1.1.7
Stave 4
Stave 4: A Rich Man's Death
Stave 4: A Rich Man's Death
As the hooded ghost moves towards Scrooge, he kneels on the floor in front of it. Scrooge asks it if it is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come – it does not answer, just points.
Scrooge's request
Scrooge's request
- Scrooge begs the ghost to share the final lesson with him, saying that although he is terrified, he is eager to learn how to avoid the same fate as Jacob Marley.
- Scrooge wants to be able to fix some of the problems he has caused.
Profiting from death
Profiting from death
- The ghost takes Scrooge to several places – at each one, they hear people discussing the death of a very rich man.
- No one seems particularly bothered by this man’s death. Some men say that the funeral will be cheap because they doubt anyone will go to it.
- They watch some people steal the rich man’s property. One woman brings out a set of bed curtains. The woman laughs as she pulls out more and more of the rich man’s belongings: “He frightened everyone away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead!”
- Scrooge tells the ghost that he knows this is a warning – that this is his fate if he does not change his ways.
Happiness over death
Happiness over death
- The scene changes as the ghost transports Scrooge to another place – the home of a poor family, where a man and wife are discussing how pleased they are about the rich man being dead because he was unforgiving and they could not afford to repay him what they owed.
- The man exclaims that they can “sleep tonight with light hearts” because the rich man is dead.
Stave 4: The Cratchit's and Scrooge's Grave
Stave 4: The Cratchit's and Scrooge's Grave
The scene changes again, and Scrooge finds himself at the Cratchit household.
The Cratchits
The Cratchits
- In contrast to how they were before, the family are “Quiet. Very quiet.”
- All of the joy and happiness seems to have been taken from this family.
- It is quickly revealed that Tiny Tim has died, leaving the whole family completely heartbroken.
Scrooge's grave
Scrooge's grave
- The ghost moves away from the house, directing Scrooge to the churchyard. The ghost points to a new grave.
- Scrooge hesitates and asks the ghost if the things he has shown him will definitely happen, or if he has a chance to change his future.
- The ghost does not speak, but continues to point to the grave. Scrooge approaches the grave and reads the headstone: EBENEZER SCROOGE.
Scrooge's promise
Scrooge's promise
- Scrooge begs the ghost to give him a chance to change his future: “I am not the man I was”.
- He assures the ghost: “I will not shut out the lessons” that the three ghosts have taught him. He wants to change and, in turn, change his future.
- Scrooge clutches at the ghost’s hand as he continues to beg it to let him change his future. He promises to live better from now on.
- The ghost disappears and Scrooge, once more, finds himself in his own bedroom.
1Plot Summary
2Key Characters & Quotes
2.1Ebenezer Scrooge
2.2Other Characters
2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters
3Key Ideas
4Context
5Authorial Method
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
2Key Characters & Quotes
2.1Ebenezer Scrooge
2.2Other Characters
2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters
3Key Ideas
4Context
5Authorial Method
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