A Christmas Carol: Scrooge Character Analysis ​ Scrooge’s perception of or actions Scrooge’s interactions with other The way other characters Scrooge’s perspective on a toward other characters characters perceive Scrooge person’s “business” ­ i.e., what

one should value, how one should live Stave I Scrooge’s actions toward his clerk Scrooge’s interaction with his Scrooge’s nephew does not show that he does not trust him, nephew demonstrates that he understand why he is so dismal and does not allow him enough does not understand the and disgruntled with life, the coal to stay warm and Christmas spirit of others, and holidays, and other people. He comfortable while he works: “The believes that Christmas is a sham says: “Come, then,” returned the ​ door of Scrooge’s counting­house of a holiday and just another nephew gaily. “What right have was open that he might keep his excuse for people to spend ­ and you to be dismal? What reason eye upon his clerk, who in a for him to not make ­ money. He have you to be morose? You’re Scrooge tells the men who come dismal little cell beyond, a sort of says: “What else can I be,” rich enough.” for charity that his business is his tank, was copying letters. Scrooge returned the uncle, “when I live in work, and it is not his business to had a very small fire, but the such a world of fools as this? Despite Scrooge’s attitude, his interfere in the lives of others: clerk’s fire was so very much Merry Christmas! Out upon merry nephew wishes to be his friend. “It’s not my business,” Scrooge smaller that it looked like one Christmas! What’s Christmas time However, Scrooge rejects him: “I returned. “It’s enough for a man coal. But he couldn’t replenish it, to you but a time for paying bills want nothing from you; I ask to understand his own business, for Scrooge kept the coal­box in without money; a time for finding nothing of you; why cannot we be and not to interfere with other his own room; and so surely as yourself a year older, but not an friends?” people’s. Mine occupies me the clerk came in with the shovel, hour richer ” “Good afternoon,” said Scrooge. constantly. Good afternoon, … the master predicted that it “I am sorry, with all my heart, to gentlemen!” would be necessary for them to Scrooge’s interaction with his find you so resolute.” part.” nephew demonstrates that he

prefers to be alone and

unbothered: “Let me leave it ​ alone, then,” said Scrooge. “Much good may it do you! Much good it has ever done you!”

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

When two men approach Scrooge about donating to charity, he asks them whether there are prisons and workhouses for the poor. He then tells the men that he pays taxes to support the poor, and he does not need to give anything else. He also tells the men that the men who wish to die should do it and “decrease the population.”

Scrooge returns to his past with When Scrooge sees himself as a In the scene where Scrooge sees Scrooge’s conversation with the the Ghost of Christmas Past and boy, he shares the following with himself at Fezziwig’s party, Ghost and his regret about not sees himself as a young boy, the Ghost: “I wish,” Scrooge Fezziwig appears to appreciate giving something to the boy alone at his school. “At one of muttered, putting his hand in his and enjoy Scrooge’s company. He singing carols suggests that these a lonely boy was reading pocket, and looking about him, says, ““Yo ho, my boys!” said Scrooge feels bad upon seeing near a feeble fire; and Scrooge sat after drying his eyes with his cuff: Fezziwig. “No more work to­night. himself as a lonely boy and that down upon a form, and wept to “but it’s too late now.” Christmas Eve, Dick. Christmas, his perspective has changed from see his poor forgotten self as he “What is the matter?” asked the Ebenezer. Let’s have the shutters the previous day to some degree. Stave II used to be.” Spirit. up,” cried old Fezziwig, with a

“Nothing,” said Scrooge. sharp clap of his hands, “before a Scrooge’s reflections to the Ghost In the next experience, Scrooge “Nothing. There was a boy singing man can say Jack Robinson.” about why Fezziwig’s actions visits a party thrown by his old a Christmas Carol at my door last mattered (because they made boss, Fezziwig. Scrooge is night. I should like to have given Scrooge and the others help others happy) show that Scrooge overjoyed to see his old boss, and him something: that’s all.” prepare for the party. is starting to see that how you explains to the Ghost why make others feel is important. Fezziwig's actions are so When the Ghost tells Scrooge In the final scene, Belle’s husband

important ­ because they made that Fezziwig’s actions were shares the following about

