Time in A Christmas Carol

Past, present and future. Scrooge learns that what he did made him, what he does now matters, and the future is not fixed.

The quotes

8 quotes, in the order they happen.

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.

Show me no more!

Scrooge · Stave Two · time · redemption

The past hurts. Scrooge cannot bear to look. He is starting to feel.

If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.

Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility · time

Tiny Tim will die unless something changes. Scrooge is the something.

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.

Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?

Scrooge · Stave Four · time · redemption

Scrooge asks if the future is fixed. He is asking for a second chance.

I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.

Scrooge · Stave Four · time · redemption

He will learn from all three spirits. He will not cut himself off from time again.

I don't know what day of the month it is!

Scrooge · Stave Five · redemption · time

He does not know the date and does not care. Time has stopped being money.