入圍
姓  名 張玉佳 學  校 高雄市立高雄女子高級中學 年  級 二 年 十四 班

 

 

The Christmas Carol

Ebenezer Scrooge was a mean-spirited miser. He referred to Christmas as nothing but a ridiculous scheme for employees to sit back but get salary as usual. Just on Christmas Eve, Mr. Scrooge met the phantom of Jacob Marley, who had passed away today seven years ago. Mr. Marley came to inform him that three Christmas elfins would pay visits to him later and give him separate trips for a night. When the clock stroke one, the three ghosts standing for past, present and future called on Scrooge one after another. The first spirit reminded him of his decline from innocent childhood to stingy adulthood on purpose of evoking his humanity. Another allowed him to see the tragic life of his employee Bob, and convinced him to change his attitude by showing the conscience of his nephew Fred. The last one brought him to his own grave in order to show that he would die a lonely death if he remains heartless man. After then, Scrooge found himself back lying under his blankets when he waked up. He was determined to transform himself and made a generous soul.

To begin with, the story was set in Dickens’ time, when Industrial Revolution took place. British capitalism began to flourish, bringing prosperity to metropolis. Nonetheless, there were dark sides as well-child labor thrived, suffering from great misery. Many people in the working class went to prison since they couldn’t pay their debts while the royals and the middle class lived in luxury. Charles Dickens wrote the life in poverty with vivid descriptions and humorous portrayals, hoping they could call on people to attach importance to the poor and eliminate social contradictions. Likewise, many people in the present live a miserable life and need our assistants. Learning from Scrooge, we should give our hands to those in need rather than just sit idly.

Next, the theme of the story is “never being a penny pincher.” We didn’t bring any money when we were born, and we won’t take it away after we are dead. However, we can make the most of it when we are living. And we shouldn’t ignore the important things and people owing to earn more, or we will die all alone just as Scrooge died without anyone’s concerning. In one plot, Scrooge’s fiancée left him because he had new beloved, money. In another, even some people stole the clothes and the bed-curtains Scrooge died in. It’s a pity for him that he worked hard his whole life to get rich, but in the end he got nothing. We can do nothing without money, but we can’t do anything with money. Money doesn’t mean everything. We should spend more time noticing everything but wealth. Even if it takes time but makes no money, it’s still worth doing.

In addition, the author also wanted to tell us “cherish the time you live.” “Though I am dead, I must walk though the world of the living. I can see people laugh, but I cannot laugh with them; I can see people cry, but I cannot cry with them. Happiness, sadness-I can see them all, but none of them are for me.” Marley told to Scrooge. Apart from Jacob, so are we. We can’t do anything but regret after we die. We can see our family’s joy, but we can’t say “congratulation” to them; we can see our friends’ pain, but we can neither comfort them nor cheer them up. Thus, seize any chance to company those surrounding us when we are alive.

In conclusion, we should be transformed after we have read the novel. We still have time to change the way we used to treat others. Just make our mind to do it, and from now on we can lead a new life.