The Cratchits Flashcards
What themes do the Crachits embody?
Family - they poor but rich in love and are cheerful. Companionship more like to bring happiness than money. Very close family so Bob’s grief is very sad.
Poverty - reminds the reader (and Scrooge) that the poor are people not just a social problem. Tiny Tim is an innocent victim. Dickens is never critical of the Crachits (portrayed as perfect family) so makes it impossible not to think they deserve better.
What is Bob Crachit like as an employee?
Uncomplaining and tolerant (despite being so cold and his office being like a “dismal little cell”)
Courteous and deferential (he calls Fred sir and retruns his greetings)
Patient and civil (even when Scrooge is rude and complains about Bob taking Christmas day off)
What is Bob Crachit like as a father?
Kind and devoted
Cheerful and good-humoured (has fun sliding down the icy street despite no coat)
Loving (hugs his daughter when she appears)
Forgiving (toasts Scrooge)
Tender and caring (holds Tim’s hand)
Tries to protect his family from his grief by being cheerful
What is Mrs Crachit like?
Good-natured and busy
Works hard to make the family happy (she eeks out the goose to feed everyone)
Forgiving (still drinks to Scrooge’s health despite thinking he’s “odious and stingy”
Loving (she toasts Scrooge because she loves Bob and he asks her to)
Protective of her family (tries to remain cheerful and steady and hide her “weak eyes” from Bob. Doesn’t want to worry him
What is Tiny Tim like?
Fragile and ill
Close to his father
Loved by his family (siblings make sure he joins in all the fun)
Religious and good (wants people to see him in church to remind people about “who made lame beggars walk” (Jesus)
Dickens uses Tiny Tim to show how poverty can lead to suffering and death (he would die if Scrooge didn’t help).
What are the rest of the Cratchit children like?
Hard-working (shows the poor aren’t lazy or unwilling to work)
Family-orientated (they all help with dinner)
Excitable and positive despite their poverty
What literary techniques does Dickens use when it comes to the Crachits?
Language - Tiny Tim is a “good as gold”. Literally suggests he is as valuable as a person as gold.
Structure of sentences - long sentence with several short clauses conveys how busy the Crachits are as they cook Christmas dinner.
Contrast of their spirit with Scrooge e.g. Bob’s cheerfulness and politeness. Scrooge may be rich in money but they are rich in love
Idealisation - Dickens presents them as a perfect family so his upper class readers would be more likely to sympathise with them (than if they were flawed).
