Bob Cratchit is depicted as wearing a long ''comforter'', or scarf, to try to stay warm at work. ``It's not convenient,'' said Scrooge, ``and it's not fair. Learn about the character Bob Cratchit from the story ''A Christmas Carol''. Roughly, 600 times the prices of 1843 to equal current values. a. importune 1 What is Bob Cratchit relationship to Scrooge? 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "Secret, And Self-contained, And Solitary As An Oyster", https://www.enotes.com/topics/christmas-carol, https://www.enotes.com/topics/christmas-carol/characters, https://www.enotes.com/topics/christmas-carol/themes. Peter Cratchit is the family's eldest son. do you think that people like scrooge are really happy Cratchit likely eschews new clothes so he can better provide for his large family. Scrooge complains to Bob Cratchit, his clerk, when he asks for the day off for Christmas. These eight people live in a four-room house which, like Scrooge's flat, has neither stove nor oven. Three ghosts take Scrooge through Christmases past, present and future. As the story begins, Cratchit is hard at work in Scrooge's accounting office on Christmas Eve. As the BBC explains, the position of clerk was an essential step in the establishment of the then-new idea of climbing the corporate ladder. Latest answer posted December 05, 2020 at 2:12:53 PM. Scrooge sends a turkey to the Cratchit family, his first act of kindness to others. Passage 2: ''But he [Scrooge] was early at the office next morning. Scrooge 's loyal clerk, he is very poorly treated by his boss and his large family live in cold and poverty. Scrooge is so hard on Bob and treats him very unfair. In fact, Bob is always happy because he finds in his family everything he could desire. Contact us Did you know you can highlight text to take a note? Latest answer posted December 11, 2020 at 10:52:15 AM. Ebenezer Scrooge finally understands that Bob Cratchit is happy, even in his humble circumstances, and at the end of A Christmas Carol Scrooge finally learns firsthand the joys that generosity can bring to the giver. The mean habit has become so ingrained in Scrooge that he no longer sees himself doing it or as others see him. A selection of Bob Cratchit quotes from A Christmas Carol reveal the kind of man he is. 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. He was a second father to Tiny Tim, was a good master and a great friend. 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. Bob knows that celebrating Christmas has nothing to do with money. His youngest son, Tiny Tim, is the light of Bob's life but is very ill and needs medical attention that Bob can't . He is very mean to his employee Mr. Bob Cratchit and keeps him freezing with little pay. Scrooge believes one can only be happy with wealth, but ironically, he remains miserable despite his wealth. Three ghosts take Scrooge through Christmases past, present and future. Enter a Melbet promo code and get a generous bonus, An Insight into Coupons and a Secret Bonus, Organic Hacks to Tweak Audio Recording for Videos Production, Bring Back Life to Your Graphic Images- Used Best Graphic Design Software, New Google Update and Future of Interstitial Ads. People like Scrooge are lonely because they can't trust people to like them for their true selves, Vocabulary for Achievement: Fourth Course, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, California (Grade 9, Volume 1). Once Scrooge is able to see the Cratchit family interact with each other, he sympathizes with their plight. 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. From their conversation, it is clear Scrooge's attitude towards Bob is cold and uncaring and that their relationship is strained. [1], Seven members are mentioned in the original story, five of whom are named:[1]. 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. Explain how he did this citing at least one example from the story to support your answer. _________The secretary of state was asked to _________ the dispute between the two neighboring nations. In A Christmas Carol, Bob Cratchit works as Ebenezer Scrooge's clerk. Asked by Haylie J #488861 on 12/15/2015 10:18 PM Last updated by Aslan on 12/15/2015 10:25 PM Answers 1 Add Yours. 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. Besides, of course, the four spirits who visit him all in the course of one night, the characters from Charles Dickens'A Christmas Carol who have the biggest impact on the transformation of literature's most famous miser Ebenezer Scrooge are the Cratchit family. He even begrudges Cratchit's taking Christmas off to be with Tiny Tim and the rest of his family. Martha Cratchit, their eldest daughter, works in a hatmaker's shop. ''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.'' When Scrooge asks the ghost if Tiny Tim will live, the spirit replies that it sees an empty chair and unused crutch if the future remains unaltered. "Then all the Cratchit family drew round the hearth, in what Bob Cratchit called a circle, meaning half a one; and at Bob Cratchit's elbow stood the family display of glass. Bob Cratchit represents the working poor in Dickens' novella. 