Francois de Soete

This paper examines how Ebenezer Scrooge’s journey in A Christmas Carol reveals different elements of his character, and how this revelation resonates with Plato’s discussion of the soul in Republic. Specifically, the apparent change that Scrooge undergoes over the course of the novel, this paper argues, serves as a useful illustration of Plato’s core arguments about the soul in three ways. First, Scrooge’s apparent change over time illustrates Plato’s argument that having the soul’s different parts in proper order is what constitutes justice for individuals, with particular emphasis on the relationship between two parts in particular, namely, appetite and reason. Second, the profound change that Scrooge undergoes after his journey with the three ghosts affirms the main point of the ring of Gyges debate by demonstrating how the best part of his character, reason, is essentially liberated from the worst part of his character, appetite. Third, the way that the three ghosts lead Scrooge to associate his actions with the painful reality of his past, present, and apparent future serves as a unique way to postulate that, as Plato’s myth of Er suggests, hardship can help someone forge a truly just soul that is liberated from the tyranny of unbridled appetite. Ultimately, this line of inquiry demonstrates that A Christmas Carol indirectly delves into philosophical questions that date back to ancient times about what constitutes a just soul and the benefits thereof, and also demonstrates how Republic holds continuing and wide-ranging relevance for examining the nature of the self in the industrial age and beyond.