he's already dead when the story is told. they never really say why.
Christmas Eve 1837
In Charles Dickens' book "A Christmas Carol", it is not stated just how Scrooge's business partner, Jacob Marley died. All that is known is that he died seven years prior to the events of the story.
Marley died 7 years ago, on Christmas Eve.Seven years prior to the beginning of the Christmas Carol
He had been dead 7 years at the start of the story which was written in 1843. Therefore its assumed that Marley died Christmas 1836
Jacob Marley died in 1836 at the age of 53 (born 1783)
He died on Christmas Eve seven years prior to the story being told. - Its impossible to give apage number as book layouts and version vary but it will be found in Stave one - Reference to Marley dying is made to the two businessmen seeking a charitable donation from Scrooge
In Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol," Jacob Marley died seven years prior to the events of the story. His ghost appears to Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve to warn him of the consequences of his miserly ways.
They are Jacob Marley, The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost of Christmas Present and The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. The first ghost is Jacob Marley, Scrooge's late business partner, warning him of continuing in miserly ways. Second, the Ghost of Christmas Past, who showed him how he used to be warm and generous and how he has changed into a mean and miserly man. Third, the Ghost of Christmas Present shows him that in the homes of both Bob Cratchit and Scrooge's nephew Fred, he is toasted in goodwill and affection (by most people). He explains how want and ignorance will destroy society if we do not learn to care for each other. Fourth, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come takes Scrooge to a vision of how he will die.
Ihbbojgiuvihv
It was assumed he would die that very Christmas Eve. IN the book it eludes to Scrooge having a slight cold and this is why he was to eat warmed gruel left for him by his housekeeper. Marley's arrival was to be the last chance that Scrooge would have o make changes in his life
There are four ghosts in the story - Marley- and the three tenses of Christmasses Past, present, and yet to come... but curiously nobody ( in time synch) dies in the story. contrary to some ideas- Tiny Tim does not die in the tale.
Based on the fore telling of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come Scrooge would die that very Christmas (1843)