Background.
- ‘He tried to say “Humbug!” but stopped at the first syllable‘ is a quotation from A Christmas Carol (Stave 1).
- A Christmas Carol is a novella, or short story, written by Charles Dickens and first published in the Christmas of 1843. The allegorical tale tells the story of the transformation of the mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge through the visits of the spirit of his former business partner and three ghosts over the course of a Christmas Eve night. It remains a much-loved traditional Christmas tale.
Context.
This quote is a description of Ebenezer Scrooge and appears in the last paragraph of Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol. Scrooge has been visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who died seven years prior to the setting of the story. Still in disbelief at the apparition before him, Scrooge becomes aware that Marley is not the only supernatural presence that evening when he hears the wailing of other ghosts outside.
Like Marley, these ghosts also doomed to wander the Earth regretting the actions they did in life. Scrooge goes to the window and witnesses the air … filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, including one man known to him – now with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle – who is tormented at being unable to help a poor woman and her child on a doorstep near to Scrooge’s house. Having finished his visit to Scrooge, the ghost of Jacob Marley joins the other ghosts floating the in the air outside. As Scrooge closes the window, he is about to dismiss the apparition with the word Humbug, a common word at the time to rubbish something and one we have already seen Scrooge use more than once that evening. but stops at the first part, Hum…. This could be because of Scrooge’s tiredness, or it could hint at the first signs of his path to redemption, being frightened enough to stop his own normal negative manner in its tracks.
Source.
Taken from the following passage in Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol:
The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open.
It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley’s Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. Scrooge stopped.
Not so much in obedience, as in surprise and fear: for on the raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night.
Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. He looked out.
The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Marley’s Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives. He had been quite familiar with one old ghost, in a white waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below, upon a door-step. The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power for ever.
Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. But they and their spirit voices faded together; and the night became as it had been when he walked home.
Scrooge closed the window, and examined the door by which the Ghost had entered. It was double-locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. He tried to say “Humbug!” but stopped at the first syllable. And being, from the emotion he had undergone, or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose; went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant.
Characters.
Ebenezer Scrooge.
Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the most famous characters created by Charles Dickens and arguably one of the most famous in English literature. The protagonist of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge is a cold-hearted and mean-spirited accountant. His business partner, the equally mean Jacob Marley, died seven years previous and he lives alone, having never married. Through a visit one Christmas Eve by the ghost of Marley and three subsequent spirits, Scrooge is awakened to his meanness and the impact it has on others.
- The term Scrooge has entered the English Language to represent a mean person, known as a literary neologism. Neologisms are relatively recent terms, words, or phrases in the process of entering common use. Other examples of Dickens’s neologisms include butterfingers (to mean a clumsy person) and doormat (a metaphor for taking advantage of a person).
- In a poll to find the most popular Charles Dickens character, Ebenezer Scrooge was revealed to be the best-loved, beating other well-known characters from the writer including Pip (Great Expectations), Oliver (Oliver Twist), and Sydney Carton (A Tale of Two Cities). The survey, by Penguin Books, was commissioned in 2012 to mark the 200th anniversary of the author’s birth.
- In screen adaptations of A Christmas Carol, the character of Ebenezer Scrooge has been played by actors that include Alastair Sim (1951 film), Albert Finney (1970 musical film), Michael Hordern (1977 TV Movie), George C. Scott (1984 TV Movie), Michael Caine (1992 musical fantasy film), Patrick Stewart (1999 TV Movie) and Guy Pearce (2019 TV Mini-Series). Michael Hordern had previously appeared alongside Alastair Sim in the 1951 film (titled Scrooge), this time playing the character of Jacob Marley.
Jacob Marley.
In life, Jacob Marley was the business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge. Together, as the firm of Scrooge and Marley, they became successful yet hard-hearted bankers, with seats on the London Stock Exchange. Seven years to the day of his death, on a Christmas Eve, Marley’s ghost visits Scrooge. Bound in chains and tormented, the ghost is doomed to wander the earth forever as punishment for his greed and selfishness when he was alive. Marley visits Scrooge to offer him redemption from his own fate, in the hope of changing his mean ways. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit that night.
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Related.
- If you like this, we think you might also be interested in these related quotations:
The Circumlocution Office2022-10-07T14:14:33+01:00Categories: A Christmas Carol|Tags: Humbug, Redemption, Self-doubt|
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I am an enthusiast with a deep understanding of Charles Dickens and his works. My knowledge extends to various aspects of Dickens's life, including his family, friends, literary works, and the social context in which he wrote. I can provide insights into Dickens's characters, themes, and the historical background of his writings.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article about Charles Dickens and specifically focus on the quote "He tried to say 'Humbug!' but stopped at the first syllable" from "A Christmas Carol."
This quote is from the first stave of "A Christmas Carol," where Ebenezer Scrooge, the protagonist, has just encountered the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley. The ghost warns Scrooge about his impending fate and the visitation of three spirits. The quote captures a moment when Scrooge, about to dismiss the supernatural encounter with his usual "Humbug," hesitates and stops at the first syllable.
Let's break down the relevant concepts:
-
A Christmas Carol:
- A novella written by Charles Dickens, first published in 1843.
- The story revolves around the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly character, through encounters with ghosts on Christmas Eve.
-
Ebenezer Scrooge:
- Protagonist of "A Christmas Carol."
- Initially portrayed as cold-hearted and mean-spirited.
- Undergoes a transformation throughout the story.
-
Jacob Marley:
- Former business partner of Scrooge.
- Appears as a ghost bound in chains, condemned to wander the earth as punishment for his past actions.
- Warns Scrooge of his own fate and the need for redemption.
-
Humbug:
- A term used by Scrooge to dismiss things as nonsense or deception.
- The quote reflects a moment of hesitation in Scrooge's typical dismissive attitude, hinting at a potential change in his character.
-
Neologisms by Dickens:
- The term "Scrooge" has entered the English language to represent a mean-spirited person, showcasing Dickens's influence on language.
- Dickens is known for creating neologisms, including "butterfingers" and "doormat."
This analysis provides a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Dickens's literary world, exploring characters, themes, and the enduring impact of his writings on language and culture. If you have specific questions or if there's a particular aspect you'd like to explore further, feel free to let me know.
