A Christmas Carol Key Theme: Family and Relationships (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)

Family and relationships timeline

The theme of family and relationships in A Christmas Carol:

How are family and relationships presented in A Christmas Carol?

Family and relationships are presented throughout A Christmas Carol: 

• Fred, Scrooge’s nephew (Stave 1):  Dickens presents Fred as a foil to Scrooge to emphasise the detrimental effect of social isolation and the importance of family:

  • In his interaction with his nephew, Scrooge demonstrates his self-imposed isolation from family and relationships by refusing Fred’s Christmas day invitation: “keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine”

• The Cratchit family: Dickens constructs a relatable and positive presentation of a large, working-class family in the 19th century:

  • He focuses on their unity, strength in adversity and optimistic outlook on life; their poverty is not an obstacle to joy, love and happiness

  • Their tenderness and grief in Stave 4 following Tiny Tim’s death emphasises  Dickens’ message that family and connection are more important than wealth or material possessions

• Scrooge’s past (Stave 2): Dickens presents family images from Scrooge’s childhood and former life to remind readers of the importance of family and connection :

  • Scrooge recalls his affection and sorrow for his sister, Fanny, and his guilt at his subsequent rejection of her son, Fred

  • Through his relationship with Belle, his former fiancee, Dickens shows both his miserly transformation and his regret at not having a family of his own

Why is family and relationships a key theme in A Christmas Carol?

1.  Victorian society 

• Family life was both idealised in Victorian society and essential for comfort and support, due to the lack of welfare 

• Throughout the novella, there are constant references to the importance of family and connection as Dickens underlines the importance of prioritising love and family over wealth and possessions

2. Christian values

• Through his portrayal of families, Dickens embodies the Christian values of charity, forgiveness, caring for one another and kindness

  • Bob Cratchit represents forgiveness and humility

  • Tiny Tim is a symbol of hope and serves to remind readers of Christian redemption;  he hopes that people “saw him in the church, because he was a cripple”, a reminder of Jesus who made “lame beggars walk, and blind men see”

  • By setting the novella at Christmas, Dickens juxtaposes these Christian values with Scrooge’s behaviour and greed, offering a reminder to wealthy Victorian society of what these values really mean

Exam-style questions on the theme of family and relationships in A Christmas Carol

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of family and relationships:

• Explore how Dickens presents Scrooge as an outsider to society.

• Explore how Dickens presents ideas about joy and happiness in A Christmas Carol.

• Explore how Dickens presents the effects of loneliness and isolation in A Christmas Carol.