A Christmas Carol Character Quotations edexcel 3-19th-Century-Novel

Key word or phrase to memorise: “paying bills without money”

What the quotation means:

Scrooge tells his nephew that Christmas is not a happy time for him as it is costly and leaves him poorer each year, mainly because he has to pay wages without any return

Theme: Poverty

• Dickens immediately introduces Scrooge as mean and miserable:

  • This is highlighted by contrasting Scrooge’s response to Fred’s cheerful and charitable characteristics

• Scrooge’s list highlights his focus on money at a time that is meant to celebrate kindness:

  • He therefore places ultimate importance on money and wealth

• Dickens illustrates the irony that Scrooge does not recognise his affluent position:

  • His presentation of a greedy employer draws attention to inequalities in Victorian England through his treatment of his employee, Bob Cratchit

Key word or phrase to memorise: “no more”

What the quotation means:

Scrooge instructs The Ghost of Christmas Past to take him away from the vision of Belle and to not show him any more visions of the past because they remind him of what he has lost

Theme: Transformation and redemption

• Dickens builds sympathy for his protagonist by showing Scrooge’s sensitive side when he returns to his past

• However, Scrooge is still resistant to facing his “shadows”, and the spirit has to force him to observe further

• Scrooge’s repeated commands show that he still believes he is the one in control, and that he can command others to do his bidding

Key word or phrase to memorise: “conduct me where you will”

What the quotation means:

Where before Scrooge instructed The Ghost of Christmas Past to “conduct” him home, he asks The Ghost of Christmas Present to “conduct” him anywhere that he wants him to go, suggesting that he is more willing to continue his journey

Theme: Transformation and redemption

• By the arrival of The Ghost of Christmas Present, Scrooge has changed significantly:

  • His tone is more submissive, suggesting humility and respect for the spirits

• His willingness to hand himself over to the spirit depicts a dramatic change:

  • The juxtaposition of “compulsion” and “conduct me where you will” highlights the change from his being forced to go, to his compliance

Key word or phrase to memorise: “Founder of the Feast!”

What the quotation means:

The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to the Cratchit family’s Christmas dinner, where Bob raises a toast to him and thanks him for providing their meal

Theme: Family and relationships

• Dickens presents a positive portrayal of Bob, Scrooge’s poorly-treated clerk:

  • Although he works hard to provide for his family for hardly any wages, he credits Scrooge as the provider of the family’s income

  • Bob’s characterisation as charitable and forgiving contradicts Scrooge’s view of the “idle” poor

• Bob’s magnanimous nature is further highlighted by Mrs Cratchit, who is less keen to toast the “stingy” Scrooge

• Dickens’ character, Bob, represents the impoverished families of Victorian England:

  • His loving family is one of the reasons Scrooge alters his course

  • Dickens is suggesting that family and connection are more important than wealth