Other characters Flashcards
Role of Fan
Highlights the theme of family:
She convinces their father’s to let Scrooge come home.
When Scrooge leaves his school with Fan, their carriage knocks snow “off the dark leaves” - symbolises how she helps him escape his cold lonely life. Foreshadows how family helps Scrooge to escape the cold isolation of his adult life at the end (family party, his relationship with the Cratchits by the end).
Helps Scrooge break his isolation
Very close to Scrooge
Role of Fezziwig
Contrast to Scrooge (cheerful, generous, party, warm office)
Model for future Scrooge - chooses to bring joy to others through the party even though he didn’t spent loads
Role of Belle
Sees Scrooges love of money over her
Turning point for Scrooge
Contrast - she’s poor but happy, he’s lonely and devoted to money
Role of charity collectors
Show importance of charity
Convey Dickens’ belief that prisons and workhouses aren’t acceptable places to send the poor.
Highlight the importance of social responsibility
Role of Joe and the thieves
3 thieves steal Scrooge’s possession to sell to Joe
Greedy and ruthless like Scrooge
Show Scrooge’s meanness has been for nothing as his things end up in the wrong hands anyway instead of helping deserving people like the Cratchits
Highlights poverty - description of area round his shop is brutal and shocking.
Role of wealthy London businessmen
represent greedy rich people of the Victorian society
obsessed with wealth “great gold seals”
higlight lack of compassion over focus on wealth - don’t care about Scrooge’s death
Their inhumaneness is highlighted by Dickens’ description “monstrous chin” growth on his nose that “shook like the gills of a turkey-cock”
