Ebenezer Scrooge was a miser who isolated himself from others. On a freezing Christmas Eve, however, he met three spirits symbolizing his past, present, and future and learned to be caring, loving, and generous toward those in need. Charles Dickens depicts the dark side of the Industrial Revolution and capitalism in the 19th century in this story with his keen observations, leading readers in the 21st century to reflect upon present-day social injustice.