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Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
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The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (also known as The Ghost of Christmas Future) is a character in English novelist Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The Ghost, never spoke or identified itself by name; but, in the original book, Scrooge initially called it 'The Spirit of Christmas Future', and, later, 'Christmas Future'.[1]
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the last of the three spirits (after the visitation by Jacob Marley) that haunts the miser Ebenezer Scrooge, in order to prompt him to adopt a more caring attitude in life and avoid the horrid afterlife of Marley. Most people find the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come the most fearsome of the spirits; it appeared to Scrooge as a figure entirely muffled in a black hooded robe, except for a single gaunt hand with which it pointed. Although the character never speaks in the story; Scrooge seems to be able to get its messages, usually as assumptions due to his previous experiences.
"The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge bent down upon his knee; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand...It thrilled [Scrooge] with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black."
When the Ghost makes its appearance, the first thing it shows Scrooge is three wealthy gentlemen making light of a recent death, remarking that it'll be a cheap funeral, and they'd only go if lunch was provided. Next, Scrooge is shown the same dead person's belongings being stolen and pawned. He also sees a shrouded corpse he implores not to unmask and a poor, debtor family rejoicing that someone to whom they owed money is dead. After pleading to the ghost to see kindness connected with death, Scrooge is shown Bob Cratchit and his family mourning the passing of Tiny Tim. Scrooge is then taken to the local churchyard, where he is shown his own grave, and realizes that the dead man the others spoke ill of was him. Implied, however, is that the future does not have to be — but Scrooge must change himself if he is to change his future. Since the future was about Scrooge's death and the Ghost's general appearance, the Ghost might really be the Grim Reaper.
In the 1983 Disney film version of the story (Mickey's Christmas Carol), the Ghost was played by Black Pete. In the 1970 film Scrooge, the Ghost pulled back its hood and sleeves, revealing a skeletonized individual. The ghost's true appearance startled Scrooge into falling into his grave.