The Cratchit children. Flashcards
(12 cards)
What did tiny tim represent?
Inspired by dickens’ nephew.
Represents children in victorian society who were vulnerable because of disabilities.
Bob carries ‘Tiny Tim upon his shoulder.’
Dickens believes all children, including those with disabilities have value.
The cratchits, despite financial hardship, keep their faith in god.
Bob states.
‘He hoped people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple….
(gap) remember upon christmas day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see. ‘
Tiny Tim (like an angel) is used for christian’s to reflect on religion and biblical stories in which jesus doesn’t ignore the disabled.
how is Tiny Tim a symbol of Scrooge change in attitude and behavior?
at the end of the novel, his condition improves drastically. He did not die thanks to money scrooge gave to family,
Uses tiny tim, and possibility of his future death to force scrooge to change his selfish ways and become a ‘second father’ to tiny tim.
Peter cratchit (oldest son.)
Getting a job.
His shirt is too big for him as the collar is ‘monstrous’. By drawing attention to the size of the shirt dickens is showing that he may be too young to be entering the world of work.
Could link to ‘generation of lost youth’
Peter Cratchits shirt.
‘Bobs private property, conferred upon his son..
and heir in honour of the day’
underscores the poverty of a family who cannot afford new clothes.
Peter Cratchit.
‘rejoiced to find himself so gallantly attired..
and yearned to show his linen in the fashionable parks’ references the parks in London, where the upper class show off their finery. Of course would be impossible, for peter to join them. could represent the hopes and dreams of the working classes to better themselves.
After future tiny tim dies, Bob hopes Fred will find him a ‘better..
situation’
Who is martha cratchit?
What does she represent?
Bobs oldest daughter is ‘a poor apprentice at a milliners’ (makes and sells hats)
She represents exploited, underpaid female apprentices.
Her money supplements bobs meagre pay.
Martha Cratchit.
‘We’d a deal or work to finish up last night..
and had to clear away this morning’
Shows the bad conditions and long hours underpaid apprentices had to do.
‘She had seen a countess and a lord some days before’ - irony as she makes hats for the rich that she will never be able to afford it herself.
Belinda Cratchit.
First time we see her, she is performing domestic task, helping her mother.
‘she laid the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit..
Second of her daughters, also brave in ribbons.’
Younger version of her mother, learning gender assigned roles in the house.
do the cratchit children go to school?
No. Peter is ‘found a situation’ implying he is going to go to work instead of school.
Tim is active in the church - showing he does this instead of school.
The cratchits can’t afford a good education.
Could link to ‘Generation of lost youth’
