Skip to main content

What kind of business was Jacob Marley in?

Jacob Marley was Scrooge’s business partner in the counting house. 


Jacob Marley died seven years before the book began.  Before that, he was the closest thing that Scrooge had to a friend.  The two of them were partners in Scrooge’s current counting house, called Scrooge and Marley.  A counting house is like a bank.  Scrooge and Marley would lend money to people.


After Marley died, Scrooge did not change the name of the business.  He...

Jacob Marley was Scrooge’s business partner in the counting house. 


Jacob Marley died seven years before the book began.  Before that, he was the closest thing that Scrooge had to a friend.  The two of them were partners in Scrooge’s current counting house, called Scrooge and Marley.  A counting house is like a bank.  Scrooge and Marley would lend money to people.


After Marley died, Scrooge did not change the name of the business.  He did not even change the sign.



Scrooge never painted out Old Marley’s name. There it stood, years afterwards, above the warehouse door: Scrooge and Marley. The firm was known as Scrooge and Marley. Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names. (Stave 1)



Although Scrooge seems entirely unsentimental, leaving Marley’s name up could be a small bit of grief sneaking in.  Scrooge is definitely happy to see Marley’s ghost when he shows up, once he gets over the shock.  Marley wants to help Scrooge out while he is still alive.  Now that he is a ghost he has some perspective and realizes that it is not all about money.



“ … I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. My spirit never walked beyond our counting-house—mark me!—in life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole; and weary journeys lie before me!” (Stave 1)



Marley arranges somehow for Scrooge to get a chance at reclamation.  He will be visited by ghosts who will show him his past, present, and future so he can come more quickly to the realization that Marley came to—while he is still alive.  Scrooge tells Marley that he was a good businessman.  Marley’s response is that mankind should have been his business.  He should have been more interested in helping people than making money off of them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some tensions between men and women in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar?

Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has... Julius Caesar is a largely male-driven play. Calpurnia and Portia are the two main female characters, and they are both wives of major characters. Calpurnia is Julius Caesar’s wife. She makes public appearances with him, but there may be some awkwardness between them because of her inability to have children. He publicly tells Antony to touch Calpurnia to cure her of barrenness when he runs the Lupercal, a “holy race” and fertility festival. Calpurnia has nightmares about Caesar’s death. She claims that she is not naturally super...
Post a Comment
Read more