Fanny

• Fanny, or Fan, is Scrooge’s younger sister, a character that Dickens uses to represent love, youth and optimism. She is also used as an embodiment of Christmas spirit, a common theme amongst the favoured characters within the novella; she tells Scrooge that they will be “together all Christmas long, and have the merriest time in all the world”. Through this assertion, Dickens reveals to the reader that Scrooge was not always someone who hated Christmas, a characterisation which starkly contrasts his portrayal in the opening stave. Therefore, it follows that Fan’s character is significant to the novella in what she reveals about Scrooge, as this allows the reader to learn more about the protagonist and his journey.
• Fan’s character is used by Dickens to humanise Scrooge, as this is the first time readers see positive and genuine emotion from his character. From a structural perspective this is significant. The reader is introduced to Fan during Scrooge’s first visit with the Spirits, the character who is portrayed in this contrasts to the negative and cold descriptions of the unsympathetic narrator at the start of the text.
• By introducing Fan in the very next chapter the reader is given the opportunity to empathise with him, allowing them to build the connection that they were missing. The reader recognises that she is the only source of love in his life. Indeed, he is described as a “solitary child” who is suddenly showered with affection. Fan is described as putting “her arms about his neck, and often kissing him”, an excessive display of love which warms the reader to Scrooge’s character. This is not solely for the readers’ benefit, however, as it also reminds Scrooge that there was a time in his life when he was affectionate and carefree. Ultimately, this gives him the hope that he can return to that state.
• Dickens uses Fan to further the idea that family should be an important focus within society, as an individual's family can have a profound effect on their character and well-being. Fan exclaims that she has come to bring Scrooge “home, home, home!”, using repetition to emphasise the value of family life. By including this as such a strong theme within a novella centred around Christmas, Dickens establishes a connection between the two ideas.
• This theme introduces the notion that family should be central to the festive time. Dickens highlights this through Scrooge’s household, as the revelation that his father is “so much kinder than he used to be” implies some form of domestic turmoil. This turmoil suggests that his father was cruel, which may have contributed to Scrooge’s dismal attitude. Furthermore, this detail can be interpreted as foreshadowing the end of the novella as, by revealing that Scrooge’s father was able to change, Dickens may be implying that Scrooge too will transform. Ultimately this adds to the sense of optimistic hope brought by Fan’s characte
• It is interesting to note that Dickens is vague with his descriptions of Scrooge’s family life, perhaps to prevent the reader from sympathising with him to the extent that they excuse his behaviour. One of the purposes of the novella is to emphasise the need to change by using the common literary trope (recurring theme or idea) of a cruel father and an absent mother. The reader sympathises with Scrooge enough to be able to develop empathy for his character, but they are accustomed to this type of suffering in fiction. Therefore, they do not sympathise too much and excuse his actions.
• “And with a mournful shaking of his head, glanced anxiously towards the door”

  Dickens implies that Scrooge was expecting to see his sister, a poignant display of emotion. This likely causes the reader to sympathise with his character, particularly due to the “mournful” way in which he shakes his head. Through this, Dickens suggests that he truly did love Fan and is pained to think about her death. Prior to this Scrooge "wept to see his poor forgotten self", a display of self-pity which is unlikely to appeal to readers. When he shows empathy and love towards another character the reader is able to support his character to a greater extent.
• “Home, for good and all. Home, for ever and ever”

  Dickens uses anaphora (repetition at the start of successive clauses) in Fan's speech to highlight how important his return home is to the siblings. The reptition implies that Scrooge is in disbelief while the lyrical quality of the line creates a child-like and magical tone - as if the idea of returning home was inconceivable to both Fan and Scrooge. This ultimately causes the reader to sympathise with Scrooge while also feeling grateful for their own families, furthering the idea that family should be essential to the fesitive time.
• “A delicate creature, whom a breath might have withered… but she had a large heart”

  The Spirit adopts a poetic quality in its language while describing Fan, using ethereal adjectives such as "delicate creature" and likening Fan to a flower through the verb "withered". This mirrors the tone of a eulogy (speech which praises someone highly, particularly someone who has died) which ultimately elevates Fan's character, as it is the God-like Spirits which hold this respect for her.
• “Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; and answered briefly”

  Here Dickens makes it clear that Scrooge has already begun to reflect on his actions in the present, pondering on his relationship with Fred after being reminded of the kindness of his sister, Fred's mother. By highlighting his regret so early on in the novella, the reader can already begin to see his change, causing him to remain optimistic of a transformation and consequently a happy ending to the novella.