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52 The Background of Ebenezer Scrooge

The Background of

Ebenezer Scrooge

Walking through the streets of 1843's London,
at night, Dickens thinks about his developing
story ideas. He conjures-up a character called
"Ebenezer Scrooge."
Maybe that miserly old man once had a
partner who was equally stingy. Dickens calls
that now-dead chap "Jacob Marley."
Scrooge and Marley value money above
all else. They have no love for anyone. They
care about accumulating wealth. They do not
share their resources with anyone and have no
plans to use their worldly gains to help the poor.
Is there an antidote to such selfish
living? Dickens, writing during the months of
October and November, in 1843, thinks about
the "Spirit of Christmas." Could that be an
antidote to selfish living?
In 1843, however, people in Britain do
not celebrate Christmas in the commercial sense
(of today’s Christmas). While many people go
to church, on Christmas, and engage in the long-
standing tradition of “making merry,” not all
children receive presents. While it is “the
season” to care about others, not much is done
to help those in need. England’s first Christmas cards were produced
People, throughout Britain, aren’t really by Henry Cole and John Horsley in 1843, the
thinking about the less-fortunate among them. year in which Dickens wrote “A Christmas
So ... Dickens decides to send a message Carol.”
through his story. He invents three different England’s early Christmas trees may
"Spirits" - or "Ghosts" - who will teach his main have first appeared when Queen Charlotte (the
character - Ebenezer Scrooge - a few lessons. German-born wife of George III) decorated
In the process of educating Scrooge, (and lit) fir trees during the 1780s and 1790s.
Dickens finds a way to return "Old Marley" to But Christmas trees in Britain didn’t become
his former home - a commercial building popular until Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince
located in the City of London. Now a ghost, Albert, made them a part of the royal Christmas.
Marley pays a visit to the dwelling’s current (The pair married in 1840.)
resident (his old partner, Ebenezer). The Prince Consort carried-over such
Dickens creates the Cratchit family, traditions from his native country (Germany) to
from the Camden district of London, where the land of his new wife. In 1848, the Illustrated
poor-but-respectable people live. Despite their London News published a picture of the royal
poverty, the Cratchits - with their many children family around their Christmas tree. That image
- have a loving home. did much to popularize Christmas trees in
One of the Cratchit children, however, England. In its 23 December 1848 issue, The A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
suffers from the negative impacts of poverty. Times described the beautiful tree with these with KEVIN RANDLE
Tiny Tim will die unless he gets help. words: www.XZBN.net
With this story structure in place, The tree employed … is a young fir,
Dickens quickly writes his novella. The author about eight feet high, and has six tiers of
could use the extra cash such a story could branches. On each branch are arranged a
generate, if it catches-on with the public. dozen wax tapers. Pendant from the branches
What was Christmas like, for people in are elegant trays, baskets, and bonbonniers,
Britain, during the first half of the 19th century? and other placements for sweetmeats of the
The answer depends on whether a person was most varied kind, and all forms, colours, and
from a wealthy or a poor family. degrees of beauty.
In any given year, some of Britain’s No one in England, however, was
national newspapers didn’t even mention thinking about Santa Claus (or “Father
Christmas. Wealthy families exchanged Christmas”) during that time frame, since those
presents, played games, enjoyed music and held customs were not-yet part of British culture. It
gatherings (featuring special meals and wasn’t until the 1870s that Saint Nicholas
Christmas puddings), but poor families were became popular in England. England did have
fortunate just to have the day off. a tradition of a jolly figure who represented the
If they scrimped and saved, poor “Spirit of Christmas.” Dickens borrowed from
families could afford to share a Christmas meal, that tradition when he created the second of his
but no one was thinking about giving or Three Spirits.
receiving presents. There wasn’t enough money Dickens finished his story by the end of
for such things at a time when young children November, 1843, just in time to publish it for
worked long hours to help support their Christmas that year. Not only was the story
families. popular, it actually changed the culture, helping CONNECTING WITH COINCIDENCE
Even wealthy families, in England, did people to remember that it was the time of year with DR. BERNARD BEITMAN, MD
not have Christmas trees or send holiday cards to share with others less-fortunate. www.XZBN.net
during the first part of the 19th Century. (Continued on Page 55)