A Christmas Carol
Characters
Ebenezer Scrooge: the main character of this novel
Fred: Scrooge’s nephew
Fan: sister of Scrooge
Bob Crachit: clerk to Ebenezer Scrooge
Peter Crachit: son of Bob Crachit
Tim Crachit: (Tiny Tim) and youngest son of Bob Crachit
Mrs Crachit: wife of Bob Crachit
Belinda and Martha Crachit: daughters of the proceeding
Mr Fezziwig: a kind-hearted, jovial old merchant
Mrs Fezziwig: Mr Fezziwig’s wife
Dick Wilkins: a fellow-apprentice of Scrooge’s
Ghost of Christmas past: a phantom showing things past
Ghost of Christmas present: a spirit of a kind and generous heart
Ghost of Christmas yet to come: an apparition showing shadows of things that might happen
Ghost of Jacob Marley: spectre of Scrooge’s former partner
Mr Topper:, a bachelor
Joe: a marine dealer and receiver of stolen of goods
Belle: a sweetheart of Scrooge’s
Caroline: wife of one of Scrooge’s debtors
Mrs Dilber: a laundress
Introduction
A Christmas carol was written by Charles Dickens in 1843. This novel was set in London. The central theme to this novel is about Scrooge’s past, present and future experiences of Christmas and his transfiguration from a cold-hearted man to a man to a man who always knows how to spend Christmas. In the beginning of this novel Scrooge is depicted as a cold and heartless man who is shunned by society. This essay will focus on how Dickens engineers Scrooge’s transformation.
Section 1
In the opening of the novel Scroooge is depicted as cold-hearted man that does not care about anyone but himself (p.8 stave 1) “The cold within him froze his old features nipped features, shrivelled his cheek stiffened his gait made his eyes red, his lips blue; and spoke out shrewedly in his grating voice.” In this section of stave 1 Scrooge is used as a metaphor to the cold winter winds and snow and is also depicted as a bad boss to Bob Crachit his assistant who struggles to keep his family fed because he is badly paid by Scrooge.