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol himself and so many others small, Scrooge denies it and Scrooge: “Belle,” said the At the end of the stage, Scrooge happy (see quote in the next argues why they were so big and husband, turning to his wife with pleads to leave the scene of column). He also is enthralled by important. He shares: “It isn’t a smile, “I saw an old friend of Belle’s house, which shows that the scene: “During the whole of that,” said Scrooge, heated by the yours this afternoon.” he has regret or remorse, or that this time, Scrooge had acted like a remark, and speaking “Who was it?” this causes him emotional pain: man out of his wits. His heart and unconsciously like his former, not “Guess!” “Spirit!” said Scrooge in a broken soul were in the scene, and with his latter, self. “It isn’t that, Spirit. “How can I? Tut, don’t I know,” voice, “remove me from this his former self. He corroborated He has the power to render us she added in the same breath, place.” everything, remembered happy or unhappy; to make our laughing as he laughed. “Mr. “I told you these were shadows of everything, enjoyed everything, service light or burdensome; a Scrooge.” the things that have been,” said and underwent the strangest pleasure or a toil. Say that his “Mr. Scrooge it was. I passed his the Ghost. “That they are what agitation.” power lies in words and looks; in office window; and as it was not they are, do not blame me!” things so slight and insignificant shut up, and he had a candle “Remove me!” Scrooge At the end of the Stave, the Ghost that it is impossible to add and inside, I could scarcely help seeing exclaimed, “I cannot bear it!” shows Scrooge two scenes with count them up: what then? The him. His partner lies upon the He turned upon the Ghost, and Belle ­ one in which she breaks up happiness he gives, is quite as point of death, I hear; and there seeing that it looked upon him with him and accuses him of great as if it cost a fortune.” he sat alone. Quite alone in the with a face, in which in some caring only about money, and one world, I do believe.” strange way there were in which he sees her with her fragments of all the faces it had family. Scrooge sees Belle as a shown him, wrestled with it. beautiful woman in the prime of “Leave me! Take me back. Haunt her life, with a loving family, me no longer!” home, and husband. When he sees her husband with the child, he thinks about how this could have been his own life: “And now Scrooge looked on more attentively than ever, when the master of the house, having his daughter leaning fondly on him, sat down with her and her

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

mother at his own fireside; and when he thought that such another creature, quite as graceful and as full of promise, might have called him father, and been a spring­time in the haggard winter of his life, his sight grew very dim indeed.” When Scrooge is visited by the Scrooge appears to start to shift Ghost of Christmas Present, he The Cratchit family dislikes his values. The text evidence in does so with reverence and Scrooge. The text says that he is the other columns demonstrate Scrooge shows an interest in Tiny respect: Scrooge entered timidly, considered the “ogre” of the he feels compassion for Tiny Tim Tim that is uncharacteristic for and hung his head before this family. Mrs. Cratchit voices her and remorse for his previous him: “Spirit,” said Scrooge, with Spirit. He was not the dogged dislikes, and refers to Scrooge as actions and views on helping the an interest he had never felt Scrooge he had been; and though an “odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling poor. before,”tell me if Tiny Tim will the Spirit’s eyes were clear and man.” The family feels this way live.” kind, he did not like to meet toward Scrooge because Mr. As Scrooge leaves Fred’s party, he “I see a vacant seat,” replied the them. Cratchit works hard as his is filled with joy and described as Ghost, “in the poor ‘I am the Ghost of Christmas employee but is paid little and feeling “gay and light of heart” Stave III chimney­corner, and a crutch Present,’ said the Spirit. ‘Look and that he would have thanked without an owner, carefully upon me.’ treated poorly. them for the company if he preserved. If these shadows Scrooge reverently did so. wasn’t whisked away. This shows remain unaltered by the Future, that Scrooge is finding joy in the child will die.” He also shows grief and remorse Fred’s perception of Scrooge:, being with others, which he “No, no,” said Scrooge. “Oh, no, for his previous words about the “He said that Christmas was a previously hasn’t. kind Spirit. Say he will be spared.” poor: “Scrooge hung his head to “He’s a comical old fellow,” said

hear his own words quoted by the Scrooge’s nephew, “that’s the As with the Cratchit family, Spirit, and was overcome with truth: and not so pleasant as he Scrooge’s observations of the “Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly penitence and grief.” might be. However, his offenses children help him see and become so gay and light of heart, carry their own punishment, and I understand others’ suffering as a that he would have pledged the have nothing to say against him.”

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol unconscious company in return, Scrooge asks the Spirit about the direct result of his ignorance and and thanked them in an inaudible children: “Have they no refuge or “His wealth is of no use to him. refusal to care for others. speech, if the Ghost had given resource?” cried Scrooge. He don’t do any good with it. He him time. But the whole scene “Are there no prisons?” said the don’t make himself comfortable passed off in the breath of the Spirit, turning on him for the last with it. He hasn’t the satisfaction last word spoken by his nephew; time with his own words. “Are of thinking – ha, ha, ha! – that he and he and the Spirit were again there no workhouses?” is ever going to benefit us with upon their travels. it.” “I am sorry for him; I couldn’t be angry with him if I tried. Who When Scrooge sees the children suffers by his ill whims? Himself, of the Spirit, who belong to man, always. he is appalled at the dreadful “I was only going to say,” said state they are in: “Scrooge started Scrooge’s nephew,” that the back, appalled. Having them consequence of his taking a shown to him in this way, he tried dislike to us, and not making to say they were fine children, but merry with us, is, as I think, that the words choked themselves, he loses some pleasant moments, rather than be parties to a lie of which could do him no harm. I am such enormous magnitude. sure he loses pleasanter “Spirit, are they yours?” Scrooge companions than he can find in could say no more.” his own thoughts, either in his mouldy old office, or his dusty chambers. I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not, for I pity him.”

