To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Why doesn't Scrooge like Christmas in A Christmas Carol? He can't do without his clerk, but he resents having to pay him, and he doesn't even give him enough coal to stay warm. Dickens has established the hostile nature of his protagonist so he can henceforth proceed with the series of nocturnal developments intended to redeem the old man's soul. "I wish I had him here. He feels that his pocket is being picked, that he is being robbed, by Bob's request for Christmas off. Scrooge wonders why he should lose money while Bob takes a "holiday". '', scrooge acts as if why he should loose money and his clerk doesnt while taking a holiday. Margaret has taught both college and high school English and has a master's degree in English from Mississippi State University. Share. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit is a character who is employed as a clerk working for the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. Bob Cratchit at Play Scrooge resents the custom of allowing employees paid time off for holidays, and he urges Bob Cratchit to come in early the day after Christmas to make up for his time off. To begin with the Cratchits, the family consists of Scrooge's employee Bob Cratchit, his wife (whose first name is not mentioned), and his children, Martha, Peter, Belinda, Tiny Tim, and another boy and girl whose names are not given. Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons. Passage 1: ''Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Cratchit's wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence; and she laid the cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit, second of her daughters, also brave in ribbons; while Master Peter Cratchit plunged a fork into the saucepan of potatoes, and getting the corners of his monstrous shirt collar (Bob's private property, conferred upon his son and heir in honour of the day) into his mouth, rejoiced to find himself so gallantly attired, and yearned to show his linen in the fashionable Parks'' (67). on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% Scrooge raised Cratchit's salary, promised to help his family, bought his lunch, built up the fires, and bought another coal scuttle so Crachit could have coal whenever he wished. Scrooge moves from using people and loving things to using things and loving people. b. mediate b. combat, campaign, tactic, siege By allowing Bob Cratchit to have the day off to spend with his family, Scrooge can be better exposed to the poverty to which he has condemned his loyal employee -- a poverty that has not, Scrooge discovers, dampened the Cratchit family's love for each other and for the season. He is afraid of him, and Scrooge does not even know he has a crippled son. She holds a Mississippi AA Educator License. Dickens's purpose in creating this character may be to contrast Bob's good nature with the ill-natured Scrooge. What is the theme of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens? Sometimes it can end up there. The workers were dissatisfied therefore, they considered a strike. Modern Learning Lab. Scrooge does as he promises. Scrooge is able to see inside the Cratchit home thanks to the spirits who are sent by Jacob Marley's ghost. Describe the two children who emerge from the second spirit's robe in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Bob wants to make a toast. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Scrooge complains to Bob Cratchit, his clerk, when he asks for the day off for Christmas. Scrooge watches the people on the street, he smiles and talks to them. Bob Cratchit as a mourning father who nonetheless continues to persevere for his family's sake. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! But I suppose you must have the whole day. Bob Cratchit asks for Christmas Day off. Tiny Tim has a withered hand and requires crutches to walk. Last updated by Aslan 5 years ago 12/10/2017 12:23 PM. Latest answer posted January 12, 2021 at 5:08:54 PM. How do they react? In one scene, Scrooge is shown the Cratchits following Tiny Tim's death. Does he continue to live in London? If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, youd think yourself ill-used, Ill be bound?, And yet, said Scrooge, you dont think me ill-used, when I pay a days wages for no work.. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. Like her husband, Mrs. Cratchit is a pleasant and happy person. eNotes Editorial, 5 Dec. 2020, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-did-scrooge-say-about-giving-his-clerk-a-day-380650. Cratchit is underpaid and overworked, yet he maintains his cheerful temperament despite the problems he faces at work and at home. The elderly miser condemns his sole employee to a life of misery, going so far as to. for a customized plan. The elderly miser condemns his sole employee to a life of misery, going so far as to deprive the young clerk of enough coal to warm his cramped office space. Scrooge even gives Bob Cratchit a raise and indicates that he is now willing to provide enough coal to keep the office warm. Scrooges response to this request is to inquire whether prison is not an appropriate venue in which to house such