Recently I have read A Christmas Carol and I must say it is an intriguing read. I have written a summary for each scene. I hope you like it.
Act I
Scene I
In Act I, in Scene I of a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Marley, Scrooge’s dead partner is introducing Scrooge, a stingy old man. He tells you how cheap and mean he is. He tells you about Scrooge and what he does for a living. Dickens does not describe where they are. Marley also tells how Scrooge is his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, and his sole friend. Marley says Scrooge is in his counting house. The end of the scene is Marley flying away.
Scene II
In Scene II we are introduced to Cratchit, Fred, a thin man, a portly man and a boy. This scene shows how rude Scrooge can be. There is Cratchit who has a coal and a candle to keep him warm because of this he puts on a comforter also know as a long scarf. Scrooge yells at Cratchit and threatens to fire him. When Scrooge’s nephew pops up and starts to talk to his uncle. Scrooge says ‘Bah! Humbug!’ they talk, Scrooge is not very happy. Then Fred, the nephew, gives a speech and Cratchit claps. But after a look of Scrooge’s furious face, Bob Cratchit pokes out his pitiful fire in exchange.
Scrooge threatens to fire him again and after Scrooge tries to get rid of Fred, Fred goes to Cratchit and they chat as Fred leaves the thin man and portly man come in. They talk to Scrooge asking for food to donate for those living in complete poverty. Scrooge rudely says good afternoon after 3 questions and the thin man and portly man talk a little. ‘Are there no prisons?’ and ‘The Union workhouse still at work?’ Cratchit puts something in the portly man’s hand. After a few minutes a bell tolls 6 and Cratchit get ready to leave and Scrooge reluctantly lets Cratchit but he has to be earlier the next day. Cratchit leaves and a boy appears in the window singing a Christmas carol. Scrooge whacks a ruler on the window get rid of him.
Scene III
In scene three of act 1, Scrooge is walking home mumbling to his self about how dark it is. On his doorknocker he sees Marley’s face, it slowly dissolves. Scrooge looked at the back of the door look for anything. Then as Scrooge is sitting down, Marley walks in. They talk. Marley tells Scrooge that he will be haunted by three spirits to not get Marley’s afterlife punishment. He tells Scrooge that other can see him but he will not. Marley flies out of the window leaving Scrooge confused and he thinks he lost his mind. Then thunder and lightning inside the room and Scrooge yells ‘Sorry’.
Scene IV
In scene 4 of act one, Marley tells us that we can see him but Scrooge can’t, but he can sense his presence. Scrooge wakes up and hears the clock gets close to one but the bells say it’s 12. Now he thinks there is an icicle in the clock and he says he went to bed past two. Marley appears again saying he doesn’t believe in him. He thinks this a game, so he takes a short nap. As a heavy bell tolls one, there is a flash of light and Scrooge sits up straight. A hand opens the curtains around the bed, startling Scrooge. He is the ghost of Christmas past. He is, more specifically, the ghost of Scrooge’s Christmas’s past. The ghost says ‘Rise! Fly with me!’ frightening Scrooge. The sprit told him to touch his heart and it gets dark as Scrooge does.
Scene V
In the final scene of act one, Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past visit Scrooge’s old school. They see a group of men and Scrooge staggers trying to see it all. Then they see a young Scrooge all alone. There’s a flash and they see an older Scrooge. He is still alone. A little girl walks to Scrooge. She is Fan, Scrooge’s little sister. Then the schoolmaster comes in telling Scrooge that he needs to travel. As everyone started to leave, Fan grabs the schoolmaster’s coattail, saying that her brother is waiting for a farewell. Next, they go to the warehouse where Ebenezer was apprenticed. After Fezziwig says it’s quitting time there is a party where Ebenezer and a man named Dick danced. After the party Ebenezer and Dick talk about how grateful they are to have a master such as Fezziwig. Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past go to a time of sadness, there is Belle, Scrooge’s lost love, and Scrooge. After a long talk, Belle leaves Scrooge in this memory and the older Scrooge walks over to his other self and says ‘You fool! Mindless loon! You fool!’ The ghost of Christmas past takes him back home. Scrooge wears his boyhood cap and he must sleep because of the recognition of that.