Fred’s guest play a party game like 20­questions where Scrooge is the person being described: “It’s your Uncle Scrooge!”

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

Which it certainly was. Admiration was the universal sentiment, though some objected that the reply to “Is it a bear?” ought to have been “Yes,” inasmuch as an answer in the negative was sufficient to have diverted their thoughts from Mr Scrooge, supposing they had ever had any tendency that way.

Scrooge overhears businessmen Scrooge is fearful of the Ghost of When Scrooge realizes he is the who are talking about the dead Christmas Yet to Come: dead man, he is saddened and man, but does not know why the “He felt that it was tall and stately promises to change: Spirit shows him this/ who they when it came beside him, and “No, Spirit! Oh no, no!” are talking about: that its mysterious presence filled The finger still was there. him with a solemn dread. He “Spirit!” he cried, tight clutching “Well, I am the most disinterested knew no more, for the Spirit Note: Because the man is not at its robe, “hear me. I am not the among you, after all,” said the neither spoke nor moved.” revealed to be Scrooge until the man I was. I will not be the man I first speaker,” for I never wear end of the Stave, students will not must have been but for this Stave IV black gloves, and I never eat Scrooge’s interactions show that record notes here. They will intercourse. Why show me this, if lunch. But I’ll offer to go, if he does not understand what the record notes on a different I am past all hope?” anybody else will. When I come to Ghost is showing him/ that he is handout when comparing the think of it, I’m not at all sure that I the dead man: man’s death with Tiny Tim’s. “I will honour Christmas in my wasn’t his most particular friend; “Spirit,” said Scrooge, shuddering heart, and try to keep it all the for we used to stop and speak from head to foot. “I see, I see. year. I will live in the Past, the whenever we met. Bye, bye.” The case of this unhappy man Present, and the Future. The Speakers and listeners strolled might be my own. My life tends Spirits of all Three shall strive away, and mixed with other that way, now. Merciful Heaven, within me. I will not shut out the groups. Scrooge knew the men, what is this?” lessons that they teach. Oh, tell

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol and looked towards the Spirit for me I may sponge away the writing an explanation. on this stone!” The Phantom glided on into a Scrooge’s request to see a tender In his agony, he caught the street. Its finger pointed to two death shows a change in spectral hand. It sought to free persons meeting. Scrooge perspective: itself, but he was strong in his listened again, thinking that the “Let me see some tenderness entreaty, and detained it. The explanation might lie here. connected with a death,” said Spirit, stronger yet, repulsed him. Scrooge; “or that dark chamber, Holding up his hands in a last Scrooge is horrified when he Spirit, which we left just now, will prayer to have his fate aye realizes the people are stealing be for ever present to me.” reversed, he saw an alteration in and selling the dead man’s the Phantom’s hood and dress. It possessions: shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled “Putting it on him to be buried in, down into a bedpost.” to be sure,” replied the woman with a laugh. “Somebody was fool enough to do it, but I took it off again. If calico an’t good enough for such a purpose, it isn’t good enough for anything. It’s quite as becoming to the body. He can’t look uglier than he did in that one.” Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror. As they sat grouped about their spoil, in the scanty light afforded by the old man’s lamp, he viewed them with a detestation and disgust, which could hardly have been greater, though they demons, marketing the corpse itself.

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

“Ha, ha!” laughed the same woman, when old Joe, producing a flannel bag with money in it, told out their several gains upon the ground. “This is the end of it, you see. He frightened every one away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead. Ha, ha, ha!”

Scrooge sees the only people who have emotion about the man’s death are people who are happy about it: “If there is any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by this man’s death,” said Scrooge quite agonised, “show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you.”

“Yes. Soften it as they would, their hearts were lighter. The children’s faces hushed, and clustered round to hear what they so little understood, were brighter; and it was a happier house for this man’s death. The only emotion that the Ghost could show him, caused by the event, was one of pleasure.”

