Another Christmas Carol
Posted by Hiraghm 12 years, 2 months ago to Entertainment
I've taken a start on a Randian version of the Christmas Carol; I don't know that I'll finish before Christmas, but I thought I'd share the bit I've managed thus far, to see if I've got a feel for it.
The idea is that the main character is a failure instead of a success, and is visited by the ghost of another failure and the 3 ghosts of Christmas, who teach him the premises of Rand's philosophy, including productivity, self-love, and trading value for value.
Anyway, here's the first few paragraphs:
----
Grey snow fell from the grey sky and accumulated on the grey streets below. Grey smoke billowed from once-brown and once-red chimney tops, now grey with soot. Black carriages, faded to grey, timeworn by the sun and wind, hissed steadily behind the wet clopping of horses made grey by the ever-present snow. The world was lost in shades of grey shadow, cast by the late afternoon sunlight which managed to slide its grey way through the heavy grey clouds.
A small figure huddled his way between the crowds of revelers... well, soon-to-be revelers. For it was Christmas eve, and the multitudes were busying themselves seeking last-minute gifts, performing last-minute chores, running last-minute errands. The figure, clad in remnant rags which had once been stylish, before the previous owner declared them passe' and passed them on to the rubbish heap... and thence onto the figure's frail body. With each breath of the winter breeze, the figure shuddered in sympathy.
The figure's destination was the intersection of an alley with this cobblestoned street, three blocks hence. His haste was due to the lateness of the hour, and with it the decreasing likelihood of a charitable contribution of scraps from the restaurant located there.
His name was Noodge, and his last meal had been 3 days ago. An unexpected bounty, the result of a collier making port and being run aground by her drunken pilot. After day's labor helping to offload it, he refused the proffered pay; he'd joined in to empty the vessel to assist the ship owner return to schedule, and to see its load of coal get to the households that needed it in this wintry weather. Upon his refusal, the ship owner insisted on at least feeding him. While his pride rejected the generosity, his stomach made more urgent demands.
The idea is that the main character is a failure instead of a success, and is visited by the ghost of another failure and the 3 ghosts of Christmas, who teach him the premises of Rand's philosophy, including productivity, self-love, and trading value for value.
Anyway, here's the first few paragraphs:
----
Grey snow fell from the grey sky and accumulated on the grey streets below. Grey smoke billowed from once-brown and once-red chimney tops, now grey with soot. Black carriages, faded to grey, timeworn by the sun and wind, hissed steadily behind the wet clopping of horses made grey by the ever-present snow. The world was lost in shades of grey shadow, cast by the late afternoon sunlight which managed to slide its grey way through the heavy grey clouds.
A small figure huddled his way between the crowds of revelers... well, soon-to-be revelers. For it was Christmas eve, and the multitudes were busying themselves seeking last-minute gifts, performing last-minute chores, running last-minute errands. The figure, clad in remnant rags which had once been stylish, before the previous owner declared them passe' and passed them on to the rubbish heap... and thence onto the figure's frail body. With each breath of the winter breeze, the figure shuddered in sympathy.
The figure's destination was the intersection of an alley with this cobblestoned street, three blocks hence. His haste was due to the lateness of the hour, and with it the decreasing likelihood of a charitable contribution of scraps from the restaurant located there.
His name was Noodge, and his last meal had been 3 days ago. An unexpected bounty, the result of a collier making port and being run aground by her drunken pilot. After day's labor helping to offload it, he refused the proffered pay; he'd joined in to empty the vessel to assist the ship owner return to schedule, and to see its load of coal get to the households that needed it in this wintry weather. Upon his refusal, the ship owner insisted on at least feeding him. While his pride rejected the generosity, his stomach made more urgent demands.
Noodge is where he is because he made bad decisions. He's broke, hungry, and about to starve/freeze to death because feeling good about himself was more important than trading value for value.
We weren't supposed to like Scroodge in the beginning either, were we?
It's not an easy theme to rewrite, I'm discovering :(
I don't know whether to conclude that it's so perfect it needs no commentary, or if it's so far off-track that people are shocked into silence.