individuals and families. Buying power: 1843 coins and their value is HOTLY debated. Fezziwig celebrates Christmas by having music, dancing and food provided at his office. The door knocker is the first step on his road to redemption when he sees Marley's face in it. At the end, Scrooge sends a giant turkey to the Cratchits, gives Cratchit a raise, and becomes involved with the Cratchit family, especially Tiny Tim, who does not die. How is this encounter different from the first encounter in Stave 1? c. extricate This kind attitude is coupled with a growing friendship between the two men, demonstrated most clearly by Scrooge's relationship with Tiny Tim, to whom he becomes a "second father.". Very simply, Bob Cratchit changes from being a thing to emerging as a human being in Scrooge's eyes. Most clerks make a bit less (2 Bob a day) so Scrooge is paying his as a senior Clerk). Subscribe now. Did Scrooge keep his word? Scrooge, his employer, keeps the door between them open so he can watch Cratchit at all times. The spirit recognizes that Cratchit needs and deserves a blessing, yet Scrooge will have to see more before he understands that Bob Cratchit is a good man who truly is worthy of a blessing. Charles Dickens' protagonist Ebenezer Scrooge and the transformation he undergoes, reveals that happiness is not found through monetary gain, but through our relationships with others. "I shall love it, as long as I live!" succeed. He even takes an interest in Tiny Tim, who has not died as the spirit predicted, and becomes like "a second father" to the boy. Here, the narrator describes the moment Bob Cratchit closes up shop, excited to celebrate Christmas Eve. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Upon his visit to the school he wept and he realizes how lonely he was and he is surprised that he was so interested in adventures. 1 What is Bob Cratchit relationship to Scrooge? It is not, consequently, surprising that the old man responds to his clerk's request for Christmas Day off with a typically uncaring remark. The effects of Scrooge's personal turnabout are most clearly shown by Scrooge's Christmas Day beneficence to Cratchit and his family, in stark contrast to the way in which he is tight-fisted with coal on the day prior. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Bob suffers in silence for his familys sake. Scrooge refuses to give money In Stave I Scrooge is asked to make a donation for the 'Poor and destitute' of society. Latest answer posted December 04, 2020 at 2:51:25 PM. He works for Ebenezer Scrooge and he is quite loyal to his employer despite the fact that Scrooge is an irritable cheapskate. In A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit works for Ebenezer Scrooge, where he is paid a pittance for his services. $24.99 Scrooge complains to Bob Cratchit, his clerk, when he asks for the day off for Christmas. Scrooge's antipathy towards his fellow man extends to his loyal but ill-treated clerk, Bob Cratchit. Accessed 1 Mar. Dickens wastes no time establishing that his protagonist is a mean, vindictive individual with seemingly no redeeming qualities. Scrooge threatens to fire him immediately. When the ambulance pulled up, everyone knew that Kristen's hoax\mathit{\text{hoax}}hoax had Write the letter for the word that best completes given sentence. (one code per order). We could all stand to be a little better to the Bob Cratchits in our lives. Scrooge keeps his word about refusing the poor. This is the first time he interacts with his fellow man. Also, Scrooge expects Bob to work in the cold office without a decent fire to keep his hands warm. Dickens continues to emphasize Bob Cratchit's poverty throughout the story. As the Library of Congress explains, that's not entirely clear, either. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." While Cratchit's family curses Scrooge for his stinginess, however, Cratchit says he feels sorry for his employer, and insists that they toast his health. Bob hopes to secure a good job for Peter, who will then help provide income for the struggling Cratchit family. Supply the missing letters In the novella, Scrooge is visited by three spirits who convince him to turn from his cantankerous ways and embrace the joy and hope of Christmas. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Bob Cratchit is quite poor. Scrooges joke about Bedlam, a famous insane asylum, reflects his perplexity at a world where people can be gracious while impoverished. Despite his wealth, he did not do anything good with it until the spirits came to visit. When the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to visit the Cratchits on Christmas Day, he sees Bob Cratchit carrying his sickly son Tiny Tim, and later raising a toast to Scrooge for providing the feast. Whatever it is Scrooge actually did besides hound people for money and then refuse to let any of his own go, even at Christmas, Bob Cratchit was there to help him do it. Two tumblers, and a custard-cup without a handle. A selection of Bob Cratchit quotes from A Christmas Carol reveal the kind of man he is. To Scrooge Christmas is a Humbug and an excuse. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. So he tries to warm himself as best he can without angering Scrooge. $18.74/subscription + tax, Save 25% How did Scrooge treat his clerk Bob Cratchit? Scrooge treats him poorly, hesitating to even let him have the. ''The office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist (for he boasted no great-coat), went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas-eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman's-buff.'' The two youngest Cratchit children are unnamed in A Christmas Carol. Scrooge is so stingy that Bob Cratchit is forced to work in his office with only a small fire for warmth because Scrooge will only provide him with a small amount of coal. In this passage, Bob Cratchit is depicted as a man capable of experiencing child-like joy while playing in the snow with the children he encounters on his walk home. "Long life to him! Bob Cratchit is Scrooges clerk. Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol in 1843. All rights reserved. And Ebenezer Scrooge begins "A Christmas Carol" as a bad one. Describe the two children who emerge from the second spirit's robe in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The visiting spirits have shown Scrooge how miserable his life is, and Scrooge knows that he will die a lonely death unless he is willing to change. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it . In Stave 5, how does Scrooge's nephew treat Bob Cratchit, his clerk? Dont have an account? He is patient, even-tempered, and finds joy in a simple Christmas with his family. At closing time, Scrooge begrudgingly releases Bob Cratchit from his duties. Scrooge greets the men first and asks forgiveness, then he donates a large amount. Who is Bob Cratchit in the ghost of Christmas present? When the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to visit the Cratchits on Christmas Day, he sees Bob Cratchit carrying his sickly son Tiny Tim, and later raising a toast to Scrooge for. Wishing Fred a merry Christmas costs him nothingbut the words bring them both happiness, a point lost on Scrooge. Readers learn that Scrooge pays Cratchit only 15 shillings a week. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Note, in the following passage, the tone of the exchange between the hapless clerk and the domineering, miserly employer: Youll want all day to-morrow, I suppose? said Scrooge. Stave 5 is joyous, happy, & light-hearted. What does Scrooge do when Bob comes in late? How does Scrooge feel about Bob Cratchit? The Cratchit family is the most important thing in Bob's life. a. importune Ace your assignments with our guide to A Christmas Carol! Scrooge's business partner and only friend. The character of Bob Cratchit has been featured in works based on A Christmas Carol. None are more aware of this disposition than Bob Cratchit, who works as Scrooge's clerk. When Scrooge finally allows his employees to leave work on Christmas Eve, Bob Cratchit "with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist (for he boasted no great-coat), went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman's-buff." Mrs. Cratchit says, though she cannot refrain from adding, "He'll be very merry and very happy, I have no doubt!". What does Bob want to do that makes Mrs Cratchit angry? The British Pound was fixed at $4.85 USD until 1915. In short, Scrooge is a bad person at the beginning of A Christmas Carol. Bob Cratchit, like nearly everyone else except Scrooge, is excited about the holiday. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. This is an individual badly in need of redemption, and the following sections, or "staves," of A Christmas Caroldo precisely that. Theres another fellow, mustered Scrooge, who overheard him; my clerk, with fifteen shillings a week, and a wife and family, talking about a merry Christmas. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. As the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge what is happening at the moment, he pauses at Bob Cratchit's house. Bob knows that if he replenishes his fire, Scrooge will threaten to terminate his job. Scrooge sends a turkey to the Cratchit family, his first act of kindness to others. He was a second father to Tiny Tim, was a good master and a great friend. He did not agree with the social expectation that said that work should be suspended for a holiday, on Christmas or on any other day. He thinks Christmas is a "Humbug!" (Dickens 2). Learn. Scrooge goes to his nephew's for dinner. In A Christmas Carol, what is the warning that Marley gives Scrooge? Get the app. Bob Cratchit is very respectful of Mr. Scrooge. For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more! He immediately insures that the Cratchit family will have a wonderful Christmas dinner and gives Cratchit a considerable raise. Does he fight against the pervasive poverty in London with Scrooge? Please wait while we process your payment. When Cratchit is first introduced in the text, he's not even given a name. Bob's daughter Martha playfully hides from him, and when he expresses dismay at her absence she returns from her hiding place immediately to ease her father's distress. How does Ebenezer Scrooge treat Martha Cratchit? He obeys Scrooge's rules and is timid about asking to go home to his family early on Christmas Eve. Bob Cratchit's wife is not given a first name in the novella; she is simply referred to as Mrs. Cratchit. Cratchit is impossibly underpaid and overworked, and still Scrooge complains about the shortcomings that he perceives in his clerk. Cratchit likely eschews new clothes so he can better provide for his large family. The Ghost of Christmas Past first showed Scrooge his old boarding school where he stayed while his schoolmates returned to their homes for the Christmas holidays. