How does Dickens characterize Scrooge's outward appearance?|

In stave one, Ebenezer Scrooge is depicted as an extremely cold, callous businessman who is insensitive, cold-hearted, and miserly. Dickens vividly describes Ebenezer Scrooge by writing,

Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.

Scrooge's character is synonymous with the cold, frigid environment, and his features seem to highlight his miserable, unfriendly demeanor. Dickens further characterizes Scrooge as a bitter, callous man by revealing how the citizens of London go out of their way to avoid him in the street. Even animals purposely avoid Scrooge and never make eye contact with him.

Scrooge is further characterized as a greedy, solitary man during his interactions with his nephew and with his employee, Bob Cratchit. Scrooge rejects his nephew's offer to celebrate Christmas, threatens to fire his employee, and dismisses the two gentlemen collecting holiday donations to the poor. Dickens's portrayal of Scrooge's unfriendly, miserly personality only emphasizes his remarkable transformation after he is visited by three spirits that night. By the end of the story, Scrooge has transformed into a loving, charismatic, friendly man who is generous, warm, and hospitable.

Explanation:

the statement flat characters usually only have one trait that is developed in their story lines is true.

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.