The Ghost of Christmas Present is a fictional character in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. They are the second spirit and first appear in Stave Three and are portrayed as a huge character, who looks like Father Christmas and first appears in Scrooge's room, surrounded by a feast and in a room full of presents.
This ghost shows Scrooge visions of the world on Christmas Day, including images of festivity at Bob Cratchit's while the family eat Christmas dinner.
The ghost then shows Scrooge's nephew, Fred and his friends while they are playing party games after their Christmas dinner.
Afterwards, the ghost shows Scrooge two 'yellow, impoverished' kids who are hidden underneath its robe before leaving. These are referred to as Ignorance and Want, and they serve as a warning to Scrooge to alter his ways. The spirit reminds Scrooge to 'beware them both', causing self-hatred for Scrooge.
Before vanishing at midnight, the spirit reminds the reader that poverty is not only an issue of the past or future, but also of the present, and mocks Scrooge's concern for their well-being.
After the ghost vanishes and slowly disappears into a skeleton, Scrooge meets the next ghost, Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.
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