Well that's certainly a tawdry and misleading headline, isn't it? I should be ashamed of myself! No, this post isn't about sex with ghosts. I'll leave that to American Horror Story.
This post is about Christmas and the struggle to feel the Christmas spirit when so many things, internal and external, seem to conspire against it every year. But I often find that, when nothing else will summon even a fleeting moment of that Christmas magic, the kind that puts a lump in one's throat, a tear in one's eye, and good will in one's heart, my annual reading of A Christmas Carol and viewing of the film serve to remind me of what is so special about this time of year.
It has to be the 1951 version with Alastair Sim, though, which takes so much of its dialogue and beautiful description directly from the Dickens text. Many actors have tried their luck portraying the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge, but Sim plays the part in a way that makes his transformation both believable and completely satisfying. (And if you've never heard Kathleen Harrison, as Scrooge's housekeeper, Mrs. Dilber, utter the line, "Bed curtains!", you haven't really experienced A Christmas Carol as it was meant to be.)
This story resonates so deeply because I want to believe with all my heart that redemption and forgiveness really are possible. For me, most of all (squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner that I am). For all the kind things I should have said, but didn't, or the unkind things I shouldn't have said, but did. For all of the times when I could have performed a simple act of friendship. For all of the times I should have been more generous. For all of the encouragement I could have offered. For all the times my heart remained closed. Maybe the chain I wear isn't quite as ponderous as Scrooge's, but I did gird it on of my own free will.
You see, I like to think that, perhaps, Scrooge was more of an introvert than a misanthrope. I like to think that it was his own insecurities that isolated him further and further from his fellow human beings, rather than his love of money. I like to think that maybe he suffered more from depression and anxiety than from simple coldheartedness. In other words, I like to think he was human, just like me. And I like to think that all of these barriers can be overcome. Because if it was possible for Scrooge, then surely it is possible for me too.
And so I'll leave you with the lovely and wise final words of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, words that always give me hope that I can become a new and better person. I still fail miserably all the year through, and I know that true transformation is difficult and sporadic at best, but I like to - need to - believe that it can happen, with or without consorting with ghosts.
Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.
Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge.
May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!
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Comments
Not too long ago I actually read the book. Geez that Dickens was good!
:-) / r
Like others, I find your psychoanalysis of Scrooge compelling. Or....was he just part of the 1% who came to some understanding...
Perhaps we, as do you, need to look more at our own attitudes and shortcomings for it is we who enable a world to exist in which there can be "Scrooges".
.
I like what you say about Ebenezer in your second to last paragraph. I think there's both sides of Ebenezer (before and after) in many of us.
Thanks Jeanette. May Christmas find you in the best of spirits. :-)
Well done.
You are already certainly on the good side of any visiting spirits. Happy holidays!
toritto, it's simply the best version there is. And the book! Yes, Dickens was good. There are passages that I just have to read over and over again. Merry Christmas!
Lunchlady, it's so nice to see you here, and I wish you peace in the coming year. You must have a very big heart indeed. Merry Christmas.
Myriad, Scrooge was certainly one of the 1%, but I love how Dickens humanizes everyone. If even he isn't beyond redemption, then think of all the hope for the rest of us! Merry Christmas to you.
Alan, it really is. Many of the things Scrooge says are said in various forms today by those at the very top. I don't think much escaped Dickens' notice. His description of the Cratchits' Christmas dinner is especially perceptive. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
skypixie0, on the other hand, I think it speaks to a great need in all of us to believe that change is possible. We humans are ever hopeful it seems. And, yes, if we all concentrated on righting our own shortcomings, instead of always noticing those of others, we might make some real progress. Merry Christmas!
Scarlett, I'm about ready to steal that last line and put it in my blog. I believe it was intentional that Dickens showed us those parts of Scrooge that are in all of us. The scene where he goes back to his old school is particularly poignant. He knew what it was to be unwanted. Going on 170 years now, I would say that the story is timeless. I hope you enjoy your annual viewing, and have a glass of Bailey's for me. Merry Christmas!
"Having the courage to connect with others is the source of kindness." That's a perfect way to put it, Maureen. And it does take a lot of courage. If it was easy, then everyone would do it and the world would be a lot different. Thanks so much for your comment. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas.
keri, maybe that will be my New Year's Eve post! Thanks for reading, and happy holidays to you too!
Merry Christmas, Dicky! Peace, happiness and goodwill are gifts that people give themselves and others. They come from someplace deep within humanity, and exist independently of any particular theology. I think Dickens knew this, but he wasn't beyond providing a little supernatural intrigue to help the story along!
Helvetica, I'm so glad you liked it. Happy holidays!
Algis, I truly believe it, even if it only happens in fits and starts. Every day can be a clean slate. That seems to be such a universal theme at this time of the year, with things ending and things beginning, and with the time of darkness giving way to the time of light. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas!
If you want to believe with all your heart that redemption and forgiveness are possible, then you must quit the travail and want. You must believe it for it to happen.
Merry Christmas.
Just for the record, I liked the Mr. Magoo version better, but that's just me.
I'm glad you were able to find the holiday spirit.
R
Joan, glad you agree. Reginald Owen? George C. Scott? Bill Murray? I'm afraid not. :-)
aka, I think you've got my number. I turn just about everything into a travail. It seems like there's a world of difference between wanting to believe and actually believing, but all it takes is a little leap of faith. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Trudge, I had totally forgotten about that great thespian, Mr. Magoo! It's true that most of us will never experience the great gift that Jacob Marley was able to procure for Ebenezer Scrooge. We just have to muddle through on our own and hope for the best. I hope you and your family have a great Christmas. I know you're going through some tough times right now, and you have my best wishes for the New Year.
The very human tendencies you mention that close our hearts can cripple us in the realm of doing good. There's a little of Scrooge in all of us, and your post reminds us to be conscious of our limitations but not to beat ourselves up over them.
Incidentally, none of my students snickered at all when we read the line, "Scrooge had no further intercourse with the spirits."
Of course, my scowling look warning them not to do so may have had something to do with it.
Thanks.
Paul, I'm so glad you had your class read the book. You get the beautiful language of Dickens in a manageable length! I very much like the approach of being aware of our limitations but not beating ourselves up over them. Because in beating ourselves up, we just perpetuate a negative cycle. Better to accept ourselves and keep trying to do our best, even knowing that we are "mortal and liable to fall." A Merry Christmas to you!
"There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!"
Merry Christmas to you.
"In other words, I like to think he was human, just like me. And I like to think that all of these barriers can be overcome. Because if it was possible for Scrooge, then surely it is possible for me too." Not just you, all of us.
(Even that curmudgeonly cat scroogepixie0.)
Merry Christmas.