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Kati Ford on 08 Dec 11Argument- Author observes a connection between Charles Dicken's, "A Christmas Carol" and Dante's "Inferno". Claims- Both stories revolve around Christian holidays (Dante's story takes place between Black Friday and Easter and Dicken's story from Christmas Eve to Christmas). In addition, both have 3 main parts and have characters that are guided by ghosts/spirits. The main character of both stories struggle with overcoming internal selfishness to receive personal salvation. Evidence- "Deliberately dedicated to religious themes, both stories encourage us to rise above selfishness in order that we may lead a Christian life and thereby attain personal salvation. Though The Divine Comedy is crowded with a multitude of sinners, its plot tracks the spiritual trajectory of a single flawed human being, Dante himself. Similarly, the narrative line of A Christmas Carol follows the spiritual progression of another flawed individual, Ebenezer Scrooge" (Bertman 167). "Each "traveler," Dante and Scrooge, finally arises from his dream-like state to a new vision of life's glorious possibilities" (Bertman 167).