Fred

• Quote: What right you have to be dismal? You're rich enough / What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough

  Idea: In this brief exchange between Fred and Scrooge we can see just how different their perceptions of the relationship between happiness and poverty was. Scrooge can't see how anyone can be happy unless they're rich enough (and Fred was reasonably wealthy, remember) while Fred can't see how someone with all Scrooge's wealth can be dismal.
• Fred, Scrooge's nephew, is introduced early in the novella and is described to be "ruddy and handsome". This comes after the description of Scrooge's "thin lips" and "old features", causing the reader to instantly warm to the fresh and youthful atmosphere that Fred introduces.

  Dickens builds on this by informing the reader that Fred's eyes "sparkled", presenting him as cheerful and excited. This is reinforced by the fact that he arrived "all in a glow", an interesting description as it is associated with the motif (repeated idea) of light within the novella. When Dickens uses descriptions of light, as seen here and with the "jet of light" emitted by the Ghost of Christmas Past, he is often symbolising innocence and goodness. This reflects onto Fred's character, causing the reader to understand that he embodies these traits. In doing so, he presents him as an exemplary character whom readers should look up to.
• Fred maintains his optimistic outlook and positive traits throughout the novella, a quality which becomes the defining feature of his character. Despite Scrooge's ill-mannered behaviour with Fred, he vows to keep visiting his uncle "year after year" to try and change his attitude. It could be argued that this adds a sense of much-needed stability within the novella. This is because by choosing to have the minor characters remain constant, Dickens heightens and foregrounds Scrooge's transformation.
• • Fred is presented as a foil to Scrooge, which means that he contrasts his character in order to emphasise certain qualities. Therefore, by emphasising Fred's goodness, Dickens amplifies the negative qualities within Scrooge.
  • His character is first used to juxtapose the atmosphere in the opening stave. Dickens contrasts the bleak and miserable descriptions of the setting with the "glow" that Fred brings. This serves to both emphasise Fred's virtue and cause Scrooge's dismal attitude to appear worse. Consequently, Fred and Scrooge are presented as the antithesis (direct opposite) of each other in the opening stave.
• Scrooge vs Fred - Apathetic vs Empathetic

  • "No warmth could warm him no wintery weather chill him." This illustrates how Scrooge had a cold and hostile attitude.
  • "I am sorry for him; I couldn't be angry with him if I tried." Despite Scrooge's nastiness, Fred is still forgiving of Scrooge. Fred believes that he couldn't be angry with Scrooge even if he "tried", which demonstrates his good nature, showing his natural disposition.
• Scrooge vs Fred - Selfish vs Generous

  • "Tight-fisted" Scrooge starts the novella off as a selfish man. The quote suggests that he always a tight hold of money and didn't engage in philanthropy, which was a growing trend in Victorian time
  • "extraordinary kindness of Scrooge's nephew." Fred is kind and giving. Dickens uses Fred as hope for what all of society should be.
• Scrooge vs Fred - Grumpy vs Happy

  • "Bah Humbug" This is Scrooge's infamous catchphrase which symbolises his negative attitude.
  • "If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blest in a laugh than Scrooge's nephew" Fred is the Christmas spirit - he represents joy and love.
• Scrooge vs Fred - Isolated vs Social

  • "solitary as an oyster" The metaphor encapsulates the fact that Scrooge liked to keep to himself and isolated himself socially.
  • We see this at his Christmas party which he throws, surrounded by all his friends, he even invites Scrooge. This is also used by Dickens to emphasise Scrooge's isolation. His seclusion is highlighted when he stands with the Ghost looking into Fred's party. The proxemics (the amount of space a person chooses to keep between themselves and others) here illustrates Scrooge's outsider status.