Act II
In the final scene of act one, Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past visit Scrooge’s old school. They see a group of men and Scrooge staggers trying to see it all. Then they see a young Scrooge all alone. There’s a flash and they see an older Scrooge. He is still alone. A little girl walks to Scrooge. She is Fan, Scrooge’s little sister. Then the schoolmaster comes in telling Scrooge that he needs to travel. As everyone started to leave, Fan grabs the schoolmaster’s coattail, saying that her brother is waiting for a farewell. Next, they go to the warehouse where Ebenezer was apprenticed. After Fezziwig says it’s quitting time there is a party where Ebenezer and a man named Dick danced. After the party Ebenezer and Dick talk about how grateful they are to have a master such as Fezziwig. Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past go to a time of sadness, there is Belle, Scrooge’s lost love, and Scrooge. After a long talk, Belle leaves Scrooge in this memory and the older Scrooge walks over to his other self and says ‘You fool! Mindless loon! You fool!’ The ghost of Christmas past takes him back home. Scrooge wears his boyhood cap and he must sleep because of the recognition of that.
Act II
Scene I
This act starts out kind of weird; Marley plays a prank on Scrooge. The prank he plays is put the clock to one and nothing will happen. Then he will put it back to midnight and then it will be one again! Scrooge thinks he is sleeping back and forth. Suddenly, there is music. Marley tells Scrooge to stay put but Scrooge says he is just going to check if someone is there. Marley is suddenly gone. There sit the ghost of Christmas present. The spirit is sitting on a throne of food. Scrooge asked ‘How should I call you?’ Spirit says ‘I am the ghost of Christmas present.’ He asked Scrooge if he has walked with his elder brothers. Present tells Scrooge to touch his robe.
Scene II
Marley appears saying that the weather is severe. Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present see a group of Christmas carolers. They are carrying their dinners to the baker’s shop to be cooked. Something falls from his torch on to the people. Two people in the group become angry with one another. The ghost of Christmas present sprinkles incense on them and then they exchange some pleasant words. Scrooge asks what the ghost of Christmas present sprinkled on those men. The ghost of Christmas of Christmas present says kindness is what he sprinkles on them.
This act starts out kind of weird; Marley plays a prank on Scrooge. The prank he plays is put the clock to one and nothing will happen. Then he will put it back to midnight and then it will be one again! Scrooge thinks he is sleeping back and forth. Suddenly, there is music. Marley tells Scrooge to stay put but Scrooge says he is just going to check if someone is there. Marley is suddenly gone. There sit the ghost of Christmas present. The spirit is sitting on a throne of food. Scrooge asked ‘How should I call you?’ Spirit says ‘I am the ghost of Christmas present.’ He asked Scrooge if he has walked with his elder brothers. Present tells Scrooge to touch his robe.
Scene II
Marley appears saying that the weather is severe. Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present see a group of Christmas carolers. They are carrying their dinners to the baker’s shop to be cooked. Something falls from his torch on to the people. Two people in the group become angry with one another. The ghost of Christmas present sprinkles incense on them and then they exchange some pleasant words. Scrooge asks what the ghost of Christmas present sprinkled on those men. The ghost of Christmas of Christmas present says kindness is what he sprinkles on them.
Scene III
Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present first arrive at Cratchit’s home; Scrooge doesn’t know where he is. Mrs.Cratchit and the Cratchit children are introduced in this scene. Martha appears at the door as Mrs.Cratchit is asking where she is. Belinda tells Martha to hide because Bob Cratchit is coming. They play a joke on Bob by telling him that Martha is not coming. Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim is going to live, but sadly the ghost of Christmas present says that he will not if the shadow don’t change. Bob toast to Scrooge, and has Mrs.Cratchit toast to Scrooge too. She only toasts for Bob’s sake not Scrooge’s. Everyone in the Cratchit family sings Bob Cratchit’s favorite song. Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present go to another place in the present.
