Cratchit family Flashcards
How are the Cratchit family presented
poor but loving, they have 6 children and 5 of them live with their parents in a 4-bedroom house, they are all loving and cheerful despite their poverty, Dicken’s depiction remind the reader that poor people are not just a social problem but they are individuals who share joy, love, sorrow and fears us like anyone, they are presented as a perfect, good family so the audience sympathise with them
How is Bob depicted as a worker
uncomplaining and tolerant even working in a small cold office, his is courteous and deferential - addressing Scrooge as ‘sir’ and greets Fred, he is patient with Scrooge when asking for Christmas off and remains civil with his attitude, his eagerness and pleasure regarding Christmas contrast Scrooge’s attitude - applauding Fred’s speech while Scrooge says ‘Humbug!’
How is Bob depicted as a kind father
good-humoured playful father, he carries Tiny Tiny from the church service on his shoulder, slides down the icy street on Christmas eve, is upset when he thinks Martha isn’t coming and hugs her when she appears - believes it is important to have family at Christmas, caring and tender wit Tim and they sit close to each other and Bob holds his hand, even with grief about Tim he tries to be cheerful around his family so they feel better
How is Mrs Cratchit depicted
good-natured and busy, she works hard and makes the family happy, although she thinks of Scrooge as a ‘hard, unfeeling man’ but still drinks to his health, when Tim dies she is protective of his families feelings and hides her weak eyes from Bob as she doesn’t want to add to his worries
How is Tiny Tim depicted
fragile and very ill, he is carried and is close to his father and his siblings make sure he joins in, presented as a good character by showing his religious nature and Tim hopes people see him in church, is used to show how poverty can leas to suffering and death and if people won’t help people will die
How are the Cratchit children depicted
they are not lazy or unwilling to work which challenged the belief that people is poverty are just lazy, they all help out with Christmas dinner and work together, the are excitable which adds positivity to the household
Cratchits overall
how are they presented, Bob as worker, Bob as kind father, Tiny Tim/children depicted
