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3. Have fun reading.
1. Be courteous to others' comments.
2. Do NOT reveal future information or the ending of the book if it is not part of the week's assigned reading.
3. Have fun reading.
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What a fun visit to the Cratchit’s home! It tells me that it doesn’t matter what size the present – I mean the pudding is. It matters that a family is all together and enjoying each other and their own family traditions. At this point I am sure I am the oldest writing comments and when I look back on my Christmases whether as a child or an adult I don’t think on what I received but the joy of being with my family. I really cherish the traditions from calling back and forth from our rooms as a child to sing carols together to establishing our own twists to established traditions for my own children.
ReplyDeleteI was touched with Bob Cratchit’s desire to toast his boss Scrooge. Was he showing thankfulness for a job even though he wasn’t treated very fairly or was he showing sympathy for someone who was so poor in the things that he himself enjoyed – family, joy in his days, etc. I hope I am not too much like his wife who was a little hesitant in her generosity to Scrooge. If I am, fortunately she did not withhold her toast but only grumbled a little at first.
Bob teaches us a lot about family and to appreciating what we have. I feel Fred teaches us to take time to enjoy life – something that Scrooge has forgotten how to do. I like Fred’s comment “He’s a comical old fellow, that’s the truth, and not so pleasant as he might be. However, his offences carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him.” His way of saying we are our own worst enemy. We shut ourselves off from others we don’t punish them but only ourselves.
Through the whole “present journey” I was thinking of how often you hear “if only I could be a fly on the wall”. We might learn more than we planned which isn’t always bad.
They travel long distances and no matter where they go or how poor the people they are happy and celebrating. Then suddenly he shows “ignorance” and “want”. How effective! What a contrast and how simply he lets Scrooge know that he (we) were given a chance to help but he cruelly rejected it. Another lesson to learn.
Is there significance in the fact that as the Spirit of Christmas Present is leaving the Spirit of Christmas Future is arriving. There was space between the first two. Is he reminding us not to procrastinate for our future starts NOW.
As I read this chapter, I thought about how painful it may have been for Scrooge to witness all this merriment, but is not a part of it because of his choices. You can see his eagerness to join the festivities, especially at his nephew's, eventhough his is the cause of many of their jokes.
ReplyDeleteI also thought about the physical differences between the Ghost of Christmas Past and Ghost of the Christmas Present. The ghost of the past is described to be the size of a small child whereas the ghost of the present is a gian. Does anyone have any thoughts of why this is?
In answer to Emily. Could it be that the past fades. We think on it from time to time and it makes us what we are but is small in our everyday consciousness whereas the present consumes us. For many the present is everything.
ReplyDeleteDad says that there are many things in the past that are very significant but many are insignificant for the present. The present is full or many things we are involved in and choices we have to make. It can become big and overwelming.
Sounds good to me!
ReplyDeleteWhy does the Ghost of Christmas Present have an "antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust." What point was Dickens trying to make?
ReplyDeleteEmily asked the question about the size difference of the 1st and 2nd ghosts, in which I agree with what Rosena said. But what is with the age difference? Is it just to show the past as old and the present is prime. Why is it that the 2nd one ages so quickly? Is it to illustrate that the present is such a short time?
I really like Fred. I like how Dickens show Fred's Love and concern for his Uncle Scrooge, even when he is treated poorly by him. It is so easy, when someone offends us, to become bitter and hold a grudge against them? We see a bit of it in Mrs. Cratchet and even in Scrooge’s niece. We learn a couple things from Fred. Like Rosena mentioned, we learn that someone like Scrooge is punishing himself by the way he acts, but we also learn that we too suffer and unless we forgive the offender. Perhaps we just have to give them the benefit of the doubt, or (even better) we can be like Fred and be willing to look deeper and try to understand the one offending. That is how we learn to love the--Just as Fred loves his Ornery Uncle.
Lana, in regards to your theory of the ages of the two first spirits, yes I agree.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the ghost of the past is said to be a very old man, but interestingly, Scrooge said that he had a young glow about him. Is this because when we lived in the past, we were younger...but in the present (as the ghost of of the past was) we are old? Hmm...
Emily,
ReplyDelete"Young glow" makes me think of our countenance. It reminds me of the phrase “child at heart” or the pureness or goodness of a child. When we think of our younger years, things were less complicated and things don't start weighing down on us so much. As the years continue we tend to become less pure and more complicated. Especially if we have made a lot of wrong turns. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that perhaps the “young glow” of the Spirit Past symbolizes the pureness of our youth.
I have been thinking about the scabbard. It too bothered me. However,I think that the significants of it having no sword and being eaten up with rust speaks of the spirt of Christmas in general. It is loving with no animosity for anyone. There is no need for a sword. It makes me think of the story of the soldiers on the two sides singing "Silent Night" and having a non negotiated peace for a Christmas Eve and Christmas day during WWII. No weapons for Christmas. Is the empty rusting scabbard a reminder of "peace of earth, goodwill towards man"?
ReplyDeleteOk, first of all, WOW! - you all have had a good discussion going this week! I've enjoyed all your questions and thoughts. It's cool to know we are all thinking and trying to find meaning. I like what everyone has contributed. I had a harder time with this chapter myself. I wasn't sure what this ghost was all about. What did he represent as he was sprinkling everyone with his torch? Was he good will? I also had trouble understanding Srooge's confusion with why he though the spirit was cramping the people's opportunites of innocencent enjoyment,and was depriving them of their means of dining every seventh day. I was totally lost. Scrooge said it was done in the spirits name or at least in that of the spirits family. HUH??
ReplyDeleteOther than that, I really loved how Scrooge was so engaged with the games his nephew were playing with his friends. It showed me there was a light, however dim, in Scrooge, that there was still a playful side to him like when he was a boy. It shows me Scrooge has lost his way, but there is a glimmer of hope left. I also liked how Bob Cratchit and Scrooge's nephew show sympathy for Scrooge despite how poorly Scrooge had treated them.
I must admit that I was a bit slow reading this chapter, all the goodies we were making and the project that I set up for myself took a lot of my time. However I sat down earlier today and finished it right away.
ReplyDeleteI was touched most with the time when the Ghost repeated the words that Scrooge had said earlier that day. I can't imagine what sort of regreat one would feel after such happens. It makes you think twice about what you say.
Elisa, I might be able to help with that. I had to go and read that part a second time as well, but I believe that he was indeed spilling out joy and good feelings. For instance when the two bumped into each other and were about to exchange mean words, but after the Ghost sprinkled the gold dust on them they were no longer angry but held the joy of the spirit of Christmas.
I believe when he was saying that they were deprived of the means of dining I believe he was talking about work. They were deprived of work and thus deprived of the meony that would pay for the meal that evening. He was asking how, and why, the spirit thought it was helping the poor when instead it was stopping them from being able to work and take care of their family without the money that they would get, which is why the spirit responded about greed and other such sins that make the days less jolly.
Excellent comment Andrea! That makes much more sense to me. I think you are right. It is nice to understand now Thank you!
ReplyDelete