Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
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The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (also known as The Ghost of Christmas Future) is a character in English novelist Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The Ghost, never spoke or identified itself by name; but, in the original book, Scrooge initially called it 'The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, and, later, “Ghost of the Future'.[1]
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the last of the three spirits (after the visitation by Jacob Marley) that haunt the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to adopt a more caring attitude in life and avoid the horrid afterlife of Marley. Most people find the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come the most fearsome of the spirits; it appeared to Scrooge as a figure entirely muffled in a black hooded robe, except for a single gaunt hand with which it pointed. Although the character never speaks in the story, Scrooge seems to be able to get its messages, usually as assumptions due to his previous experiences. The Ghost's general appearance suggests that the Ghost might really be the Grim Reaper.
"The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came near him, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. ... It thrilled him [Scrooge] with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black."
When the Ghost makes its appearance, the first thing it shows Scrooge is three wealthy gentlemen making light of a recent death, who remark that it'll be a cheap funeral, and they'd only go if lunch was provided. Next, Scrooge is shown the same dead person's belongings being stolen and pawned. He also sees a shrouded corpse, which he implores the ghost not to unmask, and a poor, debtor family rejoicing that someone to whom they owed money is dead. After pleading to the ghost to see some tenderness connected with death, Scrooge is shown Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the passing of Tiny Tim. Scrooge is then taken to the local churchyard, where he is shown his own grave, and realizes that the dead man of whom the others spoke ill was himself. Implied, however, is that the future does not have to be — but Scrooge must change himself if he is to change his future.
In the 1983 Disney film version of the story (Mickey's Christmas Carol), the Ghost was played by Black Pete. In the 1970 film Scrooge, the Ghost pulled back its hood and sleeves, revealing a skeletonized individual. The ghost's true appearance startles Scrooge and causes him to fall into his grave. And in a recent radio adaptation, the Ghost speaks.
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[edit] References
Hearn, Michael P. (1989). The Annotated Christmas Carol / A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens; illustrated by John Leach; with an introduction, notes and bibliography by Michael Patrick Hearn. Avenel Books. New York. ISBN: 0-517-68780-1.
Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol (and Other Christmas Writings). Edited introduction by Michael Slater. Penguin Classics
