Who’s not familiar with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come? Who’s not familiar with the dismissive, contemptuous exclamation, “Bah humbug!” Who is not familiar with the man of scorn, especially around the time of year when festive holiday music and embellished pine trees are likely more ubiquitous and popular than other usual day-to-day activities? There are probably some people who would candidly admit they are unfamiliar with the fictional character known as Ebenezer Scrooge, or simply, Scrooge. However, for most individuals, the name is as embedded in their memory as contemporary pop culture icons.
Yes! It’s a familiar story, whether you are enamored with the Christmas season or not. It’s a familiar tale of a selfish, greedy miser whose cold heart suddenly becomes warm after one night of unexpected, ghostly encounters, transforming him into a selfless giver who vows to “honor Christmas” in his heart, and promises to maintain this practice throughout the year. This is indeed a moving, allegorical novella that most people, whether or not they partake in the reading of Yuletide classics, will be familiar with as if they are well-versed in this particular literary genre. Indeed, this story has been told countless times across various media, including film, television, and the stage. And children who gather around their classroom teacher on a rug to listen to a story about the transformation of an older, disgruntled business owner come away entertained with an understanding of the true meaning of the Christmas holiday.
A Christmas Carol is a story like many others I have been familiar with since childhood, through film, television, and abridged children’s books. However, as a person who has taken a greater interest in reading the classics later in life, I chose to entertain myself this fall with the original published version. It means reading a story by the author who helped shape the form of fiction writing known as the social novel and experiencing an allegorical narrative delivered through exquisite storytelling. Reading the original story for the first time is a welcome opportunity to appreciate the craft of writing through the eyes of one of the most celebrated writers.
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(This piece was originally published on my other blog, My Musings in a Hundred Words, as a © My Musings in a Hundred Words Plus post.)
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