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. The spirit then takes Scrooge to the meager home of Bob Cratchit, where Mrs. Cratchit and her children prepare a Christmas goose and savor the few Christmas treats they can afford. This is the first time he interacts with his fellow man. This page was last edited on 10 January 2023, at 04:49. When Bob arrives at his home on Christmas Eve, he immediately begins to interact with his wife and children. From their conversation, it is clear Scrooge's attitude towards Bob is cold and uncaring and that their relationship is strained. A 1843 Shilling (12 pence) is about $30 in buying power and 240 Pence = 1 pound. Much of a clerk's wages went to keeping up the appearance of a white-collar lifestyle, including always having a black suit (to hide the ink stains?) 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On the other hand, Scrooge represents materialism to such an extent that he hates the holiday for usurping a day that he would like to devote to moneymaking. Juanita went home right after softball practice$\color{#c34632};$ she was hoping to get a phone call. Scrooge's antipathy towards his fellow man extends to his loyal but ill-treated clerk, Bob Cratchit. 4 Why did Bob Cratchit suffer in silence in A Christmas Carol? In fact, Bob is always happy because he finds in his family everything he could desire. When Scrooge's nephew arrives to invite the old man to join him for Christmas dinner, Scrooge declines, saying that Christmas has never brought good to anyone. Anything more than that is left to the reader's (or viewer's) imagination. _________The secretary of state was asked to _________ the dispute between the two neighboring nations. Bob Cratchit is poor for two reasons. It is said at the close of the story that for the rest of his days, Scrooge remained kind and generous toward the Cratchit family and was something of an additional father figure to Tiny Tim. This image of the Cratchit family appears to affect Scrooge a great deal, and he hopes that Tiny Tim will have a better future than the spirit predicts. Who is Bob Cratchit in the ghost of Christmas present? Cratchit works in a cold office with only one coal for heat, and Scrooge watches Cratchit's every move in the office. How does Scrooge's nephew treat Bob Cratchit, his clerk? He says it is the same as picking a mans pocket every twenty-fifth of December! Scrooge treats his clerk horribly, not even allowing him sufficient coal to keep himself warm. What is Scrooges attitude towards Bob Cratchit? How does Bob Cratchit influence Scrooge? Explain why the word belongs to that set. spirit transports Scrooge around the city, showing him scenes of festivity and also deprivation that are happening as they watch, sprinkling a little warmth from his torch as he travels. Roughly translates to $23,400 today (2022) and poverty pay and barely middle class. Answers 1. Whatever it is Scrooge actually did besides hound people for money and then refuse to let any of his own go, even at Christmas, Bob Cratchit was there to help him do it. He realizes that Bob has a family to support. Bob suffers in silence for his familys sake. Knowing the wages his clerk and his family subsist on, he thinks the poor man crazy. 2 How does Scrooge feel about Bob Cratchit? Scrooge complains that it is not "convenient" or "fair" for him to be expected to give his employee a day off for the holiday of Christmas. Who is Belle in A Christmas Carol, and why was she important to Scrooge? When Bob points out that it really is just the one day a year, Scrooge declares that this is "a poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!" His youngest son, Tiny Tim, is the light of Bob's life but is very ill and needs medical attention that Bob can't . Tiny Tim is younger than these three children and seems relentlessly happy, although he must wear leg braces and walk with crutches. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. How does this relate to the beginning of the story? Bob Cratchit is always happy. Who is Belle in A Christmas Carol, and why was she important to Scrooge. Download the entire A Christmas Carol study guide as a printable PDF! | 2 This is especially ironic, given the fact that it is actually Scrooge who exploits and underpays Bob, rather than the other way around. for a group? Why does the Ghost of Christmas Present have over eighteen hundred brothers? If I was to stop half-a-crown for it, you'd think yourself ill-used, I 'll be bound? Marley's purpose in the play was to warn scrooge that he would be visited by 3 spirits. Pay: It is remarked by Scrooge that he pays 1/2 crown (2.5 shillings, 30 Pence) a day, 6 days a week. Latest answer posted December 05, 2020 at 2:12:53 PM. He says that, even though all people do is get older and poorer every year, they still continue to celebrate. Explore descriptions of Bob Cratchit, the Cratchit family, read Bob Cratchit quotes, and discover what Bob Cratchit represents in Charles Dickens's novella. He has a young child with a disability and other children to support as well. