Changes

The setting of the story is [[Christmas Eve]], 1843.

The setting of the story is [[Christmas Eve]], 1843.

''A Christmas Carol'' is essentially the story of [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] ("screw" is a combination of "screw" and "gouge"), a master of money exchange who built up his own wealth through years of work, but at the same time built up his own tightfisted, miserly ways as well.  He refuses to join his nephew, Fred (his only relative) for Christmas dinner, refuses to contribute to charitable solicitors seeking donations for the poor (he would rather have the poor and destitute go to the prisons and workhouses provided by his taxes and live there, and if they die then the "surplus population" is decreased), and begrudgingly gives his poor, overworked assistant Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off with pay (solely to keep the custom of the day, considering it being "pickpocketed").

''A Christmas Carol'' is essentially the story of [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] ("scrooge" is a portmanteau of "screw" and "gouge"), a master of money exchange who built up his own wealth through years of work, but at the same time built up his own tightfisted, miserly ways as well.  He refuses to join his nephew, Fred (his only relative) for Christmas dinner, refuses to contribute to charitable solicitors seeking donations for the poor (he would rather have the poor and destitute go to the prisons and workhouses provided by his taxes and live there, and if they die then the "surplus population" is decreased), and begrudgingly gives his poor, overworked assistant Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off with pay (solely to keep the custom of the day, considering it being "pickpocketed").

But things change when Scrooge's dead business partner, Jacob Marley, returns from beyond, bearing the ponderous chains of guilt, and warns Scrooge that he will face similar consequences worsened by seven more years (the story is set seven years to the day of Marley's death on Christmas Eve, 1836) unless he changes from within.  Scrooge will be given the chance to repent by the visitation of three spirits (the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future).  

But things change when Scrooge's dead business partner, Jacob Marley, returns from beyond, bearing the ponderous chains of guilt, and warns Scrooge that he will face similar consequences worsened by seven more years (the story is set seven years to the day of Marley's death on Christmas Eve, 1836) unless he changes from within.  Scrooge will be given the chance to repent by the visitation of three spirits (the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future).