This year, as the leaves depart from their branches and cover our lawns with their warm colors, I look back on one of the most integral parts of my childhood. Christmastime at the Pudewa household was full of cranberry orange muffins, a tree that filled the house with the incredible aroma of pine, but most memorably, my father reading A Christmas Carol to the whole family.
If you aren’t familiar with the story, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a short novel that follows the mean-spirited and avaricious protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, as he undergoes a profound journey of self-discovery and redemption over the course of one Christmas Eve night. After he climbs into bed, Scrooge is visited by three ghosts of Christmas. Each ghost in turn teaches him an invaluable lesson.
First, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him to visit some of the most traumatic moments of his childhood, events that would shape him into the bitter man he has become. He is forced to watch his own troubled past as he suffers mistreatment and heartbreak. Later that night, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, who takes him to the home of his employee, Bob Cratchit, as he celebrates a meager Christmas with his family as a result of Scrooge’s greedy wages. Here Scrooge sees that Cratchit has a son, Tiny Tim, who is crippled and may not live to make it to the next Christmas dinner. Scrooge watches as Cratchit makes a toast in honor of him, despite how unkind he has been toward his employee. Cratchit’s unconditional graciousness toward Scrooge as well as Tiny Tim’s humility and happiness despite all of his hardships is one of the catalysts for Scrooge’s change of heart. Lastly, he is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, who takes him into the future where the townspeople speak with relief of the death of a horrid old man. Scrooge begs to know who the miserable old man is, at which point the ghost points to a gravestone on which is written, “Ebenezer Scrooge.” Horrified at the reality of the direction his life is headed, he pleads to the ghost, saying that if he will release him of this fate, he will change his ways permanently.
Overall, this classic piece of literature teaches two main morals that should be understood and valued by everyone. The first moral of this story is that no matter how harsh or cold-hearted someone might seem on the outside, everyone has burdens that they carry with them and that affect them deeply. Because we never know what someone may have gone through in the past or is going through currently, it is always important to treat them with love and grace. The second moral is that showing kindness and love to someone, no matter how much you dislike them or how heartless they may seem, has the beautiful ability to change someone’s life. As humans, we have the incredible ability to use our words and actions to influence the lives of those around us, and it is up to us to use this ability for good.
The lessons so clearly illustrated in this book were apparent to me even at a young age and significantly impacted me in a positive way. I also had the opportunity to delve deeper into this story by being a part of the live musical at the young age of five. To this day, A Christmas Carol is still one of my favorite stories. I truly feel that everyone can benefit from reading, discussing, and experiencing this novel—especially together as a family. So if you are looking for an activity this Christmas season to enrich your life and the lives of your family members, look no further. Gather your family around, and read aloud A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
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Ellie Diaz - As the daughter of Andrew Pudewa, Ellie was naturally involved in IEW since it came into existence. After working in Production for over ten years, she can now be found getting back to her roots and honing her skills in the Customer Service department. A central California native, Ellie moved with her family to Oklahoma in 2010. She and her husband are now remodeling a house in Tulsa, where they plan to settle down. She recently graduated from Cosmetology school and plans to eventually pursue a career in professional stage makeup. Ellie enjoys writing, makeup, animals, and adventures. |
