Twinkling lights, chilly nights, beautifully wrapped gifts, and tall decorated evergreen trees are just a few of the images that come to mind when one thinks about the Christmas season. In some parts of the world, Christmas just isn’t Christmas without a blanket of white snow on the ground. In other places,it is about church services and silent prayers. Christmas is one of the major holidays around the world because it has become much more than a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. t has become a time for joy and togetherness no matter what your religion may be or where you arelocated. Throughout literature, countless Christmas stories have talked about the magic of Christmas and its meaning in people’s lives. However, few of them are as famous and well-loved as A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
First published in December of 1843, A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, 1)greedy businessman who has no time for charity for anyone. The perfect example of this is the relationship Scrooge has with his employee, Bob Cratchit. Although Cratchit is a kind, soft-spoken, and loyal man, Scrooge treats him with impatience and cold-heartedness.
Dickens was inspired to write A Christmas Carol for several reasons including the new-found popularity with old Christmas traditions, especially those found in the writings of Washington Irving. Dickens’ troubles while growing up were another source, which mainly helped shape Ebenezer Scrooge’s character. The third major inspiration was the 2)plight of the poor, particularly poor children. In some ways,Dickens hoped that the coming together for Christmas 3)festivities could create more harmonybetween the social classes.
The plot of A Christmas Carol is a transforming journey. On the night before Christmas, Ebenezer Scrooge is warned that he will be visited by three spirits. Although 4)startled by the vision, Scrooge dismisses it and goes to bed. Not long after, Scrooge is woken up by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who reminds him of the young man he used to be. Scrooge remembers with joy the people he loved and the fun he used to have.
The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present. This spirit takes Scrooge to the home of Bob Cratchit, where he finds the Cratchit family very poor but very kind. Scrooge takes a special interest in Cratchit’s youngest son, Tiny Tim, who has a big heart and 5)boisterous spirit despite being crippled. The final spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Scrooge sees the death of Cratchit’s young son. He also sees his own passing, and no one cares or has a kind word to say about him. Terrified and ashamed, Scrooge wakes up to find it is Christmas morning. He immediately sets out to change his ways and future, beginning first with Bob Cratchit and his family.
Scrooge’s journey from 6)miser to 7)Samaritan gives spotlight to the true meaning most people attach to Christmas. It’s not about how rich you are in possessions, but how rich you are in love and family. Undoubtedly, this is the reason A Christmas Carol has stood the test of time and will hold a special place in thehearts of all for many years to come.
閃爍的燈光、寒冷的夜晚、包裝精美的禮物，以及有著裝飾點綴的高聳常青樹，當我們想到圣誕節假期時，這些只是我們腦海中會浮現的其中幾個景象而已。在世界上的某些地方，圣誕節如果地上沒有覆蓋一層白雪就稱不上是圣誕節。而在某些其他地方，圣誕節則是上教堂做禮拜和安靜祈禱的節日。圣誕節是世界上最重要的節日之一，因為它已變成不僅僅是慶祝耶穌誕生的基督教節日而已。不論你信仰什么宗教或住在哪里，它已經成了歡樂和團聚的日子。縱覽文學作品，無數的圣誕節故事都談到圣誕佳節的魅力和它在人們生命中的意義。不過，很少有故事像查爾斯?狄更斯的《圣誕頌歌》那樣著名并深受喜愛。
《圣誕頌歌》的初版于1843年12月發行，它講述了一個貪婪的生意人埃比尼澤?史庫奇的故事。史庫奇是一個吝于付出時間為別人做點好事的人。這一點可以從他與他的員工鮑勃?克雷契的關系看出來。雖然克雷契是一個善良、說話溫柔且又忠實的人，史庫奇對他卻很沒耐心又很冷酷。
狄更斯創作《圣誕頌歌》的靈感得自于幾個原因，包括當時圣誕節舊傳統的新流行，尤其是華盛頓?歐文作品當中所描述的。狄更斯成長過程中所遭遇的煩惱是他另一個靈感來源，這主要幫助他塑造史庫奇的個性。第3個重要的靈感來源是窮人(特別是窮人家的孩子)面對的困境。在某些方面，狄更斯希望人們齊聚歡祝圣誕節的同時，能在社會不同階級中創造更和諧的氛圍。
《圣誕頌歌》的情節是一次轉變的旅程。圣誕夜當晚，埃比尼澤?史庫奇被警告會有3個鬼魂來拜訪他。這個幻象雖然嚇到了史庫奇，但他不予理會，仍舊上床睡覺。不久，“過去的圣誕節鬼魂”吵醒了史庫奇，這個鬼魂讓史庫奇想起自己年輕的時候。史庫奇回憶著過去他所愛的人和一些開心的事，心里充滿喜樂。
第二位來的是“現在的圣誕節鬼魂”。這個鬼魂帶著史庫奇來到鮑勃?克雷契的家，史庫奇發現克雷契家里很窮，但他們一家人都非常善良。史庫奇對克雷契最小的兒子小提姆特別感興趣，盡管他跛腳，卻是個心胸寬大又活力四射的孩子。最后一個來的是“未來的圣誕節鬼魂”。史庫奇看到克雷契小兒子之死。他也看到了自己的死亡，沒有人在乎，也沒有人說他的好話。史庫奇感到既驚恐又羞愧，等他醒來后已經是圣誕節的早晨了。他馬上著手開始改變待人的方式和他自己的未來，而頭一站是到鮑勃?克雷契的家里。
史庫奇從守財奴變成慈善家的歷程，點出了大多數人賦予圣誕節的真正意義。那與你擁有多少財產無關，而與你在愛和家庭當中的富有程度相關。無疑地，這也是《圣誕頌歌》能夠經得起時間考驗的原因，在未來許多年它仍將在所有人心中占有一席之地。
1) greedy (a.) 貪婪的
2) plight (n.) 困境
3) festivity (n.) 歡慶，慶典
4) startle (v.) 使嚇一跳
5) boisterous (a.) 活躍的，喧鬧的
6) miser (n.) 守財奴，吝嗇鬼
7) Samaritan (n.) 撒馬利亞人，樂善好施者
