After reflecting on both Scrooge and the Grinch as the prototypical Christmas haters, I would aver that they are actually protagonists in their respective stories, not antagonists/ villains as they are so often thought of and portrayed. Why?
Firstly, they are definitely each the main character who holds their whole story together.
Secondly, the protagonist is the person trying to accomplish something.
Scrooge attempts to “keep Christmas in his own way” by grumbling, complaining, and refusing to “make merry” like everyone else. His goal is to be left alone, which he strives at throughout the story.
The Grinch wants peace and quiet. He also wants revenge on those who deprive him of such (as an enneagram 9, I can somewhat relate…especially when my 8 wing kicks in). He mightily plots and puts his plan into action to accomplish his goal.
Both protagonists fail to accomplish their goals, only to find a better solution to their problems in the end.
To bring this back to Christmas, their issue is not that they don’t like Christmas. They both have valid reasons for disliking what it brings to them; for Scrooge it brings memories of pain and loss, while for the Grinch it brings noise and a reminder of his exclusion from society.
The actual underlying issues they are dealing with are heavy. Scrooge lost a lot: his mother, a good relationship with his father as a boy, his sister, and the love of his life. He is a man besot with grief, which has made him bitter.
The Grinch may not have experienced loss, but he has experienced loneliness. He has lived outside of the city and society all his life. He is only reminded of his exclusion when the intrusive noise of their jubilation reaches his cliff-dwelling.
This brings me to the Hallmark Christmas movies. I enjoy watching these eveyr year. Yet, routinely, anyone in these movies who is not in the “Christmas spirit” is called a “Grinch” or a “Scrooge.”
It is always later revealed in the narrative that there is a deeper reason the person doesn’t like Christmas. It may remind the character of a loved one who passed, of a failed relationship, or from coming from a somewhat distant or dysfunctional family.
What I am bringing this to is that, at Christmas, you or someone you know might be struggling with “getting into the spirit” for various valid reasons. Calling someone names hardly seems appropriate and also displays an ignorance in our culture, in this case, of the full character of the aforementioned Scrooge and Grinch.
This Christmas, if you or someone you know is struggling, I hope you have people you can talk to who won’t simply call you names or invalidate the difficult emotions surrounding this season.
It’s O.K. to have a tough time. It’s O.K. to need a break from society or celebration. Hopefully one day you will be able to, like these characters, find a place you can be welcomed, accepted, and loved. But for now, Grinch on! (Just please try not to steal other people’s things to make them miserable 😉 )
Also, please enjoy this hilarious parody rap battle between the Grinch and Scrooge:
Classic Reads 