Charles Dickens wrote his novella A Christmas Carol in 1843. It is among the most famous Victorian stories and championed a celebration of Christmas and a humanitarian focus of the holiday, coming at a time of significant poverty and inequality in Britain. Dickens wanted people to be generous, compassionate and responsible towards others who were less fortunate.
These beliefs are communicated through unforgettable characters that we'll explore in this article. This includes major characters like Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and the Ghosts. Supporting characters like Fezziwig will also be discussed, with key quotes and plot exams for each. We will show how Dickens uses these characters to highlight key themes, including redemption, kindness and social justice.
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Ebenezer Scrooge
Ebenezer Scrooge is the protagonist, who is presented as cold, harsh and unfeeling. The narrator compares him to flint, which sparks a fire, but Scrooge is incapable of warmth or light. This harsh imagery shows he lacks compassion and humanity:
"hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire."
His famous line, "Bah! Humbug!" makes his attitude to Christmas clear. It is used through the early chapters, showing Scrooge's rejection of joy, generosity and social connection. This rejection of Christmas is telling because the holiday represents these values.
When he is asked to donate to charity, Scrooge is remarkably cold to the suffering of others. He repeats the Victorian belief that the poor were a burden. Dickens clearly wants us to judge Scrooge for this belief, which is shown as a selfish attitude that enabled poverty to continue in Victorian London:
"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
When Scrooge meets the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come, he begins to change. The suffering of Tiny Tim, his own lonely childhood and future death transform Scrooge into a new person. The line below is one of his most important lines, showing his transformation from isolation to compassion:
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
Scrooge represents redemption and hope by the end of Dickens's novella. He shows that empathy and action can facilitate change, both in the individual and society at large.
Bob Cratchit
Bob Cratchit works for Scrooge. He is the opposite of his employer: kind, patient and hopeful, despite being poor and overworked. He represents the working class in Victorian society and their quiet dignity. Through Bob Cratchit's character, Dickens shows that poverty cannot destroy a person and their values, despite the unfairness of the system.
Bob is introduced as he works in a freezing office, being unable to afford heating. He doesn't complain and remains polite while working. This contrasts sharply with the coldness of his employer, and the novel implies that the kindness of Bob is more powerful than money, represented by Scrooge:
"He tried to warm himself at the candle."
When Bob Cratchit's family celebrate Tiny Tim at Christmas, his optimism and strong family values are clear. He symbolises generosity and family unity with his loving home. Dickens implies that happiness is dependent on how you treat the people around you, rather than on wealth:
"'A merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us!' said Bob. 'God bless us every one!' said Tiny Tim."
The importance of Tiny Tim to Bob is clear when his son dies in Scrooge's vision of the future. Bob becomes a tragic symbol of the dangers of poverty, and the reader is encouraged to sympathise with the Cratchit family. The grief of Bob is also shown as a criticism of the social system that fails to support the vulnerable:
"'My little, little child,' cried Bob. 'My little child.'"
Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim is one of the most important characters in Charles Dickens's novella, despite his status, sickness and vulnerability. He represents the innocence and hope of the poor who suffer in Victorian society. As even his name implies, Dickens uses Tim to garner sympathy and recognition of the dangers of greed and inequality.
His early description is simple and effective. We learn that he has a disability and a physical weakness that contrasts with his strong spirit. He is a reminder of the many children who lived in harsh conditions in Victorian Britain, such as being a Chimney Sweep:
"He bore a little crutch, and had his limbs supported by an iron frame."
The quote below shows Tim's religious belief and his kindness when his father explains his behaviour in church. He doesn't complain about his physical limitations and tries to inspire others to be compassionate and charitable. He represents moral goodness:
"He hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk and blind men see."
Tim's most famous line is repeated several times. It is a call for unity, generosity and peace:
Perhaps Tim’s most famous line is repeated several times in the novel:
"God bless us, every one!"
Fred
Fred is Scrooge’s nephew. A cheerful, optimistic person, Fred challenges Scrooge's negative view of Christmas. He represents warmth, generosity and the importance of family. He is a moral contrast to Scrooge and represents the true spirit of Christmas.
He is introduced full of energy and goodwill, excited about the approaching Christmas. He sums up the central message of the novel, which he believes in: Christmas is when people are generous and kind to others:
"I have always thought of Christmas time… as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time."
He pities his uncle for his isolation from others and dislike of Christmas. He is a role model, as he shows patience and empathy despite the cruelty Scrooge displays towards him. He even wishes Scrooge a merry Christmas:
"His offences carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him."
Fred embraces his uncle after Scrooge has changed by the end of the book. Fred forgives him, and they reconcile. Dickens shows that compassion does not need to be complicated and can be as simple as keeping the door open for someone.
Jacob Marley
Scrooge's former business partner, Jacob Marley, dies seven years before the events of the novella. Marley's ghost visits Scrooge, "bound in chains" and money boxes, caused by a life of greed and selfishness. He warns Ebenezer that he has a chance to avoid this fate and will be visited by three spirits:
"He was wrapped in chains, forged in life, link by link, and yard by yard."
Marley's burden is a reminder of his actions. Every "link" represents a moment where he chose money over kindness. The reader is encouraged to reflect that Marley's punishment is self-created. He is both a warning to others and the first step in Ebenezer Scrooge's transformation. He also provides a link to the spirit world.
The quote from Marley below shows his regret at a wasted life. He realises that he should have cared for others instead of prioritising profit and success. The word "business" is used twice to contrast his old beliefs with his new understanding:
"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business."
Marley is, in some ways, a frightening character. Like Scrooge, he was greedy and selfish. However, he is no longer able to change. He knows now that he should have changed his life, but it is too late. Dickens uses Marley to impress the urgency of Scrooge's situation.
