Characters (A Christmas Carol)

Below is a list of characters in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Ebenezer Scrooge

Ebenezer Scrooge is the main character in the novella. He is a cold and miserly old man. He is the owner of a London counting-house. During the novella he is visited by three spirits of Christmas in the hope of reversing his greedy, cold hearted approach to life and his fellow man. At the beginning of the novella Scrooge hates Christmas.

Bob Cratchit

Bob Cratchit is Scrooge’s clerk at the counting house. He is a kind, mild man. He is very poor and has a large family to provide for. Though treated harshly by Scrooge, Cratchit remains a humble and dedicated employee.

Fred

Fred is Scrooge’s nephew, he is a genial man who loves Christmas. Every year he invites Scrooge to his Christmas party, only to be refused.

The Portly Gentlemen

The two gentlemen are charity collectors who visit Scrooge at the beginning of the novella seeking charitable contributions for the poor and destitute of London.

Jacob Marley

Jacob Marley has been dead for seven years at the start of the novella. In life Marley was Scrooge’s equally greedy business partner. He appears to Scrooge as a ghost condemned to wander the World bound in heavy chains. Marley offers his old partner a chance to escape a similar fate.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

The Ghost of Christmas Past is the first spirit to visit Scrooge on Christmas Eve. The Ghost takes Scrooge on a tour of the Christmases of his own past, from early childhood and into his young adulthood.

Fan

Fan is Scrooge’s sister (Fred’s mother). Scrooge remembers that, as a child, Fan convinced her father to allow him to return home one Christmas.

Mr Fezziwig

Mr Fezziwig is the jovial merchant with whom Scrooge apprenticed as a young man. Mr Fezziwig was renowned for his wonderful Christmas parties.

 Dick Wilkins

Dick Wilkins is a young man who apprenticed alongside Ebenezer for Mr. Fezziwig.

Belle

Belle was Scrooge’s beloved fiancé when he was a young man. She ended their engagement when Scrooge became miserly and consumed with wealth and greed. She later married Dick Wilkins.

The Ghost of Christmas Present

The Ghost of Christmas Present is the second spirit to visit Scrooge, his lifespan is restricted to Christmas Day. He escorts Scrooge on a tour of the Christmas celebrations of the people closest to Scrooge.

Mrs Cratchit

Mrs Cratchit is the wife of Bob Chatchit. She is a kind and loving woman, though she has little love and patience for Ebenezer Scrooge.

Peter Cratchit

Peter Cratchit is Bob’s oldest son, who inherits his father’s stiff-collared shirt for Christmas.

Martha Cratchit

Martha Cratchit is Bob’s oldest daughter, she works in a milliner’s shop.

Belinda Cratchit

Belinda Cratchit is Bob’s youngest daughter.

Tiny Tim

Tiny Tim is Bob Cratchit’s youngest son. Tiny Tim has been crippled from birth.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is the third and final spirit to visit Scrooge. Silent throughout their visit, this spirit shows Scrooge images of future Christmases and the prospect of a lonely death.

Old Joe

Old is a pawnbroker.

Mrs  Dilber

Mrs Dilbar is Scrooge’s laundry lady.