In contrast Dickens likes Scrooges nephew. Freddie represents completely different attitudes. Dickens describes him as a nice boy in which is the complete opposite of Scrooge for instance ‘This nephew of Scrooges was all in a glow, his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled’ this puts a picture in the readers head that Freddy is a happy optimistic person unlike his uncle. Another example of Freddy’s happiness is when he says ‘ I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time’ this is suggesting that his views on Christmas are a lot different to that of his uncles and the words he uses to describe what Christmas should be about also help describe himself.
The three ghosts organise the story. The ghost of Christmas past helps the reader to understand Scrooge. The ghost shows Scrooge the shadows of past Christmas’s in which he is a part of as a little boy. This upsets Scrooge and helps to reader see a softer side of him, for example ‘At one of these a lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire; and Scrooge wept to see his poor forgotten self.’ By using the word ‘Forgotten’ its leads the reader to believe that there is no side of Scrooge that is like this anymore however shows us that Scrooge was a poor lonely boy at Christmas, helping us to understand why he hates Christmas.
Dickens also likes Fezziwig, Who Scrooge worked for as a young man. The ghost of Christmas past shows Fezziwig enjoying Christmas. He uses warm vocabulary ‘Called out in a comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial voice.’ He also describes his movements as happy for instants ‘Skipping down the high desk, with wonderful agility.’ This portrays him as a cheerful jolly man, indicating that Dickens is fond of him. However is it clear at this young age that Scrooge isn’t enjoying Christmas, as Fezziwig states ‘Cheer up Ebenezer’ this shows that he has never been a fan of Christmas even as a child.
The ghost of Christmas present shows the Cratchit family and Freddie’s family enjoying Christmas. Dickens clearly values family life as he presents the family as being happy and appreciating Christmas. He shows them as being caring and kind to one another, an example of this is ‘Bob took Tiny Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table; the two young Cratchit's set chairs for everybody, not forgetting themselves.’ This show’s that the families like to do things for one another and that they are very enthusiastic about Christmas. Another example of this is ‘Master Peter mashed the potatoes, Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates’ this is also showing that everyone is pitching in and giving their help. There is a few Cases of Dickens talking in a pessimistic tone however then brightening the mood turning his point to being optimistic for instants ‘Then up rose Mrs Cratchit dressed out poorly in a twice-turned dress, but brave in ribbons.’ This shows a softer side of Dickens and also shows that even though Mrs Cratchit hasn’t got the best of clothes but she has really tried for this occasion and has dressed it up in ribbons which show’s this is an important day for her as she has made an effort. Another case of this is ‘They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed but they were happy.’ This is suggesting that the family are warm and that Dickens has too warmed to them and that he values their presence. There is also a sense of humour as shown ‘If you should happen to know a man more blest in a laugh than Scrooge’s nephew I should like to know him to.’ This comes across to the reader as a joke and is said in a humour-like way again showing a happy tone.
Dickens uses the family of Freddie’s to show that having fun is important. He uses warm images to describe this family. For example ‘She was pretty, the sunniest pair of eyes you ever saw.’ This suggests a calm imagery and includes the reader; it also implies that she stands out from the other girls. He furthermore goes on to create another warm form of imagery ‘Because they had dinner and with the dessert upon the table, were clustered round the fire by lamplight.’ This is creates a happy theme and helps show the importance of happiness.
In contrast Dickens uses the comic characters of the charwoman, the laundress and the undertaker to create sympathy for scrooge.
