Stave 3

Scrooge: Stave 3

Seeing the Cratchit's and other less fortunate families helps Scrooge to become more caring and less ignorant about the lower classes.

Feels guilt

Scrooge immediately shows a sense of guilt when he meets the Ghost: “though the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them”.
Scrooge clearly knows that he is about to look into his own life again, and he knows that he does not treat people the way that he should. He feels too guilty to meet the eyes that will show him the errors of his ways.

Feels sympathy and grief

They come to the home of Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit.
The ghost shows Scrooge how much this poor family love one another – he shows him that financial wealth is not the only kind of richness.
This experience causes Scrooge to feel sympathy for people from the lower classes: “tell me if Tiny Tim will live… oh no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared”.
The Ghost is very clear that if Scrooge (mankind) does not change his ways, then the weaker people in society will suffer. This is a strong message from Charles Dickens about the unfairness in Victorian society.
Scrooge is “overcome with penitence and grief” because he sees the negative impact of his behaviour towards Bob Cratchit.

Becomes less ignorant

Through Scrooge, Dickens opens up a window into the lives of the lower classes. Scrooge sees that his own (and society’s) assumptions about poorer people are not true. This visit gives him a more well-rounded understanding of society and attempts to remove some of his ignorance.
- Scrooge can see that the whole family works hard, even the children.
- He sees that they have very little, but they appreciate it so much.
- He sees that they are loving and caring.

Treats people more humanely

To add to this lesson, the Ghost also takes Scrooge to see other poorer people celebrating Christmas in “cheerful company”.
Scrooge sees how much people care for each other and starts to see the lower classes as fellow humans, rather than people who should be in “prisons” and “workhouses” (Stave 1).

Longing to change

When the Ghost tries to get Scrooge to leave, “he begged like a boy to be allowed to stay until the guests departed”. At this point, Scrooge has become desperate to be a real part of his family – this is a huge contrast to the Scrooge we met at the start of Stave 1.
- However, the Ghost pulls Scrooge away, telling him that time is running out. This could be a metaphorical link to the idea that Scrooge’s time to make things right and become a better person is running out – the Ghost may be sending Scrooge a message that he needs to change his ways quickly or he won’t get the chance to have a fun, loving life, like the ones he has just seen.

Scrooge: Stave 3 (Continued)

Stave 3 is full of symbolism connected to Scrooge and Cratchit's contrasting characters:

Cratchit's optimism

By watching Cratchit with his family, Scrooge can see how a mistreated man can overcome his misery and enjoy life.
- Scrooge seems to have been mistreated by his father as a child, and has remained alone and miserable; Cratchit is mistreated by Scrooge every day, but is happy and loving.

Cratchit - opposite of Scrooge

Cratchit does not seem to hold a grudge towards Scrooge, despite this mistreatment: “I’ll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!”
Cratchit provides a direct contrast to Scrooge.

Ghost - Christmas spirit

Scrooge admits that he has never seen anything like this Ghost before – the Ghost of Christmas Present is shocked.
- This could metaphorically show that Scrooge has never really felt Christmas spirit itself before.

Scrooge's room - life's possibilities

When Scrooge enters the room, he notices that it “had undergone a surprising transformation”. Instead of being dark, dull and miserable (as usual), this room is green and bright, with life everywhere. It also has an enormous amount of delicious and expensive foods.
The Ghost shows Scrooge how his life could be if he let it – he could have bright, well-decorated rooms with delicious food, but he is too concerned with hoarding money to allow himself to enjoy it.

1Plot Summary

1.1Plot Summary

1.1.1Outline

1.1.2Introducing Scrooge & Marley

1.1.3Stave 1

1.1.4Stave 2

1.1.5Stave 3

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Staves 1-3

1.1.7Stave 4

1.1.8Stave 5

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Staves 4-5

2Key Characters & Quotes

2.1Ebenezer Scrooge

2.1.1Outline & Stave 1

2.1.2Stave 2

2.1.3Stave 3

2.1.4Stave 4

2.1.5Stave 5 & Key Quotes

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Ebeneezer Scrooge

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Bob Cratchit

2.2.2Tiny Tim

2.2.3Fred

2.2.4The Ghosts Pt 1

2.2.5The Ghosts Pt 2

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.2Grade 9 - Extract Analysis

3Key Ideas

3.1Key Ideas

3.1.1Inequality, Ignorance & Want

3.1.2Duality, Family & Love

3.1.3Christianity & Redemption

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Key Ideas

3.1.5Grade 9 - Key Themes

4Context

4.1Context

4.1.1Dickens & Victorian England

4.1.2Poverty & Victorian Christmas

4.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Poverty

4.1.4Gothic Fiction

4.1.5Gothic Fiction & Victorian England

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Context

5Authorial Method

5.1Structure & Techniques

5.1.1Structure & Time

5.1.2Time Frame & Pace

5.1.3Narrative Voice & Tone

5.1.4Settings, Similes & Metaphors

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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