Joyce Ahn

Kosa 7
Heros Journey

Introduction

The novel, A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens during the time of the
Industrial Revolution, centers around a cruel man named Ebenezer Scrooge. Scrooge is a
heartless person who loans money to people in need, and when they cannot pay the money back
in the due amount of time, he makes sure they end up in debtors prison. During the most festive
and joyful time of year, Scrooge continues to be grumpy and mean, and contributes nothing to
the poor. However, throughout the novel, Scrooge starts to see his harsh ways and in the end
becomes a changed man who helps people in need and contributes and gives back more to
society. The journey that Scrooge goes through is called The Heros Journey. The Heros
Journey is a long and hard process, filled with joy and loss, but brings many opportunities. In the
end, the protagonist will become a greater and changed person, with a whole new perspective of
life, and a clearer understanding of what they were meant to do.

Separation

The Call

The Call is the first step to a Heros Journey. The Call is also known as the moment when
the character is invited to the thrilling adventure and is offered a chance to enter the unknown.
Sometimes the character is given a choice, but other times the character is forced into it
unwillingly. In this case, Scrooge is forced into the journey unwillingly. In this novel, The Call is
when Scrooges dead, former business partner and friend, Jacob Marley comes to visit him.
Marley comes to warn Scrooge that if he doesnt change his ways, Scrooge will end up like
himself. Jacob Marley, who travels around the world for eternity, is forced to watch people
dying, people that are in need of help, and cannot do anything to help, because he was once
given a chance, but did not take it. Marley tells Scrooge that he will have three visitors: the
Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come, and that their visits will help him not to end up like Marley. Without their visits, said
the Ghost, you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first to-morrow, when the bell
tolls one. (1) This marks the beginning of the journey.

The Threshold

The Threshold, the second step in a Heros Journey, is when all the action starts to
unravel. It is also when the character steps from the known to the unknown world. In the novel,
A Christmas Carol, the threshold is when Scrooge meets the first spirit, The Ghost of Christmas
Past. From then on, the spirit takes Scrooge to see his Christmas past. As the words were
spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either
hand. The city had entirely vanished. Not a vestige of it was to be seen. The darkness and the
mist had vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground. (2)
This is the point where they have crossed from the present to Scrooges miserable past. The spirit
then shows Scrooge all of his mistakes that he has made in the past, which Scrooge tries to block
from his memory.

Threshold Guardians

Threshold guardians are the people or situations that block the way for heroes. Once the
protagonists are ready for the journey, threshold guardians will let go and point the way for the
journey. An example of a threshold guardian is a parent. Parents raise their children to become
mature, young adults, and once they are ready to face the world, parents let go. As adults,
threshold guardians can be fears or doubts. Scrooges main threshold guardian is his past. As
much as he wants to erase his past mistakes, regrets, and memories, he cannot let go. This is the
reason that Scrooge is now the person he has become. Spirit! said Scrooge in a broken voice,
remove me from this place. I told you these were shadows of the things that have been, said
the Ghost. That they are what they are, do not blame me! (2) This shows that Scrooge is not
necessarily scared of the past, but he regrets some of the mistakes that he has made.

Initiation and Transformation

The Challenges

The Challenges in a Heros Journey are a series of obstacles that the protagonist must
overcome. One of the challenges that Scrooge is faced with is embracing his past. When the
Ghost of Christmas Past takes him to see Belle, his former fiance, Scrooge gets overridden with
regret. Spirit! said Scrooge in a broken voice, remove me from this place. (2) Scrooge sees
now that he could have been happy with Belle, if he had not let his ambitions take over him, and
becomes filled with shame and regret. The consequences were uproarious beyond belief; but no
one seemed to care; on the contrary, the mother and daughter laughed heartily, and enjoyed it
very much; and the latter, soon beginning to mingle in the sports, got pillaged by the young
brigands most ruthlessly. What would I not have given to be one of them! (2) He sees the
family he couldve been a part of; all the joy, fun, and laughter that he couldve been involved in
had he not let his greed and ambitions take over him.

