When we last saw Scrooge, he was holding on to a bedpost. Luckily, it was his own bedpost. He's back in his bedroom and sees that his bed curtains are not torn down!
Scrooge is so happy to be back at home and finished with the spirits that he laughs and jumps around a lot. He looks out his window and sees a boy going by. He needs to ask the boy what day it is, as he's not sure how long he was with the spirits.
By my calculations, it could be as late as December 28. We started on Christmas Eve with Marley's Ghost. The first of the three spirits was due the next day at 1:00 am, which was presumably an hour after midnight on Christmas Day, so 1:00 am on the 26th. The second came the next night, also at 1:00 am, so the 27th. The the third came at the stroke of midnight on the next night, which I think is still December 27, so when Scrooge awoke the next morning, in theory it would have been the 28th!
But since, as Scrooge notes, the spirits can do anything they like, the boy reports that it's Christmas Day!
So, what does Scrooge have planned for his first Christmas with holiday spirit?
He has that boy buy a prize turkey and sends it anonymously to Bob Cratchit. We don't see the Cratchits that day, so we don't know what they thought of it, but presumably they enjoyed their best Christmas dinner ever!
Scrooge name-drops Joe Miller when thinking about how funny the joke of sending the turkey will be. Joe Miller being a performer of a century before that, known for really, really tired old jokes. An early pop culture reference, if you will!
After he shaves and gets dressed, Scrooge leaves his house, running into the talkative one of the portly gentlemen who had been soliciting for charity. This gives Scrooge a chance to promise a generous donation.
Scrooge then goes to church, which is not shown in most adaptations.
After walking past Fred's house 12 times, he finally has the nerve to ring the bell. He enters and Fred is overjoyed to see him
Dickens points out that everything was as Scrooge had seen it with the Ghost of Christmas Present, including Topper and the plump sister!
Scrooge has the time of his life, but he has one more piece of business to attend to the next morning.
Scrooge arrives at the office the next day, well ahead of Bob Cratchit, who had been making rather merry himself.
Scrooge feigns anger at Bob for being late, but rather than firing him, he raises his salary and promises to assist his family. Even better, he tells Bob to buy another coal-scuttle!
Looking ahead into the future, we learn that Scrooge was true to his word and Tiny Tim did not die!
So, there's a rundown of the major characters and incidents in the original text. We'll be taking a look at the different adaptations and see what elements they use or don't use and what they add in!
Stay tuned - it'll be fun!
Interesting that most versions cut the part where Scrooge goes to church. Why do you think that is?
ReplyDeleteI think it's because nothing happens there to move the story along and they want him to get over to his nephew's house.
ReplyDelete