Bob Cratchit Flashcards
Character summary of Bob Cratchit
- Scrooge’s clerk - unamed as “the Clerk” for first stave, perhaps Dickens highlighting how lower class didnt have an identity besides occupation & service
- Represents the plight of the poor as is immediate source of sympathy in novella
- Dicken depicts him as loving father & husband when GoCPr visits Cratchit household w Scrooge - can be interpreted as idealisation of lower class. Despite poor wages/cruel treatment, Bob remains grateful & compassionate - celebrates Christmas in way that the significantly richer Scrooge never could.
Context of Bob Cratchit
- ‘bob’ often used as a colloquial word for ‘shilling’ in Victorian Era - greater meaning behind Dickens’ choice for name. “Bob had but fifteen ‘Bob’ a-week- constant reminder of how little Bob earns
Key themes of Bob Cratchit
- POVERTY: plight of the lower class highlighted through Bob’s character. Dickens highlights his maltreatment in workplace to evoke sympathy towards poor, challenging misconceptions that contemporary readers may have had (poor bc lazy). Rather than presenting Cratchits as ungrateful/lazy as they were often made out to be in society, repeatedly references their appreciation for the little they have “nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding.”
- FAMILY: greatly values/loves family & works hard to proivde for them. Dickens expresses idea that family should be essential focus of festive time. He appreciates their efforts, calling meal “greatest success achieved by Mrs Cratchit.”
Character development of Bob Cratchit
Beginning of novella: poorly paid/maltreated clerk struggling to provide for beloved family. As Scrooge undergoes own development, Bob’s character too experiences a change.
End of novella: in a significantly more stable financial position to comfortably provide for family. Scrooge announces he will “raise” his “salary” and “discuss” his “affairs” over lunch. Interesting to note that Bob’s character development dependant on Scrooge - perhaps symbolises power & superiority of upper class over poorer members of society.
Relationships of Bob Cratchit
SCROOGE: opening stave, cruel/merciless towards Bob. Makes him work in a “dismal little cell”, complains that he is “ill-used” for paying “a day’s wages for no work”. Following Scrooge’s transformation, BC displays compassion as forgives him for mistreating, idealising his character once again.
Key quotes of Bob Cratchit
“He tried to warm himself at the candle” - cruel treatment at work. Pitiful verb, “tried” creates sense of helplessness casues us to sympathise & acknowledge contrast to Scrooge (upper class over lower class)
“He failed” - Dickens follows up w blunt simple sentence, illustrates nonchalant attitude of rich towards appalling working conditions of lower class