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

Scrooge’s perception of Tiny Tim’s death shows him that Tiny Tim is mourned:

“It’s just as likely as not,” said Bob, “one of these days; though there’s plenty of time for that, my dear. But however and when ever we part from one another, I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim – shall we – or this first parting that there was among us.” “Never, father!” cried they all. “And I know,” said Bob, “I know, my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child; we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves, and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it.” “No, never, father!” they all cried again. “I am very happy,” said little Bob, “I am very happy!” Mrs Cratchit kissed him, his daughters kissed him, the two young Cratchits kissed him, and Peter and himself shook hands.

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence was from God.

Scrooge asks the boy to buy a The men who collected for charity Scrooge is a changed man. His Scrooge wants the turkey to send turkey, offers to pay him, wishes are shocked by Scrooge’s actions show that he believes his to the Cratchits as a surprise gift: him Merry Christmas: donation and change of heart: business is showing kindness and "I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's!" "What's to­day, my fine fellow?" "Lord bless me!" cried the compassion to others, giving whispered Scrooge, rubbing his said Scrooge. gentleman, as if his breath were instead of receiving, and building hands, and splitting with a laugh. To­day!" replied the boy. "Why, taken away. "My dear Mr. meaningful relationships with "He sha'n't know who sends it. It's CHRISTMAS DAY." Scrooge, are you serious?" those close to him. twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe "It's Christmas Day!" said Scrooge Miller never made such a joke as to himself. "I haven't missed it. Fred is overjoyed when Scrooge “Scrooge was better than his sending it to Bob's will be!" The Spirits have done it all in one comes to his house on Christmas, word. He did it all, and infinitely night. They can do anything they and shows him love and more; and to Tiny Tim, who did Stave V like. Of course they can. Of course appreciation: NOT die, he was a second father. they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!" He became as good a friend, as "Hallo!" returned the boy. “Why bless my soul!" cried Fred, good a master, and as good a "Do you know the Poulterer's, in "who's that?" man, as the good old city knew, the next street but one, at the "It's I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have or any other good old city, town, corner?" Scrooge inquired. come to dinner. Will you let me or borough, in the good old "I should hope I did," replied the in, Fred?" world. Some people laughed to lad. Let him in! It is a mercy he didn't see the alteration in him, but he "An intelligent boy!" said Scrooge. shake his arm off. He was at let them laugh, and little heeded "A remarkable boy! Do you know home in five minutes. Nothing them; for he was wise enough to whether they've sold the prize could be heartier. His niece know that nothing ever happened

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

Turkey that was hanging up looked just the same. So did on this globe, for good, at which there?­­Not the little prize Topper when he came. So did the some people did not have their fill Turkey: the big one?" plump sister when she came. So of laughter in the outset; and "What, the one as big as me?" did every one when they came. knowing that such as these would returned the boy. Wonderful party, wonderful be blind anyway, he thought it "What a delightful boy!" said games, wonderful unanimity, quite as well that they should Scrooge. "It's a pleasure to talk to won­der­ful happiness!” wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as him. Yes, my buck!" have the malady in less attractive "It's hanging there now," replied Bob thinks that Scrooge is crazy forms. His own heart laughed: the boy. or something has happened and that was quite enough for "Is it?" said Scrooge. "Go and buy because his words and actions are him.” it." so uncharacteristic for him: “Bob "Walk­ER!" exclaimed the boy. trembled, and got a little nearer "No, no," said Scrooge, "I am in to the ruler. He had a momentary earnest. Go and buy it, and tell idea of knocking Scrooge down 'em to bring it here, that I may with it, holding him, and calling to give them the direction where to the people in the court for help take it. Come back with the man, and a strait­waistcoat.” and I'll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I'll give you half­a­crown!"

Scrooge apologizes and gives money to the men who were collecting for charity: "My dear sir," said Scrooge, quickening his pace, and taking the old gentleman by both his hands. "How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir!" "Mr. Scrooge?" "Yes," said Scrooge. "That is my name, and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness"­­here Scrooge whispered in his ear. "Lord bless me!" cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. "My dear Mr. Scrooge, are you serious?" "If you please," said Scrooge. "Not a farthing less. A great many back­payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour?" "My dear sir," said the other, shaking hands with him. "I don't know what to say to such munifi­­" "Don't say anything, please," retorted Scrooge. "Come and see me. Will you come and see me?"

Scrooge plays a trick on Cratchit by pretending to be mad, then raises his salary: "Hallo!" growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol

could feign it. "What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?" "I am very sorry, sir," said Bob. "I am behind my time." "You are?" repeated Scrooge. "Yes. I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please." "It's only once a year, sir," pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. "It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir." "Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," said Scrooge, "I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore," he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again; "and therefore I am about to raise your salary!"

Grade 7: A Christmas Carol