” (Dickens 54). Scrooge as a man of “business”, a man who is cold and relies solely on his mind (not feelings) to be prepared for all business situations, tries to be prepared again. But the ghosts do not follow a protocol, and when things don’t go as planned Scrooge becomes nervous. The room next door has been transformed into a festive cavern, full with food and greenery. Amid all of this sits the second spirit up a glowing torch as Scrooge enters and introduces himself as the Ghost of Christmas Present. His eyes are kind but Scrooge is scared to look in them. The ghost is dressed in a
The last ghost approaches, but is shrouded in a black garment so that al Scrooge can see of it is an outstretched hand a mass of black. This figure fills him with greater dread than any other ghost. It doesn’t speak to him and beckons mysteriously with it’s hand. Scrooge guesses aloud, “I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?” And the ghost replies with a slight movement of its head. THough he fears the ghost, Scrooge urges it desperately to show him what it has for him. The spirits so far have been quite benevolent - glowing, childlike, and gentle. They have guided Scrooge through their visions firmly but somewhat sympathetically. But the last spirit brings the moral lesson home. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge that the unknown, unseen fate that he is heading for is really something to fear deeply. Scrooge realizes that the ghost is looking at him again, and feels a new surge of terror. The ghost leads him to an infamous part of town, full of misery and crime. Here, they find an old man trying to keep warm. He is soon joined by three others and the group start to laugh together. The old man, Joe, invites his