The Cratchit Family: Poverty with Heart
Ever wondered how Dickens made readers care about Victorian working families? The Cratchits are his masterpiece for showing that being poor doesn't mean being bitter.
Bob Cratchit remains respectfully grateful to Scrooge despite earning a terrible wage. When he toasts "the founder of the feast" (referring to Scrooge), Dickens uses alliteration to emphasise Bob's genuine thankfulness. This shows how the poor maintained dignity even when treated harshly by the wealthy.
Mrs Cratchit tells a different story entirely. She calls Scrooge an "unfeeling man" using listing with harsh adjectives like "stingy, hard, unfeeling." This negative tone reveals her true feelings about how her husband is mistreated. The word "unfeeling" particularly suggests Scrooge shows no emotion or compassion.
Quick Tip: Notice how Dickens gives us two different perspectives on the same boss - this shows the complexity of Victorian social relationships.
When Bob "hugged his daughter to his heart's content," the alliteration of "heart's" creates impact and shows the genuine love within this struggling family. This warmth contrasts sharply with Scrooge's cold isolation.