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. Amy has taught and tutored college-level English; she has a master's degree from Colorado State University in rhetoric and composition. In addition to this depiction of Cratchit's young son as a physical burden, the child is no doubt a financial burden on the cash-strapped family as well. "Scrooge was better than his word." Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. 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. Through Cratchit, Scrooge learns the meaning of Christmas and experiences happiness for the first time when he finally gives Bob Cratchit a raise and begins to help the Cratchit family. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Scrooge's response to this request is to inquire whether prison is not an appropriate venue in which to house such individuals and families. Underline the pronoun in parentheses that correctly completes each sentence. 6 Who is Bob Cratchit in the Great Gatsby? 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. 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. 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. What Did Bob Cratchit Actually Do For Ebenezer Scrooge? how does scrooge trick Bob cratchit the day after christmas? None are more aware of this disposition than Bob Cratchit, who works as Scrooges clerk. 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. Bob knows that celebrating Christmas has nothing to do with money. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. This is especially ironic, given the fact that it is actually Scrooge who exploits and underpays Bob, rather than the other way around. How does Scrooge treat his clerk Bob How does he respond to his Christmas Day off? The Ghost of Christmas Present took Scrooge to visit the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. (The Cratchits don't get mentioned by name until the Ghost of Christmas Present . In stave 3, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Present, who takes him to Bob Cratchit's home during Christmas, where Scrooge is touched by Bob's compassionate, disabled son, Tiny Tim. Scrooge wonders why he should lose money while Bob takes a "holiday". Scrooge's antipathy towards his fellow man extends to his loyal but ill-treated clerk, Bob Cratchit. "I shall love it, as long as I live!" Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. Unknown if this calculator takes into account the exchange rate affecting purchasing power. This is an individual badly in need of redemption, and the following sections, or "staves," of A Christmas Caroldo precisely that. If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. This is the first time he interacts with his fellow man. In one scene, Scrooge is shown the Cratchits following Tiny Tim's death. Describe Scroge's interaction with Bob Cratchit at his office. He is shown carrying his son, Tiny Tim, home from church. 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. The family is happy despite their circumstances, however. Bob Cratchit as a loving family man who makes the best of his circumstances. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Scrooge is unhappy despite his material wealth, while Bob Cratchit is happy in spite of his poverty. A British magazine described how during the 1860s, clerks would "disappear mysteriously down passages or into doorways that lead to narrow staircases, some doubtless to little tanks like that in which poor Bob Cratchit toiled under Scrooge's uncharitable eye while others are absorbed into dingy warehouses that look as dreary as prisons.". Its not convenient, said Scrooge, and its not fair. 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. Example 1. The whole holiday is complete inexplicable to Scrooge, and so it baffles and angers him that he should be expected, as an employer, to give his employee paid time off. Bob Cratchit is Scrooge's clerk, and he is in charge of keeping the books and doing various chores around the counting-house. 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. Scrooge refuses to give him additional coal for the fire, and even threatens to fire Cratchit if he tries to obtain more coal from Scrooge. That translated to 39 pounds a year. When his family members vow to never forget Tiny Tim, Bob says, "I am very happy!" d. patronize. and renting a decent house, in which they often had to sublet rooms to manual laborers, who likely earned more than the clerks themselves. News. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. What is the difference in the mood of Stave 4 and Stave 5? Bob Cratchit overhears Scrooge's nephew argue that Christmas has many benefits, and before he realizes it, Cratchit applauds the nephew's words. 