Here is an analysis of some key symbols in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens:
- Marley's Ghost: Marley represents Scrooge's past sins and mistakes catching up to him. His appearance as a ghost chained in "cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses entwined about his feet" symbolizes the burden of his greed and selfishness in life.
- The Spirits: The three spirits that visit Scrooge - Past, Present and Future - symbolize different aspects of time. They serve to illustrate how Scrooge's past actions have led to his current miserable state, the consequences of his behavior in the present, and the dire outcome if he doesn't