Quotes

• A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still” (2)


  • This quote makes us feel some sympathy for young Scrooge. The adjective “solitary” and the verb “neglected” show that Scrooge began his life with few friends and began his life alone.
  • This makes us wonder if he has chosen a lonely life because he was lonely as a child. It also makes the reader wonder why he would want to be alone as an adult, especially after being alone so much as a child
• “I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been”. (4)


  • The verb “must” suggests that Scrooge was not really aware of what he had become, or the consequences of it, before the Ghosts showed him. 
  • He feels that he has definitely learnt a valuable lesson and, because of this, has completely changed. He will no longer live a solitary, miserable, selfish, uncaring life, but is determined to change and treat people better.
• “Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all”. (5)


  • Dickens wanted to be clear at the end that Scrooge did not just claim he had changed, but proved it through his actions. 
  • He actively strove to become a good man, and worked every day to be better. 
  • This shows that it was not just a ghost story for Scrooge, but something which changed his life. 
  • Dickens also wanted to tell Victorian England that they needed to take action and do something to help, not just sit back complacently.
• Bob Cratchit


  • “Dismal little cell”.
  • The adjective “dismal” and the noun “cell” show that Bob Cratchit is trapped in a horrible job as Scrooge treats him horrifically. 
  • He cannot escape his metaphorical cell because poor people in Victorian England had very few options (and very few opportunities to get good jobs), so he has to put up with being treated badly so he can support his family, whom he loves. However, he does not complain about his situation.
• Bob Cratchit


  • “I’ll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!”
  • Bob Cratchit is shown as the humble, happy figure who is grateful to a horrible boss because he appreciates how fortunate he is to have a job in the first place. 
  • He does not complain about Scrooge but, instead, toasts him to thank him for allowing his family to enjoy Christmas because he gave Cratchit a job in the first place.
• Bob Cratchit


  • “I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family” (Scrooge).
  • By directing Scrooge’s change of heart at Cratchit, Dickens was able to show how much of a difference Scrooge could easily make to a poor family. 
  • Cratchit has never asked for these things, but Scrooge is able to highlight his sudden generosity and caring nature by offering them to a poor man whose sole desire is to make his family happy.
• Dickens describes Cratchit's working area as a “dismal little cell”. The adjective “dismal” and the noun “cell” show that Bob Cratchit is trapped in a horrible job as Scrooge treats him horrifically.