The
GhostA ghost has been defined as the disembodied spirit or soul of a deceased person, although in popular usage the term refers only to the apparition of such a person...
of ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
Past is a character in the well-known work of the English novelist
Charles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens FRSA , pen-name "Boz", was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era and one of the most popular of all time. He created some of literature's most memorable characters. His novels and short stories have never gone out of print...
,
A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens about a curmudgeon and his secular conversion and redemption after being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve...
.
The Ghost of Christmas Past was the first of the three spirits (after the visitation by
Jacob MarleyJacob Marley is a fictional character whose ghost appears in the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol.- Connection with Ebenezer Scrooge :...
) that haunted the miser
Ebenezer ScroogeEbenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight fisted, greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which engender happiness...
in order to prompt him to repent. He showed him scenes from his past that occurred on or around Christmas, in order to demonstrate to him the necessity of changing his ways, as well as to show the reader how Scrooge came to be the person he was and his particular dislike for Christmas – most of the events which negatively affected Scrooge occurred around the Christmas holiday season.
According to Dickens' novel, the Ghost of Christmas Past appears to Scrooge as a white-robed,
androgynousAndrogyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ and γυνή that can refer to either of two related concepts about gender: the mixing of masculine and feminine characteristics, as in fashion statements; or the balance of "anima and animus" in psychoanalytic theory.-Androgyne:Androgyne derives...
figure of indeterminate age.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Ghost of Christmas Past' Start a new discussion about 'Ghost of Christmas Past' Answer questions from other users |
The
GhostA ghost has been defined as the disembodied spirit or soul of a deceased person, although in popular usage the term refers only to the apparition of such a person...
of ChristmasChristmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days. The nativity of Jesus, which is the basis for the anno Domini...
Past is a character in the well-known work of the English novelist
Charles DickensCharles John Huffam Dickens FRSA , pen-name "Boz", was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era and one of the most popular of all time. He created some of literature's most memorable characters. His novels and short stories have never gone out of print...
,
A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens about a curmudgeon and his secular conversion and redemption after being visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve...
.
The Ghost of Christmas Past was the first of the three spirits (after the visitation by
Jacob MarleyJacob Marley is a fictional character whose ghost appears in the Charles Dickens novel A Christmas Carol.- Connection with Ebenezer Scrooge :...
) that haunted the miser
Ebenezer ScroogeEbenezer Scrooge is the main character in Charles Dickens' 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol. At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is a cold-hearted, tight fisted, greedy man, who despises Christmas and all things which engender happiness...
in order to prompt him to repent. He showed him scenes from his past that occurred on or around Christmas, in order to demonstrate to him the necessity of changing his ways, as well as to show the reader how Scrooge came to be the person he was and his particular dislike for Christmas – most of the events which negatively affected Scrooge occurred around the Christmas holiday season.
According to Dickens' novel, the Ghost of Christmas Past appears to Scrooge as a white-robed,
androgynousAndrogyny is a term derived from the Greek words ανήρ and γυνή that can refer to either of two related concepts about gender: the mixing of masculine and feminine characteristics, as in fashion statements; or the balance of "anima and animus" in psychoanalytic theory.-Androgyne:Androgyne derives...
figure of indeterminate age. He had on his head a blazing light, reminiscent of a
candleA candle is a source of light, and sometimes a source of heat, consisting of a solid block of fuel and an embedded wick.Today, most candles are made from paraffin. Candles can also be made from beeswax, soy and other plant waxes, and tallow...
flame. He carried with him a metal cap, made in the shape of a candle extinguisher. While the ghost is often portrayed as a woman in most dramatic adaptations, Dickens describes the Ghost of Christmas Past only as “it”.
The Ghost of Christmas Past first showed Scrooge his old boarding school where he was deserted by family and friends. Then he was shown the day when his beloved, younger sister Fran/Fan picked him up from there after repeatedly asking their father if he could come back home. Next, Scrooge was shown an episode from his time as an apprentice to Mr.
FezziwigMr. and Mrs. Fezziwig are characters featured in the Charles Dickens book A Christmas Carol. Mr. Fezziwig is the proprietor of a warehouse business for whom Ebenezer Scrooge worked as an apprentice with Dick Wilkins; and in Stave 2 of The Christmas Carol, has a Christmas ball. Mr. Fezziwig is a...
. The spirit also showed Scrooge the day when, as a young man, he let Belle, his fiancée, leave him, as he had developed more interest in money than in her. Finally, the Ghost showed him how she married and found true happiness with another man. After this vision, Scrooge, out of anger, extinguished the Ghost of Christmas Past with his cap and found himself back in his bedroom.
Appearance in various film adaptations
- In the 1938 version of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a 1938 film adaptation of Charles Dickens's novelette.-Cast:*Reginald Owen — Ebenezer Scrooge*Gene Lockhart — Bob Cratchit*Kathleen Lockhart — Mrs. Cratchit*Terry Kilburn — Tiny Tim*Barry MacKay — Fred...
, the Ghost is portrayed as a sweet-faced young woman looking somewhat like an angel.
- In the 1951 film A Christmas Carol
Scrooge , released as A Christmas Carol in the U.S., is one of the best-known film adaptations of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. It starred Alastair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge and was directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, with a screenplay by Noel Langley.The film also features Kathleen Harrison in...
, the Ghost is an elderly man. In this version, story is changed so that Fan is older than Ebenezer and the ghost shows him his sister’s death through childbirth. This echoes Scrooge's own birth, since his mother died during his childbirth, which was shown as the reason for his father's bitterness towards him.
