The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain by Charles Dickens is a mid-19th century novel centered on Mr. Redlaw, a lonely chemist burdened by past sorrows, regrets, and wounds. As the story unfolds, the appearance of a spectral figure raises questions about memory, loss, and the human condition.
The opening of the novel presents Mr. Redlaw as a reclusive figure trapped in a melancholic existence, setting a chilling atmosphere that highlights his inner turmoil. Through a series of introspective monologues, he encounters a ghostly apparition that mirrors his own haunted state. This ghost offers him a disturbing proposition: to forget all sorrows and troubles and to spread this forgetfulness to others. The contrast between Redlaw’s tortured memories and the warmth of family life surrounding him?embodied by a kind-hearted woman caring for a sick student?introduces a profound exploration of the cost of forgetting and the essence of true happiness.

CHAPTER I. The Gift Bestowed
CHAPTER II. The Gift Diffused
CHAPTER III. The Gift Reversed