The Ghost of Christmas Past shows how Scrooge came to be the way he is. It represents the importance of formative experience and memory in shaping who we are in the present. From his reactions to the past events shown to him, Scrooge does not appear to be a man with much use for reminiscing, implying he never learned from his past mistakes, because he never properly ruminated on them. For example, he was treated coldly by his father as a young boy; instead of taking that as a sign of what not to be, he never learned from his own suffering.
The Ghost of Christmas Present emphasizes the importance of doing what one can to make the world a better, more joyful place in the here and now. He spends most of his time showing Scrooge the conduct of the Cratchit family. In spite of their poverty and hardships, they still have love and joy in their hearts, which gives the wealthy Scrooge no excuse for his dour, cold approach to life. By observing the Cratchits at home, Scrooge comes to feel greater compassion for them, especially the ill Tiny Tim.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the awareness of the inevitability of death. Everyone dies, rich or poor, good or bad. Scrooge's awareness of this makes him realize how much time he has wasted being bitter and prompts him to do all he can to shower goodwill upon his fellow man in the time he has allotted to him.
In A Christmas Carol, each ghost symbolizes a different psychological aspect of Scrooge's transformation.
Firstly, the Ghost of Christmas Past represents the importance of memory—specifically, acknowledging and learning from the past. While Scrooge has tried to repress the painful memories of his past, like the end of his engagement to Belle, these memories serve an important purpose. By remembering the pain he felt, Scrooge ensures that he will not make the same mistakes a second time.
Similarly, the Ghost of Christmas Present represents kindness, compassion, and generosity, traits which we associate with the Christmas spirit. Scrooge learns how important the Christmas spirit is through observing the Cratchit family. Though they have no money, the Cratchit's are rich in love and compassion, which ensures that they enjoy Christmas every year.
Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the fear of death. When Scrooge sees his grave, for example, it makes him confront this fear. By doing so, he realizes that he must change now or face death alone.
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