Minor Characters

• Fanny, or Fan, is Scrooge's younger sister, a character that Dickens uses to represent


  youth and optimism. She is also used as an embodiment of Christmas spirit, a common theme amongst the favoured characters within the novella
• fan 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.
• scrooges relationship with fanny


  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.
• (fanny) 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.
• (fanny) 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 character.
• (fanny) 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
• (fanny) 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
• (fanny) "And with a mournful shaking of his head, glanced anxiously towards the door"


  Here 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.
• (fanny) "Home, for good and all. Home, for ever and ever"


  Dickens uses anaphora (repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses) in Fan's speech to highlight how important his return home is to the siblings. The repetition 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 festive time.
• (fanny) "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.
• (fanny) "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 them to remain optimistic of a transformation and consequently a happy ending to the novella.
• Ignorance and Want Character Summary


  Ignorance and Want are the two childlike beings which cling "upon the outside of (the Ghost of Christmas Present's) garment." They are symbolic of the issues that plague mankind, and so it could be argued that they are portrayed as children because Dickens is trying to show that children are the ones that suffer the most from society's issues. They are further described as "monsters", perhaps because their existence is dangerous to society.
• Ignorance and Want purpose


  The purpose of the children may be to show Scrooge the effects of poverty within society. Dickens tries to show that through education of both the poor and upper-class some of society's problems, such as poverty, can be solved. The beings are not just a warning to Scrooge but also to all of mankind to change their ways
• Scrooge was a victim of ignorance as


  he willingly ignored the plight of the working class, and was also a victim of want, as we learn that the reason that Scrooge spent his life so focused on money because of his fear of poverty. He says to Belle that there is nothing which is as "hard as poverty", highlighting his fixation with gaining money.
• Poverty/ Social Injustice - Ignorance and Want are literal


  manifestations of the disease of poverty. They represent two key factors which contribute to the issue. The ignorance that the upper-class have towards the plight of the poor causes the issue to be overlooked and so develop further. In addition, the want and greed that they display prevents them from assisting those who need it.
• ignorance and want- It is interesting to note that during the nineteenth century philanthropy (charity) was becoming more popular, and so


  it is significant that Dickens picked up on these two factors. He may have been pushing readers towards a philanthropic mindset to try and change attitudes towards the poor.
• The children's allegorical purpose is emphasised through their supernatural features. By describing them as


  "hideous" Dickens heightens the dramatic impact of their characters. This is emphasised further due to Dickens structural choices. By introducing the children after the happy Christmas celebrations, their appearance is more abrupt and disturbing which adds to the tension that they bring. Although, while the children may come through a supernatural medium, they are grounded in reality which makes them all the more terrifying.
• ignorance and want - "wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable"


  Dickens uses listing on multiple occasions to describe the children. This is interesting as he primarily uses vague adjectives - the reader is aware that the children are "hideous" but they do not know exactly what they look like. Consequently, the reader is left to imagine what these "frightful" children look like - heightening the fear that they bring. The lists could also be interpreted as being in reference to society. This is because the children are used to represent the issue of poverty and so Dickens' descriptions of the children may reflect on his opinions about society as a whole.
• ignorance and want -"stale and shrivelled hand like that of age"

  This epitomises the impact that poverty had on children during the Victorian era, as children were forced to grow up faster than they should have. Children who grew up in poverty were made to work in factories from as early as nine years old in order to bring in some income for their families This links to the concept of 'present time orientation' which is prevalent within the culture of poverty. Essentially this means that those in poverty focus only on the present rather than planning for the future, as they lack the resources to do so. Therefore, instead of receiving the long-term benefits of an education, children were made to join the workforce which allowed them to receive wages (see 'Context: Education and Childhood).
• ignorance and want -"Spirit! are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more. "They are Man's,"


  This implies that due to the negligence of man, ignorance has been created. The question is accusative but it is flipped on its head as the Ghost not just accuses mankind but presents their guilt. The possessive "Man's" demonstrates how they belong to all of society, which adds to the theme of social responsibility in the novella
• ignorance and want -"This boy is ignorance...beware of this boy...on his brow I see that written which is doom"


