Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
11
Ebenezer Scrooge
200 Points, 8 Lists, #3 Nataeryn
Source: A Christmas Carol Ebenezer Scrooge
200 Points, 8 Lists, #3 Nataeryn
Traveler-Type: Whisked Away
Method of Transport: Ghosts
Ebenezer Scrooge is a merchant and miser, known for his cold and solitary ways, underpaying his employee Bob Cratchit and hounding those in debt. He was once partners with Jacob Marley and and following Marley’s death, lives in his house. Scrooge is incredibly frugal and is disgusted by the reckless spending of Christmas, as he has no interest in the well-fare of his fellow man. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by Marley’s ghost, who know lives in eternal suffering on Earth and warns that he will be visited by three ghosts who can help him avoid this fate. The ghosts take him into his past, present and future to allow him to see why he needs to change and Scrooge through a transformation that brings Christmas into his heart.
Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the great literary characters but he and his story is so beloved, it almost gets in the way. See, when we love something we replay it a lot and Scrooge’s story is one of the most retold, reimagined, and parodied stories of all time. And I think that sort of cultural familiarity means it’s easy to miss what made the original so powerful. Yes, it’s as simple as “bad man becomes good” but it is the strength of the journey and the story is truly about not just being kind but where it comes from, what if can do for the world and what you deny yourself when you deny it. Being able to see his own painful (and sometimes joyful) past, the people in the present who have their own lives and a future where his death is met with mockery and where an innocent whose life he could have improved dies, also clearly shows this is one of the early great time travel tales.
I think Scrooge is sometimes a misunderstood character. I’ve heard some talk about “why do the ghosts even bother. He doesn’t really do anything to deserve his shot at change.” But in the words of a Clint Eastwood character, “deserves got nothin’ to do with it”. The change is a net positive for everyone because in being good, he has the opportunity to spread it more. I’ve heard some people assume he turns good at the end because he’s afraid of dying. I’m sure he’s afraid but by the third ghost he thinks he’s ready to change (he certainly has come around to wanting to) but really it’s about realizing that living for yourself amounts to nothing. The only thing he leaves behind are possessions to be picked over. He’s probably going to die the same time in a better world but now he can live his days giving and receiving joy. This is probably THE redemption arc of fiction and unless you fuck up the telling, it generally feels really earned, that the terrible misanthrope can find his humanity and even as an older man, it doesn’t feel too late.
Here's how this works, if you are new to this
1) We are given a topic, usually musical in nature, though someone is offering a different idea.
2) People are invited to submit songs or musical pieces or entries they like that fit the topic before a deadline (you may be told the limit of how many you may submit and it is not uncommon for that number to grow during this process)
3) The entries are randomized and pitted against each other where you must choose (usually) one of the two songs. Usually its two matches a day. Just pick the ones you like best from the two matches.
4) This goes on until there is only one entry left!
I hope I explained it clearly. But anyway, we aren't at that part yet. We are at the part where we must decide our topic and with that our host. You must choose between...
Numbersdome - Johnny Unusual. Not the counting kind, I'm talking Musical Numbers! From TV, Movies, The Stage, Video Games, Podcasts, Radio, whatever!
Tokusatsudome - @Purple it means special effects but it's a bit more specific than that; kaiju media, power rangersish media and similar stuff.
Poll is up for 4 days! Both are great options who have been waiting patiently for their day in the sun, so show them some love!
1) We are given a topic, usually musical in nature, though someone is offering a different idea.
2) People are invited to submit songs or musical pieces or entries they like that fit the topic before a deadline (you may be told the limit of how many you may submit and it is not uncommon for that number to grow during this process)
3) The entries are randomized and pitted against each other where you must choose (usually) one of the two songs. Usually its two matches a day. Just pick the ones you like best from the two matches.
4) This goes on until there is only one entry left!
I hope I explained it clearly. But anyway, we aren't at that part yet. We are at the part where we must decide our topic and with that our host. You must choose between...
Numbersdome - Johnny Unusual. Not the counting kind, I'm talking Musical Numbers! From TV, Movies, The Stage, Video Games, Podcasts, Radio, whatever!
Tokusatsudome - @Purple it means special effects but it's a bit more specific than that; kaiju media, power rangersish media and similar stuff.
Poll is up for 4 days! Both are great options who have been waiting patiently for their day in the sun, so show them some love!
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