GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST
The Ghost of Christmas Past is the first of the three spirits to visit Scrooge. His appearance is full of contradictions (opposites) giving the ghost a mysterious nature. Its "purest white" and "soft" appearance give the reader an immediate impression the ghost is a force for good. It bright "jet of light" also suggests that it will shine truth on Scrooge's nature.
The ghost takes Scrooge on a journey through his childhood and shows him the experiences, both positive and negative, that formed him.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS
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His initial appearance and description
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Taking Scrooge to see himself at school. A "solitary child" with no friends and an absent father
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Taking Scrooge to see his work as an apprentice with the kid and generous Fezziwig as a boss
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Taking Scrooge to see his ex-fiance Belle, who ends it telling him that money has become his one true love
PURPOSE
The ghost shows us how our experiences in life are formative to who we become. Scrooge has forgotten the lessons of characters like Fezziwig but become bitter with his experiences of rejection. The rejection of his father, the death of his sister, the ending of his relationship with Belle. He now pushes others away so as to avoid experiencing loss again.
It also allows Scrooge to place himself in the position he now places others. Seeing himself as the lonely child at school reminds him of that carol singer he threatened earlier in the day. Seeing his sister Fan, reminds him of how he treats her son, his nephew, Fred.
STRETCH VOCAB
Paradoxical
Ephemeral
Amaranthine
Omniscient
Enigmatic
Oracular
