“ It is required of every man . . . that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. ”
Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol (1843). copy citation
| Author | Charles Dickens |
|---|---|
| Source | A Christmas Carol |
| Topic | spirit ghost |
| Date | 1843 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | https://www.gutenberg.org/files/46/46-h/46-h.htm |
Context
“«Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?»
«Man of the worldly mind!» replied the Ghost, «do you believe in me or not?»
«I do,» said Scrooge. «I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?»
«It is required of every man,» the Ghost returned, «that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world—oh, woe is me!—and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!»
Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands.” source
«Man of the worldly mind!» replied the Ghost, «do you believe in me or not?»
«I do,» said Scrooge. «I must. But why do spirits walk the earth, and why do they come to me?»
«It is required of every man,» the Ghost returned, «that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander through the world—oh, woe is me!—and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness!»
Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands.” source
Meaning and analysis
