4.3. Selfishness
Another of bad moral of Scrooge is selfishness. Every year Fred, his nephew always comes to invite him dinner in Christmas day, but he always rejects it. He
would prefer chose to manage his business than gather with his family in Christmas Eve. Scrooge do not like Christmas and said it as humbug. Actually, when he was
young, he used to like Christmas, but after he be a rich man, he forgets this Christmas. Scrooge has thrown Christmas out from his mind and do not care anymore for Fred,
his only family. He thinks that Christmas cannot give a wealth, so that it is in vain for Fred to celebrate Christmas every year because he still poor enough. Here can be seen
that Scrooge do not realize that a family is very important for him. He do not know
that with family he can share everything, sadness, happiness, and success. Although
he has so much money, it is in vain because money can not help him when he alone in a problem. It can be proved from quote below:
“A merry Christmas, uncle God save you” cried a cheerful voice. It was the voice of Scrooge’s nephew, who came upon
him so quickly that this was the first intimation he had of his approach.
“Bah” said Scrooge, “Humbug” “Christmas a humbug, uncle” said Scrooge’s nephew. “You
don’t mean that, I am sure?” “I do,” said Scrooge. “Merry Christmas What right have you
to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.
“Don’t be angry, uncle. Come Dine with us to-morrow.” … “Nay, uncle, but you never came to see me before that
happened. Why give it as a reason for not coming now?” Dickens 1983: 11
When the donation collectors approach Scrooge expecting a donation to help the poor at Christmas, he insists that he has done his duty to the poor by supporting
the government establishments that provide aid. He refuses to help any further by giving some money because he has done the necessary minimum, and that is all he
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must do. Scrooge is too selfish. Scrooge sees nothing wrong with refusing to donate to charity because he believes that people who need of charity are all idle. Scrooge
rejects to give charity for donating collectors. He shows his selfishness by said that the poor is not his business. He chooses to see them die so that can decrease surplus
population. Quote below shows his selfishness for people around him especially for poor people:
“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,” said the gentleman, taking up a pen, “it is more than usu`ally desirable
that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Many
thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.” …
We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put
you down for?” “Nothing” Scrooge replied.
“You wish to be anonymous?” “I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what
I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don’t make merry myself at Christmas and I can’t afford to make idle people
merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned— they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.”
“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.” “If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it,
and decrease the surplus population. Besides—excuse me—I don’t know that.”
“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman. “It’s not my business,” Scrooge returned. “It’s enough for a
man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon,
gentlemen” Dickens 1983:13
The ghost of Christmas present shows him that Tiny Tim; Chrachit’s young son will die. Scrooge is saddened. The Ghost of Christmas Present reminds him that
when the collectors came to ask for a donation for the poor, Scrooge told them that those who were dying should go ahead and do it to decrease the population. Looking
at Tiny Tim makes him realize that he was wrong to make such a statement and that
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those he might well consider an unnecessary surplus, could very well be those like Tim. He regrets for his selfishness, it can be seen in quote below:
“I see a vacant seat,” replied the Ghost, “in the poor chimney- corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If
these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.”
“No, no,” said Scrooge. “Oh, no, kind Spirit say he will be spared.”
“If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race,” returned the Ghost, “will find him here. What then?
If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief. Dickens
1983:56
The ghost of Christmas present takes Scrooge to the slum area; walk around to
see the poor one. The ghost showing him the poor boy and girl, to see his empathy for
them, but Scrooge prevent and try to say that them is well. He minds to help them. He still showing his selfishness and it can be seen in this quote:
“Oh, Man look here. Look, look, down here” exclaimed the Ghost.
They were a boy and girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful
youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of
age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked,
and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries
of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread. Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in
this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such
enormous magnitude.Dickens 1983:66
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4.4. Kindness
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