Author's Note- This is a piece I wrote for the assignment for our reading book, A Christmas Carol. We have to take a quote from the book and analyze its tone, purpose, and meaning in the book. The quote I selected is below.
I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. (pg. 21)
The meaning of this quote is that for all the bad deeds Marley's done, all the selfishness and greed he's had built up. A link was added to the chain he's now forced to wear for every time he ignored the beggars on the street, declined the charity workers and homeless children. This quote is an essential piece of the book A Christmas Carol. Not only does it tell us why Marley is so miserable (and chained), but it also gives Scrooge an idea of what his future is going to be unless he makes some serious changes in his life choices. When Marley was alive, him and Scrooge were both bitter, bitter people. Both horrid and alone, greedy and self-serving. After Marley's passing, Scrooge becomes even more bitter. Scrooge has exactly seven more years of bitterness and penny-pinching, seven more years saying "Bah, humbug!" than Marley did. His future would be even worse than Marley's.
