A Christmas Carol Key Theme: Family and Relationships

• Family and relationships timeline

  The theme of family and relationships in A Christmas Carol:

  Stave 

  Quote

  Summary 

  1

  “I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?” – Fred 

  Scrooge is isolated and solitary, rejecting his nephew’s offer of spending Christmas day with him and his family
• 2

  “Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home’s like Heaven!” – Fan

  Scrooge is shown images from his past, including his sister Fanny and his former fiancee, Belle
• 3

  “They were not a handsome family … But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another...” – The narrator  

  Scrooge is shown the Cratchit family’s Christmas celebrations, making the most of what they have
• 4

  “My little, little child!...My little child!” – Bob 

  The ghost shows Scrooge the impact Tiny Tim’s possible death will have on the Cratchit family
• 5

  “It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?” – Scrooge

  Scrooge is transformed and realises the importance of family and relationships
• How are family and relationships presented in A Christmas Carol?

  
• Family and relationships are presented throughout A Christmas Carol: 

  • Fred, Scrooge’s nephew (Stave 1):  Dickens presents Fred as a foil to Scrooge to emphasise the detrimental effect of social isolation and the importance of family:
  • In his interaction with his nephew, Scrooge demonstrates his self-imposed isolation from family and relationships by refusing Fred’s Christmas day invitation: “keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine”
  • The Cratchit family: Dickens constructs a relatable and positive presentation of a large, working-class family in the 19th century:
  • He focuses on their unity, strength in adversity and optimistic outlook on life; their poverty is not an obstacle to joy, love and happiness
  • Their tenderness and grief in Stave 4 following Tiny Tim’s death emphasises  Dickens’ message that family and connection are more important than wealth or material possessions
• • Scrooge’s past (Stave 2): Dickens presents family images from Scrooge’s childhood and former life to remind readers of the importance of family and connection :
  • Scrooge recalls his affection and sorrow for his sister, Fanny, and his guilt at his subsequent rejection of her son, Fred
  • Through his relationship with Belle, his former fiancee, Dickens shows both his miserly transformation and his regret at not having a family of his own
• Why is family and relationships a key theme in A Christmas Carol?

  1.  Victorian society 

  • Family life was both idealised in Victorian society and essential for comfort and support, due to the lack of welfare 
  • Throughout the novella, there are constant references to the importance of family and connection as Dickens underlines the importance of prioritising love and family over wealth and possessions
• 2. Christian values

  • Through his portrayal of families, Dickens embodies the Christian values of charity, forgiveness, caring for one another and kindness
  • Bob Cratchit represents forgiveness and humility
  • Tiny Tim is a symbol of hope and serves to remind readers of Christian redemption;  he hopes that people “saw him in the church, because he was a cripple”, a reminder of Jesus who made “lame beggars walk, and blind men see”
  • By setting the novella at Christmas, Dickens juxtaposes these Christian values with Scrooge’s behaviour and greed, offering a reminder to wealthy Victorian society of what these values really mean