The Abyss

The Abyss is one, great, big challenge that the protagonist must overcome. Sometimes
the character might not overcome that challenge. If that happens, life will become a shadow and
reminder of what could have been for the tragic hero. Ebenezer Scrooges abyss is overcoming
his past in order to become a better person, and becoming a man who reaches out to those of in
need. I wear the chain I forged in life, replied the Ghost. I made it link by link, and yard by
yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange
to you? Or would you know, pursued the Ghost, the weight and length of the strong coil you
bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have
labored on it, since. It is a ponderous chain! (1) The chains that Marley has forged upon himself
represent his greed. Scrooges chain, however, is longer for he continued being selfish and
greedy after Marley died. If Scrooge does not accomplish this challenge, than he will spend
eternity traveling around the world, watching people in poverty, and cannot do anything to help,
like Jacob Marley. This however proves to be a difficult task for Scrooge, as over the years, he
has become much more bitter and misanthropic.

The Transformation

The transformation in a Heros journey is a long process that takes the whole story.
Throughout the transformation, fear is replaced with courage, ignorance with enlightenment, and
dependency and irresponsibility is replaced with independence. In the novel, signs of Scrooge
changing are shown. It isnt that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to
make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and
looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count em up: what
then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune. (2) Examples like this are
shown many times throughout the novel. Spirit, said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt
before, tell me if Tiny Tim will live. I see a vacant seat, replied the Ghost, in the poor
chimney corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If these shadows remain
unaltered by the Future, the child will die. (3) This passage from the novel shows that Scrooge
feels empathy towards the child and wants him to be alive. However we know that Scrooge
hasnt completely changed at times, when he goes back to being his old self. Are there no
prisons? said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. Are there no
working houses? (3) Although the transformation takes a long time, in the end Scrooge
becomes a better person.

The Revelation

The Revelation is a part of the Transformation. It is the sudden, dramatic change in which
the protagonist views everything from a whole new perspective. This is what makes the
journeyman a different person. This step usually occurs during or after the abyss, and is the
reason why the character acts differently. Ebenezer Scrooges revelation occurs after the Spirit
reveals that the person that died was actually Scrooge himself. Am I that man who lay upon the
bed? he cried, upon his knees. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at its robe, hear me! I am not
the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this,
if I am past all hope? For the first time the hand appeared to shake. Good Spirit, he pursued,
as down upon the ground he fell before it: Your nature intercedes for me, and pities me. Assure
me that I yet may change these shadows you have shown me, by an altered life! The kind hand
trembled. I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the
Past, Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out
the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone! (4) By now,
the transformation is over, and Scrooge is a whole new person.

The Atonement

The Atonement, of the Heros Journey is the moment when the protagonist is now at one
with himself and may become richer, stronger, and a powerful leader. Scrooges atonement is
when he wakes up in his own bed, and realizes that although the past will always be there, he can
still have a better life and help others. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!
Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh
Jacob Marley! Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this! I say it on my knees, old
Jacob; on my knees! He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his
broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict
with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears. They are not torn down, cried Scrooge, folding
one of his bed-curtains in his arms, they are not torn down, rings and all. They are here: I am
here: the shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be. I know
they will! (5) Now, Scrooge is finally at one with himself.

The Return

The Return

Finally, we have the Return. This is when the journeyman must now return to daily life,
and start contributing to society. I dont know what to do! cried Scrooge, laughing and crying
in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoon of himself with his stockings. I am as light as
a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken
man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop!
Hallo! (5) By now, Ebenezer Scrooge is a completely changed soul, who is willing to contribute
to society. A merry Christmas, Bob! said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be
mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I
have given you, for many a year! Ill raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling
family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking
bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob
Cratchit! Now that Scrooge has come back, he is now a much pleasant employer, and a better
person.

Conclusion

In the beginning of the novel, Ebenezer Scrooge is shown as a misanthropic, unpleasant,
and hateful man. However, throughout the journey, he learns that he shouldnt let the past
consume him and to move on with his life. He also learns not to let greed and ambition take over
him and to be grateful and appreciate his life. Now Scrooge is a loving man who acts as a second
father to Tiny Tim. He is also a better employer to Bob Cratchit. This is shown when he gives
Bob a raise and helps to support Bobs family. Ebenezer Scrooge is now a man, changed for the
better, who contributes to society and helps those of in need. Although the journey is over,
Scrooge will continue to be a great, powerful leader. And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless
Us, Every One! (5)