English resources/A Christmas Carol/Scrooge
Scrooge
A cold, greedy old man. Alone. Three ghosts show him his life. He changes.
The quotes
32 quotes by or about Scrooge, in the order they happen.
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge!
Narrator · Stave One · greed · isolation
Scrooge holds on to money hard. He grinds people down.
Hard and sharp as flint
Narrator · Stave One · isolation · greed
Flint is a cold stone. It can make a spark, but Scrooge never lets one out.
solitary as an oyster
Narrator · Stave One · isolation
Shut tight. Alone. But an oyster can hold a pearl. Dickens leaves that hope in.
Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug!"
Scrooge · Stave One · christmas · isolation
Humbug means nonsense. Scrooge thinks Christmas is nonsense.
If I could work my will
Scrooge · Stave One · christmas · greed
If he had his way, every fool who says merry Christmas would be boiled with his own pudding.
Are there no prisons?
Scrooge · Stave One · poverty · responsibility
Two men ask him for money for the poor. He asks if the prisons are still open. That is his answer.
If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Scrooge · Stave One · poverty · responsibility · greed
Let the poor die. There are too many people anyway. The worst thing he says.
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.
A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.
Ghost of Christmas Past · Stave Two · isolation · family
Young Scrooge, alone at school at Christmas. We see why he became cold.
I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now
Scrooge · Stave Two · redemption · responsibility
After seeing Fezziwig's party, Scrooge thinks of Bob. The first crack in him.
He has the power to render us happy or unhappy
Scrooge · Stave Two · responsibility · family
Scrooge sees that a boss can make his workers happy or miserable. It costs almost nothing.
Another idol has displaced me
Belle · Stave Two · greed · isolation
His young love leaves him. Money has taken her place.
Show me no more!
Scrooge · Stave Two · time · redemption
The past hurts. Scrooge cannot bear to look. He is starting to feel.
If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
The ghost says Scrooge's own words back to him. Now they are about a child he knows.
I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!
Bob Cratchit · Stave Three · family · responsibility
Bob toasts Scrooge at Christmas dinner. Bob is kind even to his mean boss.
The Founder of the Feast indeed!
Mrs Cratchit · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
Mrs Cratchit will not toast him. She knows how little he pays.
I am sorry for him; I couldn't be angry with him if I tried.
Fred · Stave Three · family · redemption · christmas
Fred feels sorry for his uncle, not angry. He keeps inviting him.
Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words.
Ghost of Christmas Present · Stave Three · poverty · responsibility
Again the ghost uses Scrooge's words. Scrooge is ashamed.
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.
Old Scratch has got his own at last, hey?
A businessman · Stave Four · isolation · greed
Men joke about a dead man. The devil has him now. It is Scrooge, but he does not know yet.
It's likely to be a very cheap funeral
A businessman · Stave Four · isolation
No one will go to the funeral unless lunch is free. That is what his life adds up to.
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 honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.
Scrooge · Stave Four · redemption · christmas
His promise. Christmas every day, in how he treats people.
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 am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy.
Scrooge · Stave Five · redemption · christmas
He wakes up and he is a new man. He talks like a child.
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.
A merry Christmas, Bob!
Scrooge · Stave Five · redemption · family · christmas
He says it to his clerk with a real smile and raises his pay.
He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew
Narrator · Stave Five · redemption · responsibility
How the story ends. Friend, boss, man. Good at all three.
to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father.
Narrator · Stave Five · family · redemption · poverty
Tiny Tim lives. Scrooge makes sure of it.
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