One New Year's Eve, Trotty, a ticket-porter or casual messenger, is filled with gloom at the reports of crime and immorality in the newspapers, and wonders whether the working classes are simply wicked by nature. His daughter Meg and her long-time fiancé Richard arrive and announce their decision to marry next day.
The story is a tale of redemption and the power of kindness, set against the backdrop of a society marked by poverty and inequality. The protagonist, Trotty Veck, is a poor and disheartened elderly man who has lost hope in the world and in himself. On New Year's Eve, Trotty is visited by three goblins who show him visions of a bleak future and the suffering of the poor. However, the goblins also offer Trotty a message of hope and a reminder of the importance of love, charity, and compassion. The novella ends on a hopeful note, as Trotty's spirits are lifted and he is reminded of the power of good deeds and the power of the human spirit. The Chimes is a moving and powerful story that demonstrates Dickens' mastery of storytelling and his commitment to social justice.