Final answer:
Scrooge and his nephew differ mainly in their attitudes towards life; Scrooge is miserly and dismissive of Christmas, while his nephew is joyful and embraces the festive spirit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major point of difference between Scrooge and his nephew in A Christmas Carol can be summarized by their contrasting attitudes towards life and people. Scrooge is depicted as a miserly and cold-hearted individual, who views Christmas as a 'humbug' and lacks compassion towards the less fortunate. In contrast, Scrooge's nephew is full of the Christmas spirit, joyful, sociable, and kind-hearted, representing the antithesis of his uncle's grim outlook.
For example, while Scrooge dismisses Christmas as a time for finding oneself 'a year older and not an hour richer,' his nephew embraces it as a 'kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time.'
This fundamental difference in their worldviews is emphasized throughout the narrative, underscoring the transformation that Scrooge must undergo to align more closely with the positive values embodied by his nephew.