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. The purpose of life was to accumulate as much money as possible, and the way in which to accomplish that end was to work every day. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol takes the reader on a journey to find out how the main character, Scrooge, transforms from a life of anger and cruelty to a life of love and kindness. From the visiting ghosts, Ebenezer Scrooge realizes that his life has no meaning. The only thing the text ever specifies is that the firm of Scrooge and Marley includes (or is in its entirety) a counting-house, meaning it supplies accounting or bookkeeping services. In stave 1, Scrooge allows Bob Cratchit to freeze by prohibiting him from using an adequate amount of coal to keep himself warm on the extremely cold day. "They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof; their clothes were scanty; and Peter might have known, and very likely did, the inside of a pawnbroker's." He's simply described as "his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters." Bob Cratchit as a mourning father who nonetheless continues to persevere for his family's sake. Who is Bob Cratchit in the ghost of Christmas present? In Stave One of A Christmas Carol, we meet Scrooge and his employee, Bob Cratchit, for the first time. Scrooge complains to Bob Cratchit, his clerk, when he asks for the day off for Christmas. 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. They make him welcome. Knowing the wages his clerk and his family subsist on, he thinks the poor man crazy. Before his experience with the spirits, Scrooge is known throughout his community as cold, miserly, and mean-spirited. Characters Bob Cratchit, his son Tiny Tim, and Scrooge's nephew Fred, all influence Scrooge in his journey of transformation. Bob Cratchit is Scrooges clerk and works in unpleasant conditions without complaint. How does Scrooge treat Bob Cratchit in stave 5? Scrooge also exercises his tyranny over Bob Cratchit by demanding that he arrive earlier than usual on the day following Christmas after he complains about Bob taking the holiday off. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! Bob Cratchit as an employee in Scrooge's business. The Cratchits remain a loving, compassionate family despite their poverty, and Scrooge is taught an invaluable lesson by being forced to observe them in their dismal dwelling. Tiny Tim is depicted as a courageous boy who is able to enjoy his life despite his circumstances. 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). Scrooge complains to Bob Cratchit, his clerk, when he asks for the day off for Christmas. Name the six places the second spirit takes Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. As if to emphasize further the nature of Scrooge's character, Dickens has his main character be visited by a kind gentleman seeking a charitable contribution for the benefit of the poor. 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. Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! 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. More books than SparkNotes. Careers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Scrooge claims that the clerk, Bob Cratchit, would certainly think himself "ill-used" if Scrooge refused to pay him for the day. The narrator describes the scene in Scrooges office where Scrooge rations the live coals needed to heat the place during winter. "How does Scrooge's attitude towards Bob Cratchit and their relationship change at the end of A Christmas Carol?" The reader reflects on the lack of parental affection in Scrooges childhood. Bob Cratchit is Scrooge's clerk and works in unpleasant conditions without complaint. Bob hopes to secure a good job for Peter, who will then help provide income for the struggling Cratchit family. What did Scrooge say about giving his clerk a day off to celebrate Christmas in Charles Dickens'sA Christmas Carol? A merry Christmas and a happy new year!" Very simply, Bob Cratchit changes from being a thing to emerging as a human being in Scrooge's eyes. How does Scrooge reconcile with Fred, his nephew? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. "I wish I had him here. In the end, when Scrooge changes his ways for the better, Bob Cratchit is delighted. a. delegates, capitol, elect, legislature How does Scrooge treat Bob Cratchit? 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To his loyal but ill-treated clerk, when he asks for the day off to Christmas... Secure a good job for Peter, who will then help provide income for first! The poor man crazy for me 's accounting office on Christmas Eve below to redeem their group membership sends turkey... Treat his clerk and works in unpleasant conditions without complaint x27 ; s flat, has stove!