This is an interesting element of the story I hadn't paid much attention to before--Marley really came through for Scrooge. He could have thought "he should suffer as I did, he was just as guilty as me" but instead went out of his way to "scare straight" his old pal, and give him a chance for redemption. Most people probably don't think of "A Christmas Carol" as a story of friendship, but it works!
Very different from "American Werewolf in London" where the Dr. Pepper kid got haunted by his friend he'd murdered as a werewolf--Griffin Dunne seemed more pissed at Dr. Pepper for murdering him than anything else. But Marley seems to be interested in redeeming his friend, unlike in "It's a Wonderful Life" where that mercenary angel, Clarence, seems to be in it just to earn his wings. Clarence, maybe you could save a guy from killing himself just because it's the right thing to do!
I'd love to see a version of Dickens' story that really digs deeper into the theme of their friendship.
Great post for Christmas week. I love this story, but have to admit that I forget that Scrooge had one friend before his redemption, and that friend, Marley, was the catalyst for Scrooge's redemption. Also, I hate it when people call selfish, evil people Scrooges, because it misses that Scrooge reformed. Someone who was selfish, but reforms, is a true Scrooge. Why is it that we concentrate on the bad, instead of the good?
That's a good point--it completely misses his redemption. Scrooge is a man who can, and does, improve!
It's similar to people pejoratively referring to black people who they think are too deferential to whites as "Uncle Tom". What stood out to me in the novel was that Uncle Tom refused to run away with the others when he had a chance, but covered for them so they could make their escape, and let himself be tortured to death rather than reveal anything he knew about the escapees. He's the hero of the novel, if anything. Really sours the idea of using his name as an insult.
Calling someone a "Fredo" (from the Godfather) makes a bit more sense--Fredo is a bit of a fuckup, everyone knew he was well-meaning but couldn't get anything right. He was tasked with driving his father when the traitor Paulie called in sick, and of course despite being armed was completely unable to help when Solozzo's assassins showed up. He then undermines Michael at every turn. Oh, Fredo! Get it together, man!
I've always liked this story--a tale of redemption, great story arc, enables you to see how Scrooge became what he was, could face up to it, and atone for it--that at no point in life is it ever too late to save yourself.
Fun fact--the real person Dickens based the Scrooge character off of was indeed very frugal, but only with himself--he spent almost nothing on his own clothes, food and shelter, but was apparently generous with others, often making loans with no expectation of repayment.
My first introduction to this story was with the Mr. Magoo version. I saw it as a kid, had no idea it was based on an old story, and just thought "wow, what a deep episode of Mr. Magoo."
The Alister Simm version is my favorite. It plays out Marley's visit a little bit longer than most other versions do. And you learned that Marley's hell is being unable to help other people. There's that scene of all of the ghosts in the street and Marley throwing coins at them that they can either see nor hear Clinging on the street. Really haunting and poignant.
Thank you, Stephen. We, including our adult kids who don't live near us anymore, just completed a joint watch of the only Christmas movie our 27 year old son will watch - Muppets Christmas Carol. Though the movie leaves out fear and want, it drives the point home.
Side note - our daughter first saw the movie when she was 3 (1992, at the theater). For the longest time, she thought there were two Marleys.
This is just brilliant, Stephen. You brought me to tears. Gonna save and re-read this post a lot. You just gave us all a beautiful Christmas gift. Thank you ❤️🎄
Also, gonna find one of these older adaptations of “A Christmas Carol” to watch. “Scrooged” is my go-to classic take, but a refresher on the original story is now called for.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Nothing deep or introspective for me here yet (I may think of something more fitting as a comment for this, yet another wonderful article, SER) but last Thursday I presented my quiz at the pub and, of course, it was the annual Christmas quiz. My last round is what I call a "wipeout" round, in which teams don't have to answer everything, but one incorrect answer and all their points for that round are wiped out. Most were relatively easy questions, and the last was "In 'A Christmas Carol,' which is the first ghost to visit Ebenezer Scrooge?" I caught a lot of people out, as most confidently answered "The ghost of Christmas past." I'm so mean, lol!
Beautifully done, Mr. Robinson.
Thanks!
That was beautiful 🥲❤️🌟
That was beautiful 🥲❤️🌟
Thank you!
Absolutely wonderful. Thanks SER.