- In the TV special Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol, a 1962 animated version, the Ghost is portrayed as a young, slight, androgynous figure (voiced by a female voice actor) with a flame above his/her head, a sprig of holly and an orange glow.
- In the 1970 version titled Scrooge
Scrooge is a 1970 musical film adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic 1843 story, A Christmas Carol. It was filmed in London, directed by Ronald Neame, and starred Albert Finney in the title role. The film's musical score was composed by Leslie Bricusse, and arranged and conducted by Ian Fraser...
, the Ghost is portrayed as an elderly but elegant lady with a red dress and a black hat.
- In a 1982 version, the Ghost of Christmas Past is a Cupid
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of erotic love and beauty. He is also known by another one of his Latin names, Amor...
-like young man
- In Disney's
The Walt Disney Company , often simply known as Disney, is the largest media and entertainment conglomerate in the world, known for its family-friendly products...
1983 animated adaptation titled Mickey's Christmas CarolMickey's Christmas Carol is a twenty-four minute animated short film produced by Walt Disney Productions and originally released in the United Kingdom on October 20, 1983 by Buena Vista Distribution...
, Jiminy CricketJiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" , a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his classic novel Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Walt Disney in 1940...
takes the role of the Ghost.
- In the 1984 made-for-television version of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a 1984 television movie adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous 1843 novella. It was directed by Clive Donner and stars George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge.- Overview :The movie was filmed on location in Shrewsbury, England...
, the Ghost is portrayed as a middle-aged woman with blonde hair and a white robe rather than a childlike, long white haired figure as described in the novel written in 1843.
- The 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Muppet Christmas Carol is the fourth feature film to star The Muppets, and the first produced after the death of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Released in 1992, it is one of many film adaptations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The movie follows Ebenezer Scrooge who is a cruel and ruthless...
did not use a Muppet character to portray the spirit, but re-imagined it; this version appeared as a tiny, ghostly child of ambiguous gender, dressed in white and floating as if immersed in water. The voice was provided by Jessica FoxJessica Fox is an English actress. Since 6 July 2005 she has played the role of Nancy Hayton in British soap Hollyoaks....
.
- In the 1999 made-for-television version of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a 1999 television movie adaptation of Charles Dickens' famous 1843 novella. It was directed by David Hugh Jones and stars Patrick Stewart as Ebenezer Scrooge and Richard E. Grant as Bob Cratchit. The film was produced after Patrick Stewart performed a series of successful...
, the Ghost is portrayed as a childlike, long white haired figure as described in the novel in 1843.
- In the 2000 made-for-television film A Diva's Christmas Carol, Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedian, media personality, and LGBT rights advocate. A self-proclaimed "D-list celebrity", Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan...
plays the Ghost.
- In the 2006 film V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta is a 2006 dystopian science fiction-thriller film directed by James McTeigue and produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers, who also wrote the screenplay. The film is an adaptation of the graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd...
, the character V sarcastically claims to be the Ghost of Christmas Past, just before he takes his revenge against the propagandist news reader.
- In the 2006 CGI
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
film A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol is a 2006 computer-animated adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale, produced by BKN Home Entertainment. It was released theatrically in select cities by Kidtoon Films on November 6, 2006, and was released on DVD on November 21, 2006 by Genius Products.This version casts the famous...
, the Ghost is portrayed as an anthropomorphicAnthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human creatures and beings, phenomena, material states and objects or abstract concepts. Examples include animals and plants depicted as creatures with human motivation able to reason and converse and forces of nature such as...
storkStorks are large, long-legged, long-necked wading birds with long stout bills, belonging to the family Ciconiidae. They are the only family in the biological order Ciconiiformes, which was once much larger and held a number of families....
.
- In the TV special A Flintstones Christmas Carol
A Flintstones Christmas Carol is a made-for-TV holiday-themed animated special based on the original 1960s series classic, The Flintstones and on the popular holiday novel of the same name by Charles Dickens...
, a 1994 animated version, various characters rolled the Ghost.
- In the animated series Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Aqua Teen Hunger Force is an American animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim late-night programming block, as well as Teletoon in Canada...
, the Ghost is parodied as the Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the FutureCybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from the Future is the eighteenth episode, and is the last episode of the first season.-Plot:A crazy robot who thinks he's the Ghost of Christmas Past breaks into Carl's house. He tells Carl what Carl's life was when he was eight years old. Carl leaves his house,...
, a robot with a penchant of making houses run with elf blood and telling long-winded, incomprehensible stories about the origins of Christmas.
- In the 1988 comedy film Scrooged
Scrooged is a 1988 comedy film, a modernization of Charles Dickens' novella, A Christmas Carol. The film was produced and directed by Richard Donner, and the cinematography was by Michael Chapman. The screenplay was written by Mitch Glazer and Michael O'Donoghue...
, the Ghost of Christmas Past is portrayed as a male New York cab driver with a Brooklyn accent
- In An IMP crossmas, the International Moron Patrol and the IMP XS are forced to fight an army of Ghosts of Christmas Pasts sent to incapacitate the heroes.
- In a Christmas episode of Beavis and Butthead, the Ghost of Christmas Past is portrayed by Tom Anderson.
- In the upcoming 2009 animated film A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a film adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1843 story of the same name. The film is written and directed by Robert Zemeckis, and stars Jim Carrey in a multitude of roles, including Ebenezer Scrooge as a young, middle-aged, and old man, and the three ghosts who haunt Scrooge.The...
, the voice of the Ghost of Christmas Past is provided by actor Jim CarreyJames Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and stand-up comedian. Carrey is best known for his performances as multiple characters in the sketch comedy show In Living Color, as the title character in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, as the unlucky TV...
.