The simple line below underlines Dickens' belief that our fate is defined by our choices. Marley symbolises the cost of living without kindness. He is ultimately a tragic figure who triggers the change in Scrooge towards redemption:
"I wear the chain I forged in life."
The Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come
After his encounter with Jacob Marley, Scrooge is visited by three spirits. Each shows a different aspect of Scrooge's life. The Past shows Scrooge's mistakes, the Present reveals the suffering that surrounds him, and the Future shows the consequences of his actions.
The Ghost of Christmas Past
This spirit takes Scrooge back to his childhood and the moments that shaped him. This includes his lonely time at boarding school and the loving relationship with his sister Fan.
The spirit is described almost as a child, a mixture of childhood innocence and ageing regret. It represents memory and reflection:
"It was a strange figure - like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man."
Scrooge witnesses how his lonely childhood and failed relationships lead him to become bitter, cold and selfish. In the quote below, Scrooge is shown to neglect his fiancée, Belle, as he cares about money more than her. It leads to their relationship breaking down:
"Another idol has displaced me… a golden one."
The Ghost of Christmas Present
The next spirit represents kindness, generosity and human connection. It is described as a huge, joyful figure, full of warmth and charity. Scrooge learns what he is missing by separating himself from those around him - the love of the Cratchit family, his welcoming nephew Fred, and the struggles of working people:
"There sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see; who bore a glowing torch."
Before leaving, the spirit reveals two emaciated children called Ignorance and Want. He warns Scrooge to guard against ignorance in particular. Dickens uses these "children" to warn that if Victorian society ignores poverty and education, it will lead to suffering:
"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both."
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
The final ghost is frightening as it shows Scrooge the consequences of his actions. It is described as silent, shrouded and mysterious, a symbol of fate and fear. It doesn't need to speak to Scrooge, because the future is unknown and can't be negotiated:
"It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form."
When Scrooge sees his gravestone, he fully realises what will happen if he doesn't change. The spirit of Christmas Yet to Come forces him to confront who he has become and what this will lead to:
"Am I that man who lay upon the bed?"
Supporting Characters
The Cratchit family
Dickens uses the Cratchit family to show that even the poorest family can enjoy Christmas with hope and dignity. They represent the value of love, belonging and resilience. They still celebrate Christmas despite their financial struggles, and their situation reflects the issues in Victorian society.
The Cratchit family are excited and proud as they prepare Christmas dinner. They are grateful for even a modest goose, which they treat as a feast. Their modest celebration contrasts sharply with Scrooge's wealthy, yet lonely holiday:
"There never was such a goose. Bob said he didn’t believe there ever was such a goose cooked."
When Bob returns from work, Dickens highlights the harsh conditions his family have to endure and the lack of warmth in the winter. Despite this, the Cratchets are warm and caring towards each other. They represent the true spirit of Christmas:
"The clerk’s fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal."
While Bob is inclined to forgive his employer, Mrs Cratchit is unable to praise Scrooge. She is a strong and loyal character, protective towards her husband and children. She reflects the frustration and anger the poor felt towards those who have mistreated them. She is the face of the emotional cost of poverty:
"I’'l drink his health for your sake and the Day’s, not for his."
When the reader sees the future death of Tiny Tim due to his illness, there is a deathly quiet in the Cratchit household. All the laughter in the house has been silenced. it is a direct critique of Victorian society. There is significant social inequality at the time of the novella, and Dickens uses Tiny Tim to argue that nobody should suffer due to poverty:
"Quiet. Very quiet. The noisy little Cratchits were still as statues."
Belle
Scrooge had a fiancée, Belle. She ended their relationship when it was clear Scrooge cared more for money than her. It reinforces Scrooge's obsession with monetary value. Meanwhile, Belle has a new family that is compassionate and generous, to reinforce what Scrooge has lost:
"You fear the world too much."
Fezziwig
Scrooge was an apprentice to Fezziwig when he was younger. However, his business ethics are the complete opposite. Fezziwig is compassionate in his dealings and treats his workers kindly, with goodwill. The description at his warehouse party shows a businessman who is generous and joyful. He spends money on happiness, not just profit:
"The warehouse was as snug and warm and bright a ballroom."
Dickens uses Fezziwig as a direct contrast to Scrooge's attitudes towards business ethics. He shows that kindness doesn't need to be expensive, and work can be coupled with celebration:
"He has the power to render us happy or unhappy."
Ignorance and Want
The Ghost of Christmas Present presents two children. They are emaciated and called "ignorance" and "want". They represent the consequences of poverty and neglect of the working class. Dickens uses their abhorrent appearance to critique society:
"They were yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish."
Ignorance represents the lack of education and compassion. Want expresses hunger and need. Left ignored, it's implied these problems can destroy society, and that change is required:
"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both."
Old Joe
Old Joe is a pawnbroker who buys goods stolen from the deceased Scrooge in the future. He doesn't mourn the loss of Scrooge, and all his personal belongings are sold off callously. It shows the consequence of living without kindness or community:
"Every person has a right to take care of themselves. He always did."
Conclusion - Characters in A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol remains relevant to current readers because of the characters Dickens created and the themes they represent, including compassion and social responsibility. Scrooge represents the damage caused by a life of greed and isolation. By comparison, the Cratchit family stress the far greater importance of kindness, family, and hope. Dickens also utilises a range of supporting characters to critique Victorian society and advocate for more social equality, with the people who have means caring for those who are vulnerable.
For further reading, this article by the British Library explores the historical origins of A Christmas Carol and how it tackles Victorian attitudes of the time. You can also write the Wikipedia article on Charles Dickens to understand how his personal life affects the works he wrote.
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