  Dickens emphasises the impacts of ignorance over the consequences of want, presenting it as a more urgent and pressing concern. This may perhaps be because Scrooge has already learnt the consequences of want, as he felt immense regret when he was taken to see Belle. As a result, Dickens does not need to emphasise the impacts of greed as Scrooge had already learnt his lesson. Alternatively, it may be because if Scrooge was not so ignorant to the poverty which filled society, his greed and fixation with money would not have been so intense. Therefore, the problem of want can be solved by eliminating the ignorance within society. Furthermore, the "doom" which is written on the boy's head may foreshadow the dark consequences of ignorance in society
• Belle, Scrooge's former fiancée, is introduced to the reader in


  Stave Two of the novella. The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge to see the final moments of his relationship with her. Her character is used to show the effects of Scrooge's fixation with money
• Belle refers to their relationship as an


  "unprofitable dream", illustrating Scrooge's obsession with the financial gain of his relationships. Dickens does, however, make it clear that Scrooge was not always like this
• Belle says that their marriage contract was made when they were


  "both poor and content to be so" mirroring the change in Scrooge's attitude. This gives the reader hope, as it reveals that Scrooge was not always this way and so can hopefully return back to his former self. Furthermore, it emphasises that greed and "gain" detrimentally altered Scrooge's personality. This ties closely into the Ghost of Christmas Present's warning that Scrooge should "beware" of 'want'.
• Dickens also explores the theme of family through Belle's character


  When Scrooge sees her with her children he wonders what it would have been like to have children who "might have called him father". This causes his sight to grow "very dim indeed", suggesting that he has started to cry.
• belle - "very dim indeed", suggesting that he has started to cry.


  This is a significant display of emotion as it highlights how deeply Scrooge is affected by regret. It could be said that this directly contributes to Scrooge's transformation as these powerful emotions illustrate the error of his ways.
• belle - "Another idol has displaced me...A golden one".


  The word "idol" is an interesting choice from Dickens due to its connotations. An idol is often associated with a god-like figure that people worship, illustrating the extent of Scrooge's fixation with money.
• belle - "Can even I believe that you would choose a dowerless girl"


  Dickens uses a lexical field of money and gain during his descriptions of Scrooge and Belle, exemplified here by the adjective "dowerless". This is significant as it shows Scrooge's misanthropic and miserly attitude. It shows the reader that Scrooge does not hold any meaningful relationships with people as he looks at things through a financial viewpoint
• belle - "Show me no more! Conduct me home. Why do you delight to torture me?"


  This is significant as it epitomises Scrooge's regret. Dickens uses emotive language, referring to the situation as "torture", which effectively conveys the powerful emotions that Scrooge is feeling.
• Mrs Cratchit, Bob Cratchit's wife, is presented as a


  model wife and mother which continues with the notion that the Cratchit family are an idealised representation of the poor
• When the reader is first introduced to Mrs Cratchit character, Dickens writes that she is


  "dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown"
• "dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown"

  highlighting her poverty as she is unable to afford new clothes, this suggestion is reinforced by the adverb "poorly". Despite this, she is "brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence"
• "brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence"


  suggesting that she is optimistic regardless of her financial state. This demonstrates her Christmas spirit and ultimately presents her character as strong.
• Following Christmas dinner, Mrs Cratchit notes that there is


  "one small atom of bone" remaining of the goose which makes her feel "great delight" as the family hadn't eaten all of the food but "every one had had enough
• Mrs Cratchits excitement at this occurrence implies to the reader

  that this was not a frequent event in the Cratchit household, showing the reader that they often struggle with feeding every member of the family properly. Despite this, Mrs Cratchit remains optimistic and good-natured, "flushed but smiling proudly" as she brought out the pudding
• Mrs Cratchits attitude dispels stereotypes surrounding the lower-class, as


  Dickens presents those in poverty as grateful and content regardless of the amount of food they have. Furthermore, he uses this opportunity to somewhat criticise members of the upper class, as he highlights that the poor in society struggle with the most basic necessities of life. Here, Dickens is trying to awaken his readership to the harsh realities of poverty in Victorian society.
• Mrs Cratchit - "'It should be Christmas Day, I am sure' said she, 'on which one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man as Mr Scrooge."


  Dickens mirrors the asyndetic listing (a list broken up by commas rather than conjunctions like 'and') he uses in the opening stave when he calls Scrooge a "...scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner", allowing Mrs Cratchit to adopt the same powerful tone of disapproval. This presents her character as strong and opinionated while also highlighting just how cruel Scrooge acted towards Bob, as his wife feels as though she must defend her husband against him.