Scrooge was a wealthy businessman who had become cold and greedy over the years. He saw Christmas as a frivolous holiday that wasted time and money. He believed that people should focus on their work and their own self-interest, and that giving to others was a waste of resources. Scrooge had lost touch with his sense of compassion and generosity, and he saw Christmas as a distraction from what he believed was the true purpose of life - to accumulate wealth and power.