A Christmas Carol Quotations

Stave 1
“To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its
distance”
“He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge’s,
that he was all in a glow.” – Fred emits a glow, unlike Scrooge. Heat and light used as
metaphors for good human values
“What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding
yourself a year older but not an hour richer” – Scrooge only values material wealth
“The only time I know of, in the long calendar year, when men and women … think of
people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave.” – Fred to Scrooge
“Are there no prisons?” “Plenty of prisons,” “And the Union workhouses? … are they still in
operation?” “They are. Still, … I wish I could say they were not” “The treadmill and the Poor
Law are in full vigour, then?” “Both very busy, sir.” – Scrooge and Portly gentlemen, shows
how selfish Scrooge is and how little he cares for others
“it’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other
people’s” – Scrooge being selfish and ignorant
“The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at
Scrooge out of a gothic window in the wall, became invisible” – Scrooge losing sight of
Christian values
“Scrooge walked out with a growl” – Animal imagery, Scrooge as inhuman
“I wear the chain I forged in life” – Marley to Scrooge, chain as metaphor for consequences
of actions in the afterlife
“Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy,
forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.” – Both Scrooge and Marley paid too
much attention to their actual business instead of looking after and caring for others.
“Solitary as an oyster” – Shows how Scrooge is isolated and lonely but also that there is a
possibility of something positive to be inside him, metaphor
“He was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone … hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel
had ever struck out generous fire.” – shows Scrooge as a miser, a strict employer, and a
cold-hearted person overall
“External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry
weather chill him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he.” – Scrooge as a bad human
Stave 2
“From the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light.” – light = good values,
good things, light is illuminating for Scrooge what he needs to see in order to reform
“It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the
sheen of which was beautiful” – shows good qualities.
“Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap, and force me
through whole trains of years to wear it low upon my brow!” – Ghost of Christmas Past,
Scrooge and others’ miserliness created this cap through their selfish deed, hiding the
spirit’s goodness
“Your lip is trembling … and what is that upon your cheek?” – Ghost of Christmas Past,
Scrooge has been deeply moved by what the ghost has said and shown him
“’I have come to bring you home dear brother!’ said the child, clapping her tiny hands, and
bending down to laugh. ‘To bring you home, home, home!’” – Fan was very cheerful and has
passed it onto Fred, their father was not very kind before
“He rubbed his hands; adjusted his capacious waistcoat; laughed all over himself, from his
shoes to his organ of benevolence; and called out in a comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial
voice” – about Fezziwig, Scrooge’s old employer, he symbolises abundance, generosity, and
a good employer.
“I should like to say a word or two to my clerk just now” – Scrooge, he realises he should’ve
been treating his employee better and with more kindness and generosity, sign of reform.
“ ‘what idol has displaced you?’ he re-joined. ‘a golden one.’” – Scrooge’s fiancé breaks up
with him as he has lost sight of good moral and Christian values due to his love for money
“ ‘spirit!’ said Scrooge, ‘show me no more! Conduct me home. Why do you delight to
torture me?’” – Scrooge has been deeply impacted by what the ghost has shown him of his
past, and he has extreme regrets of the path he has chosen in life.
“He seized the extinguisher-cap, and by a sudden action pressed it down upon its head. …
but … he could not hide the light: which streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon
the ground.” The spirit’s light symbolises the spirit illuminating Scrooge’s past for him to see
and recognise, and because he has already seen it, the light does not fade.
Stave 3
“Who bore a glowing torch, in a shape not unlike plenty’s horn” – Abundance and
generosity.
“Spirit … conduct me where you will. I went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a
lesson which is working now. Tonight, if you have ought to teach me, let me profit by it.” –
Scrooge is accepting the Ghost of Christmas Present and is willing to learn and change.
“ ‘Would it apply to any kind of dinner on this day?’ asked Scrooge. ‘ To any kindly given. To
a poor one most.’ ‘ Why to a poor one most?’ asked Scrooge. ‘Because it needs it most’” –
Spirit teaching Scrooge that the poor are in need, and he needs to be generous to them.
“Tiny Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny Tim, he bore a little crutch, and had his limbs
supported by an iron frame!” – Tiny Tim is very ill literally, but represents the vulnerability
of the poor metaphorically
“At Bob Cratchit’s elbow stood the family display of glass. Two tumblers, and a custard cup
without a handle.” – Display cabinets usually have prized possessions in them
“If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.” – Ghost of
Christmas Present to Scrooge, links to Malthus, Scrooge’s reply to portly gentlemen earlier
when they asked for charity.
“A place where miners live, who labour in the bowels of the earth” – shows how bad
working conditions were for the poor and the extent of the poverty, also how widespread it
was.
“A light shone from the window of a hut, and swiftly they advanced towards it. Passing
through the wall of mud and stone, they found a cheerful company assembled around a
glowing fire.” – about the miners in the hut, shows bad living conditions for the poor, but
also how they emit light and heat and so have good qualities, and how they are happy and
joyful despite their situation.
“ ‘a disagreeable animal, a savage animal, an animal that growled and grunted sometimes’ …
‘it’s your uncle Scrooge!’” – Ghost of Christmas present showing Scrooge what people think
of him, Fred and the plump sister playing a game of yes and no, Scrooge as inhuman
“It brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable … yellow, meagre,
ragged, scowling, wolfish.” – Descriptions of Ignorance and Want, two allegorical characters
who represent the ignorance of the rich about the situation of the poor, and the want of the
poor for assistance and help.
“ ‘Are they yours?’ Scrooge could say no more. ‘They are Man’s,’ Said the Spirit” – It is the
fault of society that Ignorance and Want have gotten this dire and exceedingly out of hand
“ ‘Have they no refuge or resource?’ cried Scrooge. ‘Are there no prisons?’ said the Spirit
turning on him for the last time with his own words” – Ghost of Christmas Present is making
Scrooge realise the horrible things he has said
Stave 4
“Its mysterious presence filled him with a solemn dread” and “Scrooge feared the silent
shape so much his legs trembled beneath him.” All show how scared Scrooge is of the final
ghost and how it looks like death
“As I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company,
and do it with a thankful heart.” – Scrooge is ready for reform and has accepted the ghosts
“It’s likely to be a cheap funeral … for upon my life I don’t know of anybody to go to it.” –
businessmen in London City discussing Scrooge’s death, shows how nobody liked him
“They left the busy scene, and went into an obscure part of town … The ways were foul and
narrow; the shops and houses wretched; the people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly,
alleys and archways, like so many cesspools,” – list of horrific sounding adjectives to
emphasise the contrast in society caused by the ignorance of the, symbolises the poverty of
people.
“Why wasn’t he natural in his lifetime? If he had been, he’d have had somebody to look
after him when he was struck with death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, by
himself.” – a woman in Old Joe’s place, when someone dies, they are usually with loved
ones and he wasn’t suggesting the way he lived was unnatural, he also experienced a tragic
death
“Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror.” – he realises that no one likes him, and he has
no friends and how miserable his life is, and his death will be if he does not change

Stave 5
“Glowing with good intentions” – Scrooge has reformed
“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more”
“He was checked in his transports by the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he had ever
heard”
“and to Tiny Tim … he was a second father”