Scene IV
Marley says in the beginning that Scrooge is amazed because every home is expecting guests. Then in a flash, Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present are in Scrooge’s nephew’s home. They see Fred and his wife laughing. They both toast to Scrooge, after Fred’s wife admits she doesn’t have any patience with Scrooge. Scrooge asks the ghost of Christmas present if he can make him be seen and heard. The ghost of Christmas present tells Scrooge to look at him. Scrooge is shock to see how much the ghost has aged. The ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge man’s children, there are two, a boy and a girl. The boy is Ignorance and the girl is Want. The boy has doom written on his forehead. Unless it is erased he is doomed. The ghost of Christmas present keeps repeating as he disappears, ‘Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?’
In the corner is a phantom that is actually the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge surprisingly is very friendly to the phantom. They go into the future and they arrive at a scene of three businessmen talking about Scrooge’s death. The odd thing is but they don’t say Scrooge’s name at all. Which causes Scrooge to think that they are talking about Marley’s death. They ask who got his money but they all say that they did not. They go to another scene where there is 4 people are selling stuff that they stole from Scrooge. Scrooge is absolutely shocked by this. They stole bed curtains, sleeve buttons, and much more. One man pays everyone else for what they brought. Scrooge moans straight from the bones. He realizes that that my very well might happen to him. They go to a corpse and when Scrooge sees the actual body, Scrooge screams. They go visit the Cratchits again. It turns out Tiny Tim died and everyone is a bit down. Bob and the Cratchit family talk for a little but they are all sad except the newest Cratchit, Little Bob, he is very happy. When Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas future go to the graveyard, the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come points at a tombstone. Marley appears and does the same it grows 10 feet tall and it turns around. It says two words: Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge walks away in terror and says that he will not be the man that he was. He will honor Christmas and keep alive all year. He will live in the past, present, and future. He asks the ghost if can get rid of the writing one the tombstone. He asks the ghost to give him a sign. The only thing the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come does is vanish leaving only his clothes that apparently is his sign.
Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present first arrive at Cratchit’s home; Scrooge doesn’t know where he is. Mrs.Cratchit and the Cratchit children are introduced in this scene. Martha appears at the door as Mrs.Cratchit is asking where she is. Belinda tells Martha to hide because Bob Cratchit is coming. They play a joke on Bob by telling him that Martha is not coming. Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim is going to live, but sadly the ghost of Christmas present says that he will not if the shadow don’t change. Bob toast to Scrooge, and has Mrs.Cratchit toast to Scrooge too. She only toasts for Bob’s sake not Scrooge’s. Everyone in the Cratchit family sings Bob Cratchit’s favorite song. Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present go to another place in the present.
Scene IV
Marley says in the beginning that Scrooge is amazed because every home is expecting guests. Then in a flash, Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas present are in Scrooge’s nephew’s home. They see Fred and his wife laughing. They both toast to Scrooge, after Fred’s wife admits she doesn’t have any patience with Scrooge. Scrooge asks the ghost of Christmas present if he can make him be seen and heard. The ghost of Christmas present tells Scrooge to look at him. Scrooge is shock to see how much the ghost has aged. The ghost of Christmas present shows Scrooge man’s children, there are two, a boy and a girl. The boy is Ignorance and the girl is Want. The boy has doom written on his forehead. Unless it is erased he is doomed. The ghost of Christmas present keeps repeating as he disappears, ‘Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?’
In the corner is a phantom that is actually the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge surprisingly is very friendly to the phantom. They go into the future and they arrive at a scene of three businessmen talking about Scrooge’s death. The odd thing is but they don’t say Scrooge’s name at all. Which causes Scrooge to think that they are talking about Marley’s death. They ask who got his money but they all say that they did not. They go to another scene where there is 4 people are selling stuff that they stole from Scrooge. Scrooge is absolutely shocked by this. They stole bed curtains, sleeve buttons, and much more. One man pays everyone else for what they brought. Scrooge moans straight from the bones. He realizes that that my very well might happen to him. They go to a corpse and when Scrooge sees the actual body, Scrooge screams. They go visit the Cratchits again. It turns out Tiny Tim died and everyone is a bit down. Bob and the Cratchit family talk for a little but they are all sad except the newest Cratchit, Little Bob, he is very happy. When Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas future go to the graveyard, the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come points at a tombstone. Marley appears and does the same it grows 10 feet tall and it turns around. It says two words: Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge walks away in terror and says that he will not be the man that he was. He will honor Christmas and keep alive all year. He will live in the past, present, and future. He asks the ghost if can get rid of the writing one the tombstone. He asks the ghost to give him a sign. The only thing the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come does is vanish leaving only his clothes that apparently is his sign.
