Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain

The Haunted Man

A novella by Charles Dickens, first published in 1848. It is the fifth and last of Dickens’ Christmas novellas. The tale centers on a Professor named Redlaw and those close to him. In this story, Dickens narrates the hair-raising experiences of the professor. As the protagonist dwells on his past sorrows and mistakes, a phantom visits him. It suggests him a bizarre escape from painful recollections of yesteryear by offering to eradicate his memory. On seeing the professor turn into a man devoid of emotions, the reader realizes how empty one becomes without a past. The Haunted Man epitomizes the genius of Charles Dickens. Featuring the breathless suspense, colorful characters, and witty humor that has made Dickens such a beloved author, the story also tackles some of the deepest philosophical and theological questions ever raised in his writings. His answer to “the problem of evil” is of both literary and religious interest.