In Charles Dickens's novella A Christmas Carol, Marley's ghost, draped in heavy iron chains, explains to Scrooge that he is wearing a chain he himself forged, link by link, yard by yard, during his wretched, misspent lifetime - the links representing his vices, shortcomings, defects of character, etc. - the things that doomed his spirit.
Marley further explains to Scrooge that Scrooge himself is forging a chain much like his own, though Scrooge's chain will be far more weighty, as Scrooge has been working on his for a longer period.
Old Charles Dickens was one insightful mofo.
Are we all indeed forging the chains we will wear in the afterlife? Well, no, I do not believe so, but I do believe we are all indeed wearing chains in this life that we have forged throughout the years. I see them on myself, and I see them on others.
The links of those chains are sometimes evident physically - I see people everyday with permanent scowls on their faces, eyes narrowed in sharp, distrustful glares, or with their bodies kept as compact as possible, arms locked to their sides, as if they were trying to take up as little space on this planet as possible.
It's a sad sight to behold, and one that begs the question, why?
If I passed away tomorrow, I wonder how heavy my chain would be. Not to get too neurotically confessional-like here, but there is no way I can get around the facts of my life. There have been a few occasions in which I wasn't the most upstanding of citizens.
Let's see...there would definitely have to be a link for being a total fcuk up as a kid...and another link for being a total fcuk up as a young adult. Maybe half a link for being an ass in a number of relationships (I'm not about to claim a whole link for that - most of the women I've ever been with were just as screwed up as me, so they get to take 1/2 the load).
There may possibly be a few links for not being as good a friend as I could have been, but then again, maybe not. There have definitely been times when I was a very good friend - there have been several times when I have gone well above and beyond ordinary friendship for a number of friends in fact, so no, there will be no links for not being a good friend. I've definitely been a good friend.
I suppose there would be a few links for the times I was a drain on society. I have to owe up to those times and carry the weight without complaint.
Should each of the seven deadly sins receive a separate link? I'm pretty sure I've been guilty of them all at one time or another.
Though, in my defense, I haven't been extreme in any of them, not by any measure.
Well, maybe by my Mom's measure...and a couple of ex-girlfriends.
Moving right along, I'd say my chain would come in at around 17, 18 links. That's not too bad, is it?
Make a nice stylish belt, or a chain for a pocket watch.
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