Christmas Carol
Characters
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Main Characters
Secondary Characters
Minor Characters
Bob Cratchit
Scrooge's nephew, Fred
Ebeneezer Scrooge
Ghost of Christmas Present
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Ghost of Christmas Past
Tiny Tim
The charity collectors
Fezziwig
Little Fan
Jacob Marley
Cold-hearted
Ill-mannered
Miserable, tight-fisted but redeemed by the end
Self-deluded
Miserly
"No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him"
Pathetic fallacy - The weather is a metaphor for Scrooge's behaviour as he can't be made either warmer or colder by it
"...as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part."
Indirect speech shows that Scrooge is threatening and in charge. He will not give permission for Cratchit to take more coal
Scrooge is stingy with his money and won't allow his clerk, Bob Cratchit, to have a decent fire to warm him on Christmas Eve.
"Every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart."
His nephew wishes him a 'Merry Christmas' and Scrooge is rude to him in response
His response is comical but unpleasant. He can't accept the generosity that is offered to him so he turns images of Christmas into violence
When he sees Marley he tries to deny its existence by attributing the vision to something he has eaten
"You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese..."
Although Scrooge is afraid of Marley he tries to maintain his authority even over his own senses
Belle
Humble, hardworking and a family man
Obedient
Generous
Sensitive
Fearful
"he tried to warm himself at the candle"
He would rather try to warm himself with a candle than challenge Scrooge
Bob takes orders from his bad-tempered boss without complaining
"I'll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!"
He proposes a toast to Scrooge even on Christmas Day
Scrooge is too miserly to offer Bob Cratchit a decent wage, but Cratchit is generous enough to be grateful to his boss
"My little, little child!" cried Bob. "My little child!"
the repetition of 'little' adds to the sad effect of Bob's cry. We feel sympathy for him at this point
He cries openly when his son Tiny Tim is dead
"It's only once a year, sir," pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank
He is afraid of Scrooge's reaction when he arrives late for work after Christmas Day
Bob 'pleaded' which shows he is worried about being punished by Scrooge
Enthusiastic
Cheerful, generous, kind-hearted
Persistent
Positive
Even when Scrooge puts down all his talk of Christmas festivities, Fred persists with his good cheer
"I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So a Merry Christmas, uncle!"
We learn about Fred's positive nature from his dialogue. Everything he says focuses on the positive aspects of Christmas
"I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him"
Fred refuses to let Scrooge's miserly attitude dampen his sprits
He shows his care for his uncle by pledging to continue visiting him regardless. His concern is revealed by his persistence and pity
"Let him in! It is a mercy he didn't shake his arm off."
When Scrooge finally turns up for Christmas dinner, Fred welcomes hi in
Fred's enthusiasm is evident in his hearty welcome, shaking his uncle's hand with force