Source plot synopsis — includes the ending
On Christmas Eve of 1836, Ebenezer Scrooge's best friend and business partner Jacob Marley dies.
Seven years later, he becomes a grumpy businessman living in Victorian London who hates Christmas. On Christmas Eve in 1843, he refuses to give an invitation to his nephew Fred's Christmas dinner, harshly dismisses two gentlemen who are collecting donations for the poor, and only reluctantly allows his employee Bob Cratchit to have Christmas Day off. That night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob, who is bound in chains for his sins. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him over three nights, and he must heed their warnings or suffer a fate like his.
At one o'clock, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him visions of his early life, such as his lonely days in boarding school, his relationship with his younger sister Fan, and his time as an apprentice under the benevolent Mr. Fezziwig. The young Scrooge met a young woman named Belle, with whom he fell in love, but his growing obsession with wealth drove them apart. Overwhelmed, Scrooge extinguishes the Ghost's flame and returns home.
Scrooge next meets the merry Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows how others find joy on Christmas Day. Scrooge and the Ghost visit Bob's house, and he learns his family is content with their small dinner and meagre home. Scrooge takes pity on Bob's ill son Tiny Tim, whom the Ghost reveals might not survive until next Christmas. They next visit Fred's house, where Fred insists the guests raise a toast to Scrooge in spite of his stinginess. Before the Ghost dies, he shows Scrooge the evils of "Ignorance" and "Want".
Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears to Scrooge and shows him a hypothetical future where an unidentified man's death is met with indifference and, in some cases, joy. Faced with the man's sheeted body, Scrooge asks to see tenderness associated with death, and the Ghost shows him the Cratchit family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Finally, the Ghost takes Scrooge to a cemetery and points out a tombstone bearing Scrooge's name, confirming that he is the dead man; the stone further indicates that his death will fall on an upcoming Christmas Day. Horrified, Scrooge vows to change his ways before finding himself back in his bedroom.
Discovering it is Christmas Day, a gleeful Scrooge begins spreading happiness and joy around London, anonymously sending the Cratchits a turkey, providing charity to one of the gentlemen, and attending Fred's Christmas dinner. The next day, Scrooge raises Bob's salary and pledges his support for the Cratchits. Scrooge becomes a father figure to Tiny Tim (who overcomes his illness) and is restored to health, and treats everyone with kindness, generosity, and compassion, thus embodying the Christmas spirit.
Seven years later, he becomes a grumpy businessman living in Victorian London who hates Christmas. On Christmas Eve in 1843, he refuses to give an invitation to his nephew Fred's Christmas dinner, harshly dismisses two gentlemen who are collecting donations for the poor, and only reluctantly allows his employee Bob Cratchit to have Christmas Day off. That night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Jacob, who is bound in chains for his sins. He tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him over three nights, and he must heed their warnings or suffer a fate like his.
At one o'clock, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him visions of his early life, such as his lonely days in boarding school, his relationship with his younger sister Fan, and his time as an apprentice under the benevolent Mr. Fezziwig. The young Scrooge met a young woman named Belle, with whom he fell in love, but his growing obsession with wealth drove them apart. Overwhelmed, Scrooge extinguishes the Ghost's flame and returns home.
Scrooge next meets the merry Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows how others find joy on Christmas Day. Scrooge and the Ghost visit Bob's house, and he learns his family is content with their small dinner and meagre home. Scrooge takes pity on Bob's ill son Tiny Tim, whom the Ghost reveals might not survive until next Christmas. They next visit Fred's house, where Fred insists the guests raise a toast to Scrooge in spite of his stinginess. Before the Ghost dies, he shows Scrooge the evils of "Ignorance" and "Want".
Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come appears to Scrooge and shows him a hypothetical future where an unidentified man's death is met with indifference and, in some cases, joy. Faced with the man's sheeted body, Scrooge asks to see tenderness associated with death, and the Ghost shows him the Cratchit family mourning the death of Tiny Tim. Finally, the Ghost takes Scrooge to a cemetery and points out a tombstone bearing Scrooge's name, confirming that he is the dead man; the stone further indicates that his death will fall on an upcoming Christmas Day. Horrified, Scrooge vows to change his ways before finding himself back in his bedroom.
Discovering it is Christmas Day, a gleeful Scrooge begins spreading happiness and joy around London, anonymously sending the Cratchits a turkey, providing charity to one of the gentlemen, and attending Fred's Christmas dinner. The next day, Scrooge raises Bob's salary and pledges his support for the Cratchits. Scrooge becomes a father figure to Tiny Tim (who overcomes his illness) and is restored to health, and treats everyone with kindness, generosity, and compassion, thus embodying the Christmas spirit.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history ↗ · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, A Christmas Carol (2009 film). Section headings and formatting adjusted. · Content license