Stave One of 'A Christmas Carol' begins with an introduction to the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and cold-hearted businessman. It is Christmas Eve, and despite the festive atmosphere surrounding him, Scrooge remains indifferent and dismissive towards the holiday spirit.

Scrooge's only living relative, his nephew Fred, visits him to extend a heartfelt invitation to join his Christmas celebration. Scrooge bluntly rejects the offer, criticizing the holiday as a mere "humbug." Two gentlemen seeking donations for the poor also visit Scrooge's office, but he callously refuses to contribute, showing his disdain for those less fortunate.

After a long day at work, Scrooge retires to his gloomy and austere house. As he settles in for the night, he is startled by the ghostly face of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, appearing on his door knocker. Scrooge tries to dismiss it as a hallucination, but the specter reappears in his dimly lit room, fully manifesting as Marley's ghost.

Marley, burdened by chains forged from his own greed and selfishness during his lifetime, warns Scrooge of the consequences that await him in the afterlife if he doesn't change his ways. Marley informs Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits over the course of three nights, urging him to listen to their messages and seek redemption.

A Christmas Carol

Stave 1