'A Christmas Carol' remains one of the Charles Dickens' most celebrated novels. Published in 1843, it recounts the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly mean-spirited miser who is forced to reflect upon his life and deeds by four ghosts who visit him on the night of Christmas Eve. From the book, the word 'scrooge' emerged to describe someone who is mean and selfish and stingy with money. But through Ebenezer Scrooge, Dickens was also examining the social climate of the day and, perhaps more pertinently, the character's inability to embrace happiness other than through material wealth. In fact, modern-day psychologists have diagnosed Dickens' fictional miser with various mental health disorders. So, what exactly does it mean to be a scrooge, and what are the characteristics typically associated with the description?
Click through and read up on what really defines Ebenezer Scrooge.