Question

a christmas carol: scrooge and marley, act i
a drama based on the novella by charles dickens | drama
characters
jacob marley, a specter
ebenezer scrooge, not yet dead, which is to say still alive
bob cratchit, scrooge’s clerk fred, scrooge’s nephew
thin do-gooder
portly do-gooder
specters (various), carrying money - boxes
the ghost of christmas past
four jocund travelers
a band of singers
a band of dancers
little boy scrooge
young man scrooge
fan, scrooge’s little sister
the schoolmaster
schoolmates
fezziwig, a fine and fair employer
respond
refer to the text to complete the following items.

1. answer the following questions.

a. connect in scene 3, why is marley dragging a chain of cash - boxes and other metal objects?
b. make inferences what does the chain suggest about the life marley lived? explain

1. answer the following questions.

a. what scenes from his past does scrooge visit?
b. draw conclusions how did each event in his life contribute to his current attitude and personality? explain.

Explanation:

For part 1a: In the context of "A Christmas Carol", Marley is a ghost who is punished for his greedy and materialistic life. The chain of cash - boxes and metal objects represents the weight of his past sins related to his focus on money and business (he was a business partner of Scrooge and was also greedy for wealth). He is dragging this chain as a form of eternal punishment for his avaricious nature during his lifetime.

For part 1b: The chain of cash - boxes and metal objects suggests that Marley lived a life centered around money and material possessions. He was likely very greedy, focused on accumulating wealth, and perhaps exploited others in the pursuit of financial gain. The fact that he is now burdened with this chain implies that his excessive attachment to material things in life has led to his suffering in the afterlife.

For part 2a: Scrooge visits scenes such as his time as a young boy at school (where he was lonely), his time as an apprentice with Fezziwig (where he experienced kindness and celebration), and his relationship with Belle (where he chose money over love).

For part 2b:

• His lonely childhood at school: This made him feel isolated and may have led him to believe that he had to rely on himself and accumulate wealth for security, as he had no family support in a traditional sense during that time.
• His time with Fezziwig: Fezziwig was a kind employer who celebrated Christmas and treated his employees well. However, Scrooge later seems to have rejected this kind of generosity. Maybe he saw Fezziwig as being "foolish" with money (from his later greedy perspective) and decided to be more miserly to avoid what he perceived as waste.
• His relationship with Belle: When Belle broke off their engagement because he was becoming too focused on money, this reinforced his belief that money was more important than relationships. It made him more hardened and focused on accumulating wealth, leading to his current cold and greedy attitude.

Answer:

1a. Marley is dragging the chain as punishment for his greedy, material - focused life. The chain represents his sins related to his avaricious pursuit of wealth.
1b. The chain suggests Marley lived a life centered on money and material possessions, being greedy and likely exploiting others for financial gain.
2a. Scrooge visits his lonely school days, his time as Fezziwig's apprentice, and his relationship with Belle.
2b. - Lonely childhood: Led to self - reliance and wealth - centric security. - Fezziwig's kindness: He later rejected it, seeing it as "waste" and became miserly. - Belle's rejection: Reinforced his choice of money over love, hardening his greedy attitude.