[I] f that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world—oh, woe is me!—and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!
Marley explains how justice functions in the afterlife to punish sins of omission. When people withhold good in life, they will endlessly revisit the missed opportunities in death without being able to make the situations better. Humankind must care for each other by helping and sharing. Not doing so results in eternal torment. The value of a life rests on proactive, positive morality rather than a passive strategy of avoiding sin.
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”
See AlsoThe Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - Characters - Eduqas - GCSE English Literature Revision - EduqasEbenezer Scrooge | fictional characterThemes Writing about effects of language A Christmas Carol (Grades 9–1)The Ghost of Christmas Present - Characters - Eduqas - GCSE English Literature Revision - Eduqas
Marley rues the wrong priorities he held in life. Scrooge has just remarked that Marley was always a good man of business. Marley, distressed, knows that his true business should have been helping people. Readers can infer that the message here doesn’t condemn moneymaking per se, but the emphasis in one’s business should focus on helping others. Marley believed that to be a good businessman—that is, to make profits—he needed to ignore the imperatives of charity, mercy, and forbearance. The overall message here reveals that one may be both a good businessman
There are some on this earth of yours… who lay claim to know us, and who do their deeds of passion, pride, ill-will, hatred, envy, bigotry, and selfishness in our name, who are as strange to us and all our kith and kin, as if they had never lived. Remember that, and charge their doings on themselves, not us.
The Ghost of Christmas Present refutes Scrooge’s accusation that the good spirits instigated Sabbath closures of essential services like bakeries in the name of religion. The Spirit strongly declares such an idea un-Christian, thus immoral. He reminds Scrooge that many people who claim a religious justification for their actions live as strangers to the true meaning of Christianity. His words encourage others to judge morality by the deed, not by how the man doing the deed labels his actions.
They are Man’s….And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. The boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want. Beware of them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.
The Ghost of Christmas Present shelters under his robe two pathetic figures that look like starving children. Here he explains the identities of the figures, or at least what they represent metaphorically: Ignorance and Want. He shelters the two because, in the spirit of Christmas—a day the text encourages people to honor at all times—society should and must take care of the problems of ignorance and want, for the good of all.
As a seasoned literary enthusiast with a deep understanding of the concepts presented in the provided passage, I can attest to the profound themes and moral messages embedded in the text. The excerpt is a poignant portrayal of moral and spiritual reflections, primarily centered around the consequences of one's actions in life and the subsequent ramifications in the afterlife. Now, let's delve into the key concepts discussed in the passage.
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Spiritual Consequences of Actions: The passage contemplates the idea that the spirit, if not inclined towards positive actions during life, is condemned to wander the afterlife, witnessing missed opportunities for benevolence and happiness. This serves as a moral warning about the importance of actively engaging in acts of kindness and charity.
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Justice in the Afterlife: Marley's explanation sheds light on the concept of justice in the afterlife, particularly focusing on sins of omission. Those who withhold goodness in life are condemned to relive missed opportunities in death, emphasizing the eternal consequences of neglecting to help and share with others.
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Humanitarian Values: The text underscores the significance of caring for one another through acts of charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence. It suggests that the value of a person's life is determined by their proactive, positive morality rather than simply avoiding sinful behavior.
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Business and Morality: Marley's regret about his life priorities highlights the theme that one's business should extend beyond profit-making. It suggests that being a good person is not incompatible with being a good businessman. The emphasis is on balancing financial success with a commitment to helping others.
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True Meaning of Christianity: The Ghost of Christmas Present refutes the idea that essential service closures are religiously justified, asserting that such actions are un-Christian and immoral. The passage encourages a focus on judging morality based on deeds rather than religious labels, criticizing those who claim religious justification but do not embody true Christian values.
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Perversion of Christianity: The Ghost's words also allude to a theme found in Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," where a perversion of Christianity is explored. It suggests that some individuals use religion as a cover for actions that contradict the true principles of Christianity.
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Personification of Social Issues: The Ghost of Christmas Present introduces two symbolic figures, Ignorance and Want, personifying societal problems. The sheltering of these figures under the spirit's robe emphasizes the responsibility of society, especially during Christmas, to address issues of ignorance and want for the greater good.
In conclusion, the provided passage masterfully weaves together these concepts to deliver a powerful moral narrative, urging readers to reflect on the implications of their actions, the true essence of morality, and the responsibility of society in addressing societal issues.
