The supernatural in A Christmas Carol

A dead partner in chains. Three spirits. Dickens uses ghosts to make Scrooge look at his life.

The quotes

9 quotes, in the order they happen.

Marley was dead: to begin with.

Narrator · Stave One · the supernatural

The first line. Dickens wants you sure of this, so the ghost later is a real shock.

I wear the chain I forged in life

Marley · Stave One · greed · the supernatural · responsibility

Marley made his own chain. Every greedy thing he did is a link in it.

I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate

Marley · Stave One · redemption · the supernatural

Marley comes to give Scrooge a way out. Three spirits will come.

There's more of gravy than of grave about you

Scrooge · Stave One · the supernatural

Scrooge jokes that the ghost is just bad food. He is scared and pretending not to be.

The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went

Narrator · Stave One · the supernatural · responsibility

Scrooge sees hundreds of ghosts in chains. They want to help the poor but cannot. It is too late for them.

I am the Ghost of Christmas Past.

Ghost of Christmas Past · Stave Two · time · the supernatural

The first spirit. It shows Scrooge his own past.

a jolly Giant, glorious to see

Narrator · Stave Three · christmas · the supernatural

The Ghost of Christmas Present is joy itself, dressed in green.

The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently, approached.

Narrator · Stave Four · the supernatural · time

The last spirit does not speak. It just points. That is scarier.

I fear you more than any spectre I have seen.

Scrooge · Stave Four · time · the supernatural

Scrooge is most afraid of the future. That is where he still has a chance.