The Cratchit Family

The Cratchit Family

1. Family

   • Loving and jolly, despite being a poor family.
     • Opposite of Scrooge- Scrooge is rich but lonely, while the Cratchit family are poor but ares strong with their family relationship.
     • Reminds the reader that the poor are not just a social problem- but also families which share happiness, love, sorrows and fears just like anyone else.
     • Shows Scrooge that money isn't everything.
   • Allowed the upper and middle-class readers to sympathise with them.
   • Clothes and shoes are worn and they have few possessions.

2. Bob Cratchit

   • Uncomplaining and tolerant.
     • Works in his "dismal little cell".
     • Patient when Scrooge is unhappy about him taking Christmas day off.
     • Civil despite Scrooge's attitude.
   • Courteous and deferential.
     • Returns Fred's greeting "cordially".
   • His character contrasts with that of Scrooge- he has a great eagerness and pleasure for Christmas.
     • Bob Cratchit applauds Fred's speech about the joy of Christmas, while Scrooge replies with "Humbug!"
   • He shows a lot of care towards his family.
     • Good humoured and playful father.
       • Carries Tiny Tim hom from the Christmas church service on his shoulders, and takes twenty turns sliding down an icy street, even though he wasn't wearing a jacket.
     • He is upset when thinking that Martha is not joining the family for Christmas, and hugs her "to his hearts content" when she appears.
       • It is very important to him to celebrate Christmas as a whole family.
     • In Scrooge's vision of the future, despite Bob Cratchit's grief about Tiny Tim's death, he tries to be cheerful around his family, in order to save them from more pain.
       • "'I am very happy' said little Bob".
   • 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!"
   • Bob is used to show how Scrooge treats people.
     • Not allowed coal for the fire.
     • Only gets one day off for Christmas.
     • Badly paid.

3. Mrs Cratchit

   • Works hard to make the family happy.
     • The Cratchits greet her food with "universal admiration".
   • Protective of her family's feelings when Tiny Tim dies.
     • Speaks in a "steady, cheerful voice" and hides her "weak eyes" from Bob.

4. Tiny Tim

   • Fragile and very ill.
     • Used to show how poverty can lead to suffering and death.
   • Presented as a good character by showing his religious nature.
     • Hopes people see him in church, because he wants to remind people about "who made lame beggars walk".
     • "God bless us every one!"
     • Effective as religion was an important part of everyday life in society.

5. Cratchit Children

   • Peter likes the idea of being rich and upper class.
     • Proudly wears Bob's "shirt collar"
     • "yearned to show his linen in fashionable parks".
   • Challenge beliefs that suggested that poverty was linked to laziness.
     • Work as a family to help out with the Christmas dinner.