Ghost of Christmas Present
The Ghost of Christmas Present is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. The Ghost is one of three spirits that appear to miser Ebenezer Scrooge to offer him a chance of redemption.
| Ghost of Christmas Present | |
|---|---|
| A Christmas Carol character | |
The Ghost of Christmas Present and Ebenezer Scrooge - illustration by John Leech (1843). | |
| Created by | Charles Dickens |
| Alias |
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| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Spirit of Christmas |
| Relatives |
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Following a visit from the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, Scrooge receives nocturnal visits from three Ghosts of Christmas, each representing a different period in Scrooge's life. The Ghost of Christmas Present is concerned with Scrooge's current life and the present Christmas Day.
The Ghost of Christmas Present is presented as a personification of the Christmas spirit, and in the novella's first edition hand-coloured drawing by John Leech resembles early-Victorian images of Father Christmas. The spirit first appears to Scrooge on a throne made of traditional Christmas foodstuffs that would have been familiar to Dickens's more prosperous readers.
The spirit becomes the mouthpiece for Dickens's view on social reform and Christian charity: generosity and goodwill to all men – especially to the poor – and celebration of Christmas Day.