This is an interesting element of the story I hadn't paid much attention to before--Marley really came through for Scrooge. He could have thought "he should suffer as I did, he was just as guilty as me" but instead went out of his way to "scare straight" his old pal, and give him a chance for redemption. Most people probably don't think of "A Christmas Carol" as a story of friendship, but it works!
Very different from "American Werewolf in London" where the Dr. Pepper kid got haunted by his friend he'd murdered as a werewolf--Griffin Dunne seemed more pissed at Dr. Pepper for murdering him than anything else. But Marley seems to be interested in redeeming his friend, unlike in "It's a Wonderful Life" where that mercenary angel, Clarence, seems to be in it just to earn his wings. Clarence, maybe you could save a guy from killing himself just because it's the right thing to do!
I'd love to see a version of Dickens' story that really digs deeper into the theme of their friendship.
Great post for Christmas week. I love this story, but have to admit that I forget that Scrooge had one friend before his redemption, and that friend, Marley, was the catalyst for Scrooge's redemption. Also, I hate it when people call selfish, evil people Scrooges, because it misses that Scrooge reformed. Someone who was selfish, but reforms, is a true Scrooge. Why is it that we concentrate on the bad, instead of the good?
Same with the Grinch!
True!
That's a good point--it completely misses his redemption. Scrooge is a man who can, and does, improve!
It's similar to people pejoratively referring to black people who they think are too deferential to whites as "Uncle Tom". What stood out to me in the novel was that Uncle Tom refused to run away with the others when he had a chance, but covered for them so they could make their escape, and let himself be tortured to death rather than reveal anything he knew about the escapees. He's the hero of the novel, if anything. Really sours the idea of using his name as an insult.
Calling someone a "Fredo" (from the Godfather) makes a bit more sense--Fredo is a bit of a fuckup, everyone knew he was well-meaning but couldn't get anything right. He was tasked with driving his father when the traitor Paulie called in sick, and of course despite being armed was completely unable to help when Solozzo's assassins showed up. He then undermines Michael at every turn. Oh, Fredo! Get it together, man!
True - on both counts.
I've always liked this story--a tale of redemption, great story arc, enables you to see how Scrooge became what he was, could face up to it, and atone for it--that at no point in life is it ever too late to save yourself.
Fun fact--the real person Dickens based the Scrooge character off of was indeed very frugal, but only with himself--he spent almost nothing on his own clothes, food and shelter, but was apparently generous with others, often making loans with no expectation of repayment.
My first introduction to this story was with the Mr. Magoo version. I saw it as a kid, had no idea it was based on an old story, and just thought "wow, what a deep episode of Mr. Magoo."
The Alister Simm version is my favorite. It plays out Marley's visit a little bit longer than most other versions do. And you learned that Marley's hell is being unable to help other people. There's that scene of all of the ghosts in the street and Marley throwing coins at them that they can either see nor hear Clinging on the street. Really haunting and poignant.
Thank you, Stephen. We, including our adult kids who don't live near us anymore, just completed a joint watch of the only Christmas movie our 27 year old son will watch - Muppets Christmas Carol. Though the movie leaves out fear and want, it drives the point home.
Side note - our daughter first saw the movie when she was 3 (1992, at the theater). For the longest time, she thought there were two Marleys.
This is just brilliant, Stephen. You brought me to tears. Gonna save and re-read this post a lot. You just gave us all a beautiful Christmas gift. Thank you ❤️🎄
Also, gonna find one of these older adaptations of “A Christmas Carol” to watch. “Scrooged” is my go-to classic take, but a refresher on the original story is now called for.
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Nothing deep or introspective for me here yet (I may think of something more fitting as a comment for this, yet another wonderful article, SER) but last Thursday I presented my quiz at the pub and, of course, it was the annual Christmas quiz. My last round is what I call a "wipeout" round, in which teams don't have to answer everything, but one incorrect answer and all their points for that round are wiped out. Most were relatively easy questions, and the last was "In 'A Christmas Carol,' which is the first ghost to visit Ebenezer Scrooge?" I caught a lot of people out, as most confidently answered "The ghost of Christmas past." I'm so mean, lol!
Yes, they always forget Marley!
I enjoy trivia questions like that, where the right answer is obvious but often overlooked.
And that's how a lot of "my quizzers" end up not writing an answer to a question in the wipeout round because "it just seemed too obvious."