Stave 1:
This story begins with a strange start where the narrator states that one of the characters, Marley, had died and that there was no doubt about that. Evidence included Scrooge's(the protagonist) signature on the register of his burial. The narrator further emphasises his death, explaining how it is vital for the story to relay its message. However, ironically this emphasis hints that Marley may come back to life in an unprecedented way along with the references to Hamlet, a ghost story.
Although at first we feel for the two of them, we instantly recognise Scrooge as a miserly and unsympathetic person because he had got a bargain out of Marley's funeral even though he had been his only friend before passing. In addition, Scrooge also does not keep his counting house warm in Christmas time in order to save on coal and treats his employee Bob Cratchit, who has a smaller fire than him, very poorly. No one talked to him on the streets and not even the beggars asked him for money- his cold personality was already well-known. However, it is revealed that Scrooge liked it that way: a way in which he is alone with his money highlighting his greed.
Later on, Scrooge's nephew Fred comes to wish him a merry Christmas and invite him to Christmas dinner. Fred is a foil to Scrooge because he highlights the negativity of him and vice versa. Scrooge replies saying "Bah! Humbug!" which he says when he dismisses something. This is because he argues that Fred should not be happy because he is poor and even proceeds to condemn those that waste time being happy and generous instead of making money to death. This is also ironic because later it is he who finds out that he has condemned himself to death through his selfish and cold ways.