Home Alone 1 And 2: 20 Easter Eggs, References & In-Jokes
6. Old Man Marley Is A Reference To A Christmas Carol
Its strange rewatching Home Alone with the knowledge Old Man Marley is actually a gentle soul; after all, he appears to go out of his way to freak Kevin out on several occasions, like the scene in the supermarket. Regardless, he and Kevin become fast friends towards the end of the movie, with his sage advice giving Kevin the strength to defend his home and reconcile with his family. Literature fans might note that Marley is the same name as Ebenezer Scrooges old business partner in A Christmas Carol, whose ghost comes to visit his old friend and plead with him to change his ways before he ends up alone. Old Man Marley basically serves the same function in Home Alone; hes a reminder of what happens when someone lets pride get in the way of family, and they both convince the protagonists not to end up the same way.
