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The Cratchit family (The Cratchit children are hard working, Bob Cratchit…
The Cratchit family
The Cratchit children are hard working
Bob Cratchit is Scrooge's employee
As Scrooge's clerk, Bob is uncomplaining and tolerant. He works quietly in his "dismal little cell" of an office despite the bitter cold.
He's corteous and deferential- he returns Fred's greetings "cordially" and addresses Scrooge as "sir".
Bob is patient when Scrooge grumbles about his taking Christmas day off. Bob remains civil despite Scrooge's continually grumpy attitude.
His eagerness and pleasure regarding Christmas contrast with Scrooge's attitude Bob can't help applauding Fred's speech about the joy of Christmas- which contrasts with Scrooge's grumpy response: "Humbug!"
Mrs Cratchit is good natured and busy
Mrs Cratchit works hard to make the Cratchit family happy. The Christmas goose has to be "eeked out" to feed the whole family, but the Cratchits greet the food with "universal admiration."
Although she thinks Scrooge is an "odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man", she stills drinks to his health, because Bob wants her to and she loves him.
When Tim dies she's protective of her family's feelings. She speaks in a "steady, cheerful, voice" and hides her "weak eyes from bob- she doesn't want to add to his worries."
The Cratchits are presented as a perfect, good family. Dickens idealises the Cratchits so that his middle and upper class readers would be more likely to sympathise with them more than if they were realistic and flawed.
Tim is frail- but he doesn't complain
Dickens presents Tiny Tim as a good character by showing us his religious nature. Tim hopes people see him in church, because he wants to remind people about "who made lame beggars walk" (Jesus). He also echoes his father's toast- "God bless us every one!"
Dickens also uses Tim to show how poverty can lead to suffering and death. If Scrooge hadn't helped the Cratchits, Tiny Tim could have died
Tiny Tim is fragile and very ill. His father carries him on his shoulders and is especially close to him, whilst Tim's siblings make sure that he joins in all the fun.
Religion was very important part of Victorian society.
The Cratchits are poor but loving
Mr and Mrs Cratchit have six children- Martha, Peter, Belinda, two "smaller Cratchits" and Tiny Tim. Except for Martha, they all live under the same four-roomed house. They're loving and cheerful despite their poverty.
Dickens' depiction of the Cratchits reminds the reader that the poor are not just a social problem- they're individuals and families who share joys, sorrows and tears like anyone else.
Unlike Scrooge, who's rich but lonely, the Cratchit family are poor but rich in love. The Cratchit's happiness shows that family and companionship is more likely to bring happiness than money.
He's also a kind ad devoted father
Bob Cratchit is.....
cheerful: "Bob was very cheerful with them."
loving: "Bob hugged his daughter to his heart's content."
forgiving: "Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!"