So you think know "A Christmas Carol"? Which one of these questions would surprise you if you knew the answer?22 of 25
What is the exact number of brothers does the Ghost of Christmas Present (TSOCP) have when he says this paradoxical statement,
"" Have never walked forth with the younger members of my family; meaning (for I am very young) my elder brothers born these later years?" pursued the Phantom.when this book was published? Since the Ghost rapidly grows old during his visit and says that he dies at the end of the Christmas Holidays (deliberately worded that way because Dickens uses that term in that chapter - "Holidays", not "Holiday"), it is logical to deduce that each Christmas season has it's own Ghost of Christmas Present. Also he says, that he had "More than eighteen hundred" in reply to Scrooge's question if he had many brothers. That was a reference to the years. Since the book was published in 1843, he was TSOCP of 1843. Therefore, he had 1842 elder brothers whose year numbers were less than his thus giving the appearance on numbers alone to be younger than him. Hence explaining the younger/elder paradox of his statement that was written in the past tense. Not the future tense or present tense.
TitlesA Christmas Carol
LanguagesEnglish