Scene V
Marley tells us that Scrooge has changed he is not the man he was. Scrooge suddenly sits up in his bed yelling ‘I will live in the past, present, and future! The Sprits of all three shall strive within me!’ Marley moves closer to Scrooge’s bed and says this is your bed and your room Ebenezer, believe it! Scrooge is so happy. He touches the curtains and says they are not torn down, all is there rings and all. He is so cheerful that he is yelling out the window that he does not know what day it is, but he doesn’t care. He calls himself a baby but he doesn’t care. He is just so happy to be alive. He calls to a young boy passing by. He asks him what day it is and the boy named Adam says Christmas day. He tells Adam to go to the poulterer’s and get the big prize turkey and if he comes back in five minutes he will give him a half-a-crown. Adam comes back in less than 5 minutes and earns his half-a-crown and Scrooge gives him more than enough. Scrooge tells the man who came with Adam to go and give the enormous bird to the Cratchits’ and he gives the man to much money for a cab to the Cratchits’ but tells the man to keep the extra. Scrooge wanders around the streets and bumps into the portly man from Act I. Scrooge asks him a question then whispers into the man’s ear. The portly man is shocked. Then goes to his nephew’s home and parties with his nephew, his niece, and all of their friends. Then he goes to work and waits for Cratchit to arrive. He tells Cratchit that he is going to raise his salary and they will talk about Cratchit’s family affairs. Then he tells Cratchit to go buy more coal because it is much to cold in there. Cratchit stands up smiles and faints. Marley says that Scrooge was better than his word and to Tiny Tim, who didn’t die, was his second father. Scrooge had become very, very nice by the end. The last line in the play is Tiny Tim on Scrooge’s shoulder saying ‘God Bless Us, Every One.’
Marley tells us that Scrooge has changed he is not the man he was. Scrooge suddenly sits up in his bed yelling ‘I will live in the past, present, and future! The Sprits of all three shall strive within me!’ Marley moves closer to Scrooge’s bed and says this is your bed and your room Ebenezer, believe it! Scrooge is so happy. He touches the curtains and says they are not torn down, all is there rings and all. He is so cheerful that he is yelling out the window that he does not know what day it is, but he doesn’t care. He calls himself a baby but he doesn’t care. He is just so happy to be alive. He calls to a young boy passing by. He asks him what day it is and the boy named Adam says Christmas day. He tells Adam to go to the poulterer’s and get the big prize turkey and if he comes back in five minutes he will give him a half-a-crown. Adam comes back in less than 5 minutes and earns his half-a-crown and Scrooge gives him more than enough. Scrooge tells the man who came with Adam to go and give the enormous bird to the Cratchits’ and he gives the man to much money for a cab to the Cratchits’ but tells the man to keep the extra. Scrooge wanders around the streets and bumps into the portly man from Act I. Scrooge asks him a question then whispers into the man’s ear. The portly man is shocked. Then goes to his nephew’s home and parties with his nephew, his niece, and all of their friends. Then he goes to work and waits for Cratchit to arrive. He tells Cratchit that he is going to raise his salary and they will talk about Cratchit’s family affairs. Then he tells Cratchit to go buy more coal because it is much to cold in there. Cratchit stands up smiles and faints. Marley says that Scrooge was better than his word and to Tiny Tim, who didn’t die, was his second father. Scrooge had become very, very nice by the end. The last line in the play is Tiny Tim on Scrooge’s shoulder saying ‘God Bless Us, Every One.’
Nice ending, right?
