Stave One

In Stave One of "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge is introduced as a bitter, solitary man who despises Christmas and rejects warmth and generosity. His cold attitude is highlighted through interactions with his nephew and two charities, which he dismisses dismissively. That evening, he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him about the consequences of his greed and self-centeredness. Marley’s ghost reveals that he is condemned to eternal suffering because of his selfish actions, and urges Scrooge to change his ways to avoid a similar fate, setting the stage for the supernatural visits to come.