Issues and Where They Are Present In The Story

• Greed

Scrooge's whole existence is based around greed. He is completely consumed by money and wealth. Even at his partner's funeral he executed a business transaction. His late business partner Jacob Marley was also ruled by greed until he learns the error of his ways once he has passed.

• Poverty

Poverty is prevalent within this story. Other than Scrooge and his family there are very few people who possess wealth. The missionaries highlight the magnitude of the issue during the Victorian era.

• Illness/Disability

The majority of illness/disability within this novel is a direct cause of poverty. This is emphasized through the introduction of Tiny Tim. Due to the Cratchitt family's financial standing they are unable to fund the medical costs which would be incurred to treat his condition. 

• Past effecting future

This is the epitome of the story. It is based around the butterfly effect and how the smallest thing can make the biggest difference. In order to truly affect Scrooge and teach him their important lesson, the ghosts show that due to Scrooge's cruel, unfeeling ways he would not only die alone with no-one to mourn his passing, but he would also be the direct cause of Tiny Tim's death. This is also shown through the chains that Marley bares as a ghost. Each link of the chain symbolises his own greed during his life.

• Loss

During Ebenezer's time with The Ghost of Christmas Past we are shown just how much he has lost. Most of these losses are his relationships with people he had once been close to. 
One of the most iconic losses within A Christmas Carol is the loss of his first love, Belle. Their engagement had been called off by Belle due to his overwhelming obsession with expanding his fortune. He had replaced his love for her with his lust for money and, consequently, lost his chance of happiness. 
We also learn of his sister, Fan's death to childbirth. He had once been close to Fan and, through his resentment, also lost his relationship with his nephew Fred.
However, one of the first losses we learn of is the loss of his business partner, Jacob Marley. This would have been a tremendous loss in Scrooge's eyes. Not only did they gain their fortunes together, but Marley was also one of the only people that remained close to Scrooge after his consumption of wealth. Marley seems to be the only person within the story with similar goals to Scrooge.
Other than these relationship losses he also loses himself. We are made aware that Scrooge was not always this way. He was once a person that enjoyed life while being Fezziwig's apprentice. He forgets about all his other hopes and dreams when he becomes engrossed with gaining wealth.

• Regret, Remorse and Redemption

All three of these are evident throughout the story. As the visits from the three spirits progress Scrooge grows more and more aware of all the mistakes he has made within his life. This gives him the motivation to try and become a better person. 
Another person that shows a huge amount of regret is Marley. As a ghost he is forced to carry around tonnes of chain to symbolise all of his wrong-doings from his life. As repayment he is trying to warn Scrooge as to prevent the same fate befalling him.
Although it is not specified, the Chistmas Spirits might also be trying to make amends for their actions in past lives.

• Status

Like most stories based in the Victorian period, status is very clear in society. However, this also has added statuses with the story line and the ghosts.
For the story the ghosts have a very high status. This is because, although they cannot be put into a social class, they have a lot of power over Scrooge despite the fact that usually he would be of quite high standing.
Status is very important to Scrooge. This is evident when Belle points out that he would not pick her later on in his life due to her being dowerless. He would never marry under him, even for love.
There is a very obvious difference between the upper and lower class. I think that this is shown very clearly through the two different Christmas celebrations: Cratchitt's and Fred's.

• Equality

Again, this is shown predominantly through Cratchitt's family. Although they are perfectly happy they are in the lower class so cannot afford very much at all.
Within the script it shows a certain lack of equality between genders. Almost all of the male characters are given a name, excluding certain members such as Belle's Husband and Boy. Whereas a large number of the female cast are given names such as Fred's Wife and Mrs. Cratchitt. This reflects greatly on the views of gender during this era.

• Love

As well as the range of negative issues shown in the story, there is also a large amount of love displayed within it.
- Belle and Scrooge.
- Cratchit's family
- Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim
- Fred to Scrooge
- Theodore and Caroline
- Marley and Scrooge
- Fan and Scrooge
- Fezziwig and Mrs. Fezziwig
- Fezziwig family
- Fezziwig and employees
- Dick and Scrooge
- Belle and her daughter
- Belle and her husband
- Bob and Mrs. Cratchit
- Townspeople and Christmas
- Scrooge and his new life

• Salvation

-A Christmas Carol is the whole process of Scrooge learning of his salvation. All of the spirits involved are trying to show Scrooge that he can be saved from himself and prevent the fate shown to him.