Ebenezer Scrooge

• Protagonist


  Main character
• Ebenezer Scrooge

  • Miserly
  • Misanthropic (dislikes other people)
  • Banker/moneylender
  • Owned counting house with late business partner Jacob Marley
  • Strong aversion to Christmas and society
• Scrooge's journey of redemption

  Evolves into a "good" man who "knew how to keep Christmas well"
• Scrooge's character development is a defining feature of the novella
• Altruistic


  Selfless concern for others
• Dickens is credited with playing a major role in shaping Christmas celebrations due to his altruistic and emotional approach, emphasised through the character of Scrooge
• Scrooge's character development


  • Remarkable transformation
  • Evolves from miserly businessman into a good man
• Scrooge's development is used by Dickens to symbolise a greater message which transcends his own character</b>
• Unchanging


  Stagnant nature
• Dickens' portrayal of Scrooge as unchanging in the opening


  Heightens the impact of his eventual change
• Archetypal villain


  Classic and conventional portrayal of a villain
• Repentance


  Regret and desire to change
• Reformation


  Actively wanting to make a change
• Empathy


  Compassion towards Tiny Tim
• Actions have consequences


  Scrooge realises his wealth will not keep him company after death
• Scrooge was "better than his word", highlighting his transformed character
• Motion


  Makes Scrooge seem human and endears the reader towards him
• Scrooge wistfully wonders what it would feel like to have children who might have called him father


  His sight grows very dim indeed, implying he has been brought to tears, showing the reader his regret while simultaneously causing them to sympathise with him
• Readers involvement


  Increased by Scrooge's regret, causing them to anticipate the end of the novella
• It is essential to Dickens' message for the reader to like his character
• If Scrooge lacked regret his reformation would not seem genuine and wouldn't be convincing to the reader, weakening Dickens' moral message
• Isolation


  Scrooge's isolation from society is highlighted through Dickens' lengthy descriptions of his relationship with those around him
• Ostracising


  Excluding himself from society, allowing him to exist in a state of ignorance about the state of the poor and other vulnerable members of society
• Once Scrooge's isolation decreases and he interacts with other characters


  He becomes more aware of the problems of others and transforms as a character
• Engaging with wider society


  Benefits all those who take part, as seen with Scrooge becoming happier and more content as a person after his reformation
• Social responsibility


  Dickens had a strong affinity to this, as seen in Scrooge's transformation
• Dickens draws parallels between Scrooge and Marley

  Likening them to such an extent that Scrooge "answered to both names"
• Scrooge's lack of emotion towards Marley's death


  Characterises him as hard and unfeeling, helping the reader to gain a better understanding of his character
• Nobody ever stopped Scrooge in the street to say hello, and even the blindmen's dogs appeared to know him, avoiding him whenever they could

  Highlights the extent of the community's dislike towards Scrooge
• Bob Cratchit's "dismal" cell and the cruel working conditions he faced


  Exemplifies Scrooge's inhumanity and cruelty
• Scrooge's newfound attitude towards Bob Cratchit, instructing him to "make up the fires" and buy "another coal scuttle"


  Highlights Scrooge's changed nature to the reader
• The character of Fanny is used as a catalyst for Scrooge's reformation


  When the Spirit reminds Scrooge that she left behind a child, he begins to feel "uneasy", highlighting that he is beginning to reflect on his actions
• The Ghost of Christmas Present uses Tiny Tim's plight to prompt Scrooge's regret and transformation


  Scrooge's response of hanging "his head" shows his regret and the transformation of his character
• Scrooge's fellow businessmen discuss his death as if it is trivial


  Highlighting that Scrooge's previous values, focused on materialism and business over family, ultimately leave him isolated in his death