Question

When Scrooge tells Marley that Marley was always “a good man of business,” in Act I, Scene 3 of A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley, Marley responds, “BUSINESS!!! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, benevolence, were all, my business.” In a paragraph, explain what you think Marley means by these words. Use details about Marley from the play to support your opinion.

Answer 1

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Answer 2

By these words, it seems that Marley is talking about the idea of being concerned for other rather than just with oneself (the collective vs. the individual).

Scrooge is a very miserly person; he has no desire to share his money and is only concerned with making more, regardless of his lack of relationships with anyone else.

Marley, on the other hand, is trying to show that other people are more important than personal wealth.

Essentially, he isn't trying to teach Scrooge to change his miserly ways and instead become charitable and generous.