A Christmas Carol – Uncle Scrooge and the True Meaning of Christmas
Dec 01 2008
This a kind of holiday tradition of mine. Every Christmas season I post this article on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol. It is probably the greatest story told for the modern age and is precious to me and my family.
I have talked to people many times about how we have become distracted through morality, and how we obsess so much over the things we shouldn’t do that we forget the things we should do. In fact, the greatest evils in this world are perpetuated, if not created, by apathy and heedlessness more than hate.
“A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens is just such an example. I grew up, like anyone else, thinking of Scrooge as a villain. I never really stopped to think about why he was evil, that is what the story said he was, so that’s what I knew. We as people love to hate. It is so much fun to have the villain or criminal that we can hate without fear of consequence. That is why we love villains in stories.
What has disturbed me of late, is that I finally came to be aware of why Scrooge was such a villain at the beginning of the story, and here is the thought that shocked me: Scrooge was not a criminal, nor dishonest, nor a cheat. He was hard working, minded his own business, and paid his taxes. In fact, even in today’s world, he would have been looked on as a true conservative and a pinnacle of the American dream.
The scary thing is that Scrooge was absolutely moral. He didn’t drink, fornicate, or have any other of the vices we spend so much time obsessing over. All this and IN THE SIGHT OF HEAVEN HE WAS LESS FIT TO LIVE THAN ANY OTHER. Indeed, Scrooge was so hated by Heaven not for any evil he did, but for the good he did not.
You know as well as I do, that you never read or saw “A Christmas Carol”, and thought Scrooge was a good man. No, you hated him as much as any other. That is the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in your heart, pleading with you. That is why we love that story, and never question it’s true message. Your heart knows why Scrooge is so low in the eyes of heaven, your heart already knows the truth.
Now take a break for a second and stop thinking about Scrooge. How many times have to looked down on those who are poor? Scrooge said, “I don’t make merry myself on Christmas, and I can’t afford to make idle people merry.” How many times do you ignore those who need another chance, just because “they did it to themselves”? How many times do you deprive yourself and others of joy, just because you are too afraid to open your heart to them? Well, these are the sins you have judged Scrooge for. Just because he is fiction doesn’t matter. That is the same judgment that awaits you in Heaven.
Of course, being the genius that Dickens was, he didn’t stop the lesson with Scrooge. Another lesson is given to us in “A Christmas Carol” with Scrooge’s nephew, Fred. While most of the characters in the story chose to hate Scrooge for what he was, Fred loved him for what he could be.
Fred’s role is that of the true saint. He loves those who hate him, and shows mercy to those who don’t deserve it. He refuses to speak badly of Scrooge, and invites him over to his house every year for Christmas. He perseveres through all of Scrooge’s insults and spitefulness and in the end, plays a large role in Scrooge’s redemption.
I love stories like “A Christmas Carol” that portray good and evil as they truly are: an internal war inside all of us. Scrooge wasn’t evil, but corrupted by it. If Scrooge was evil, redemption would not be possible, but as Fred and the Ghosts found, there was good in him after all. We should learn from Fred as well, not to write anyone off as evil but persevere in love for the sake of the salvation of all. As for me, I am always humbled by the story. I don’t think I ever live up the example given by Fred, and often live with Scrooge’s sense of self-justification. I recommend every family takes the time to read (not just watch) “A Christmas Carol” every year, as I can’t think of any story that better teaches the meaning of the season (the Nativity excluded of course, c’mon people!)
P.S. The image I used for this article comes from the movie version of “A Christmas Carol” where Patrick Steward plays Scrooge. There is no substitute for the book, but this is the best of all the movies (and I have seen them all).
Enjoyed the analysis and agree. You may want to check out the annual production Actors Theatre in Louisville, KY puts on. It’s different every year and always excellent. It’s a family tradition for us and a great value as well.
Great points, bro! Lots “struck home”, but the most chilling thing was when you pointed out that Scrooge would be esteemed a “true conservative” by today’s standards. Humbling, sobering, invigorating, resolutioning (if such were a word)!
As I think about what you said (and comparing the Classic to today’s world, I also notice another analogy. Scrooge didn’t contribute to institutional/organized charities — even after his awakening; he contributed to individuals, at “ground level”. At this time of year, charitable organizations lay it on thick in the hopes of scoring bankdrafts, but the most satisfaction comes from being anonymous benefactors to the needy that we personally know about. The person-to-person kindness and grace that exemplifies a personal Lord… Thanks!
I have to agree with your well written analysis.
I have always felt the same way. And have read the origional (or at least an old old printing of the book – library was throwing out the collection when I was 10 – I’m now 50).
I still believe though, that George C. Scott portrayed the character and redemption better than any.
Probably why it is so hard to find, and never makes it to TV like the others. Secular Progressives shun this version like vampires to light.
My friend,
I LOVE THIS STORY. It is a tradition of mine every year to watch several versions. I am only missing one in my collection *R. Owen* although I have seen it in the past. I have 5 versions that I think are worth watching… Stewarts is one that follows the book best, but in my humble opinion, falls short in capturing the depth that C. Scott captures (along with an irreplaceable cast… of course we know you have the same Mrs. Dilbert cast in both of these versions).
I made my wife suffer through 3 versions this year, but only got a bit into the one from 1935 (Hicks)… bummer! I Love love love it! You struck a chord with me. I actually have a post about this last month.
I wanted to do something like you have posted here about the various Christian models that can be seen in this story. Amazing that Dickens was a Unitarian (I think… correct me if I’m wrong)!!!
God Bless, it looks like we will be doing a blogskin for you! Excellent!
-g-
@george
Thanks for the comment. Dickens was rumored to show interest in Unitarian Christianity, but was an Anglican his whole life until death.
AH! WEll, that would make better sense. He understood things well enough to incorporate so many of the teachings of Christ in one fell swoop. Again, I cannot explain how much I enjoy this story. I would love to get a nice old copy of the book… something that feels authentic!
-g-
A true conservative. What does that mean? Am I to understand liberals are great caring people and would never benefit themselves on the behalf of others? You began to lose me with this very poor choice of statement. Remember, Scrooge supports government sponsored programs for the poor. This in no way is a conservative thought.
Scrooge is not evil, true. His fault lays in not having mercy. Read the book and you see instances showing a lack of mercy. This is because he does not see for he is within himself or in plain words has given the moral responsibility to the government. He like many humans take themselves out of the reality in the hopes that someone else, government, will take their, Scrooge and others, responsibility. It takes Scrooge participating to see that he is morally obligated and not his government.
We can all learn something from this story if we take the time to “listen” to it. For us to overcome poverty and cruelty amongst humans, we need to take responsibility instead of leaving it to our impersonal governments. There is a reason why churches are affective at assisting the downtrodden.
Dickens does a wonderful job of describing Jesus without mentioning him. He may not have intended this, but this story in an allegorical way describes and shows Jesus.
@William
I agree that churches are better at helping the poor than governments. I also agree that people use such institutions to shrug personal responsibility. However, I have to disagree that Scrooge approved of governments supporting the poor. Scrooge, given the context of the times, was pointing out that he is already taxed to pay for government institutions and therefore should not have to pay more money. Also, my comment “a true conservative” is meant as an irony, not that I am saying he should have been liberal. I take every change I can to point out that political labels and ideologies are insufficient as a guideline for spiritual and moral development.