The main reason the spirit is so unearthly is it’s appearance, with its white hair making it aged yet his face is described as having ‘not a wrinkle on it’ making it have an also youthful appearance. The spirit also looks physically fit with strong arms and legs.
The spirit is described to be wearing pure white and holding green holly yet this is contradicted by the fact he is also wearing a ‘dress trimmed with summer flowers’ this being ‘a contradiction of the wintry emblem.' This is representing the summer and winter time of someone's life. This is also not dissimilar to how the spirits age is contradictory. The spirit shows Scrooge sights from his childhood, people known to him and he is saddened to think of his own early Christmases. He is reminded of times which upset him and insists the spirit ‘remove me!’ ‘I cannot bear it!’. The Victorians would see the Spirits light and immediately associate the spirit with innocence and purity of the spirit and its generosity. They would also begin to understand why Scrooge had become miserable as his childhood memories were unpleasant, this would have made the victorians feel sorry for Scrooge.
The second spirit, the ghost of Christmas present is first described as ‘a jolly giant, glorious to see’ with the spirits first words being more like commands ‘look upon me!’. This already shows that the Spirit is unwilling to be ignored and commands attention. The way the spirit is described makes him sound almost like father Christmas, ‘clear kind eyes’ and an ‘honest appearance.' With bare feet and a large protecting green robe. This showed that the spirit is close to Nature and Natural, it also shows us that nothing about him is false, he is very truthful and the Victorians would value these qualities. Dark brown curls, pleasant, cheerful face, sparkling eyes, cheery voice and honest are all words which the author uses to describe this particular spirit. The spirit is also described to be holding an empty sword holder, this represents the spirit is not into violence. Once scrooge steps into the room, it has been transformed, full of food, light and colour representing a celebration, Victorians would see this as having good will to all men. With everything being expensive and lush it almost shows the spirit going to excess. The spirit then says to scrooge ‘come in and know me better’ this again commands attention and shows the ghost is slightly pushy and won’t be ignored. The spirit goes on to show the Christmas at present, it shows him how the poor contend with difficulties and manage. The spirit then sprinkles incense on people if they argued, for Christmas spirit and hope and restoring their goodwill towards each other. The Victorians believed that it was their duty to look after the sick, the poor and the homeless and were most interested in poorer sections of society. Dickens knew that poverty and ignorance in particular were considered bad and unacceptable by the upper and middle classes at the time. Poverty and ignorance were also causing a breakdown of society because the poor turned to crime as the only means out of their hardships. Dickens predicts gloom unless ignorance is ended (through education).
The third and final spirit, the ghost of Christmas Future is said to be ‘covered in a shroud’ this gives the feeling of death and gloom, as dead bodies are covered in shrouds. The phantom itself has no identity, as all to be seen is the shroud and the phantom is said to be ‘grave and silent.' When the spirit does not speak it causes a sinister and threatening feel. This makes the spirit powerful as it brings across the feeling of fear. The phantom shows scrooge what would happen in the future if he was not to change his ways, tiny Tim would pass away and his family would be affected terribly, and when scrooge dies, no one will care, no one will attend his bedside, as they are all, in a way, happy that he has passed away. The people who are around his bedside are seen to be selling all his items and possessions and working out the price they can receive for them. The Victorians were very afraid of death and attended church regularly and believed in a Christian set of values; that is that one should love and care for one’s neighbour. This includes helping the poor, sick and old in society. As part of this belief system, the Victorians held the view that whatever they did in this life would be punished or rewarded in the next life.
In conclusion, Charles Dickens portrayed the Three Spirits of Christmas as examples and warnings to the Victorians. As Scrooge is reminded that he has a responsibility to help others in society, the Victorians would understand this message as a reminder to do the same. Scrooge is warned that if he continues being interested only in money, he will die a lonely and hated man. The Spirit of Christmas yet to come also reminds Scrooge that he will be punished for his meanness in the next life. Victorians strongly believed that what they did in this life would be punished or rewarded in the next. They would understand the message that they must live a ‘God-Fearing life’ if they were to be rewarded after death. The final message to Victorians is that it is never too late to change. Scrooge sees the error of his ways and becomes a changed man, generous and happy to be amongst others. Victorians wanted to improve people and society and they would understand the message that everyone can change for the better.
