4. Ebenezer Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
Who: Ebenezer Scrooge of Scrooge and Marley Inc. London England and chief character in the novel A Christmas Carol.
Why: Well if you didn't know who Scrooge was, I'll quote dickens directly and at length when he states that Scrooge was: "... a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!" with such a cold unfeeling disposition that froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue, and he spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice" Dickens goes on to say that: "Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, "My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?" No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Even the blind men's dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, "No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mceLlYaC8co Over the years, throughout many film adaptations we've seen scrooge unload his particularly nasty form of venom on the general population of London at whole including but not limited too: Bob Cratchit and family, his only nephew Fred and his family, and the general poor and downtrodden of London, England. He dislikes everyone and had no ambition or feeling toward anything but the almighty dollar. Chief among his sins though is his disdain of Christmas, which he views as a nonsensical holiday, which profits him nothing. In other words (in his words exactly) he believes that Christmas is nothing but a Humbug. Redemption?: Surely such a wretched creature is beyond salvation. What miraculous event, what joyous happening could ever befall such a horrid man as to make him change his ways and repent of his folly. Well for those who have yet to read A Christmas Carol (as if that is even possible) I wont spoil for you the miraculous things that befall the man, but rather will leave you with a picture of how he appeared at the end of the book, after all that had befallen him had profoundly altered his life's course. To Quote Dickens: "He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwvywTIAypA "May that truly be said of us, and all of us!"
3. Mr Potter: It's A Wonderful Life
Who: Mr. Henry F. Potter mill owner, banker, slum lord, owner of Potterville in an alternate reality in the film Its A Wonderful Life
Why: Scrooge was small change to Mr. Potter. I think everybody knew deep down that Scrooge was a good guy. He had just buried his better self under years of cold unfeeling bitterness and cruelty. A little divine intervention and our man Scrooge was back on the right track. Sadly I don't think that any form of divine intervention could save Mr. Potter. Potter relished being a bad guy. As the chief antagonist to George Bailey in its a wonderful life he did his best to make George's life miserable by looking to steal his business (the Bailey Business and Loan) for himself and put the people that George helping under his crooked thumb. His attempts over the years to do so helped drive George's father (the original owner of the Building and Loan) to the grave and almost drove George himself to Suicide if it had not had been for his Guardian Angel Clarence, George would have went through with it too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4ne13Zft9Q
Redemption?: George and his business are saved, thanks to a new outlook on life and a little help from some friends. However Potter still remains the covetous old sinner and very content to do so till the last frame of the movie flickers. Its a strange thought to consider, that in a film that is considered so full of joy, hope and compassion, that there is no redemption for the bad guy at the end. Why should he. The only one George should have been concerned about is himself. Potter was a "warped frustrated old man" and George let that make him into a "warped frustrated young man" by trying to beat Potter. What George found out at the end of the film was that he had Potter beat all along. He has love in his life and friends who care about him. All Potter has is his hatred, his money, and his wheel chair. Its funny to consider, how that the man with all the money and power can be by nature of his disposition a poor man, and the man with no money and power, but rich in love in abundance and family, is a rich man. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzraYNG8ZH4