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Bob is stunned, but Scrooge promises to stay true to his word. When Bob gets excited at Freds Merry Christmas speech, Scrooge threatens to fire him. The patriarch of that family, Bob Cratchit, has famously been depicted in films by such media luminaries as Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog, but he is often upstaged by his youngest son, Tiny Tim, who gets the stirring final line of the piece. In a Christmas Yet to Come, Tiny Tim has just died. Knowing what you do about Bob Cratchit, continue his story beyond the pages of Dickens's classic novel. As the story progresses, Scrooge is visited by three spirits, who take him on a journey to the past, present, and future, which allows Scrooge to recognize his corrupt, malicious ways. Bob Cratchit is Scrooges clerk and works in unpleasant conditions without complaint. 5 Who is Bob Cratchit in the ghost of Christmas present? 40 lessons They make him welcome. Throughout the novel Scrooge saw himself in the past, present and future. Even though he is the only person that Scrooge interacts with on a daily basis, Scrooge does not treat him well. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. How does the character of Scrooge change throughout the story? Why do the portly man and then the thin man visit Scrooge. Web site "https://www.in2013dollars.com/" denotes UK inflation is 150 from 1843 to 2022. These held the hot stuff from the jug, however, as well as golden goblets would have done; and Bob served it out with beaming looks, while the chestnuts on the fire sputtered and cracked noisily.". Scrooge may be realizing for the first time how much some fathers love their children. Wed love to have you back! Scrooge's door is open so he can keep a constant vigil on the clerk. Peter Cratchit is the family's eldest son. "And perhaps it was the pleasure the good Spirit had in showing off this power of his, or else it was his own kind, generous, hearty nature, and his sympathy with all poor men, that led him straight to Scrooge's clerk's; for there he went, and took Scrooge with him, holding to his robe; and on the threshold of the door the Spirit smiled, and stopped to bless Bob Cratchit's dwelling with the sprinkling of his torch." When Cratchit comes in late, Scrooge pretends to reprimand him . Scrooge relegates his clerk Bob Cratchit to a minimal fire, expecting Cratchit to work while cold. His activities as a money-lender are much more evident, as he greedily hounds his debtors. Example 1. What does Bob want to do that makes Mrs. Cratchit angry? In "A Christmas Carol", Bob Cratchit is described as a small man with an optimistic outlook on life. Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses, Margaret Stone, Margaret Stone, Amy Fredrickson. After Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, he resolves to place people above material possessions. About Quizlet. Describe how Scrooge walks down the street now, as opposed to how he used to walk down the street in the beginning of the story. Scrooge marvels at how the Cratchit's seem to celebrate Christmas despite their lack of money and concerns about Tiny Tim's health (Dickens 40). (The Cratchits don't get mentioned by name until the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge what they're up to.) Scrooge pretends that he is about to scold him, but Cratchit is taken aback when Scrooge announces, "I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob! Bob Cratchit as a loving family man who makes the best of his circumstances. 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By comparison, a Victorian post office clerk made 90 pounds a year. On a dingy Christmas Eve, Scrooge, a cold, unfriendly miser, works in his counting-house while keeping an eye on his clerk, a small man named Bob Cratchit. What did Scrooge do for Cratchit that would have been VERY out of his character before? Latest answer posted December 03, 2020 at 4:13:31 PM. With these words, Bob shows his mature side as his familys leader and guideeven in grief he tries to keep his family committed both to loving each other and to doing right. Scrooge is reluctant to give Bob Christmas off to spend with his family. In the original script Ebenezer does not have contact with Mrs Cratchit only with Tiny Tom and Bob.. Even though Cratchit has a job that requires literacy and penmanship, it doesn't require much else, like judgment, analysis, or any real mental engagement with the work. Yet all of the Cratchits adore the young child who must use a crutch and body brace to walk. Latest answer posted December 11, 2020 at 10:52:15 AM. It is clear that they are heartbroken over the loss of this treasured member of the family. Even beyond his own familiarity with clerical work, however, Dickens was likely interested in the life of clerks due to his constantly critical view of England's social classes at the time.