Scrooge Character Analysis (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)

Scrooge’s transformation from a solitary, miserly and hard-hearted character to a generous, compassionate and benevolent one is the central driver of the narrative in A Christmas Carol.

Scrooge character summary

Why is Scrooge important?

Dickens uses Scrooge to convey the key messages in the novella about social inequality, social responsibility and the importance of repentance in order to achieve redemption.

Scrooge’s journey through the novella is a transformative one. Initially, Dickens presents Scrooge as:

• Callous: he displays ignorance towards the realities of those in his society less fortunate than himself, and values wealth over family, kindness, benevolence and social connection.

• Sceptical: when he is visited by Marley’s ghost, Scrooge at first does not believe his own eyes. Unlike Marley’s ghost, who in death has come to realise the error of his ways, Scrooge cannot see his own metaphorical chains, suggesting that he has yet to realise the potential negative consequences of his behaviour.

• Materialistic: Scrooge’s preoccupation with money and wealth is detrimental to his happiness.

By the end of the novella, Scrooge has transformed from a cruel miser to a benevolent and kind man. Through the character of Scrooge, Dickens reveals to his readers that everyone has the potential to show compassion and kindness towards others, regardless of their social position.

Scrooge language analysis

Dickens presents aspects of Scrooge’s character through his dialogue with other characters in the novella.

• Dismissive comments: Scrooge’s speech to other characters is often ill-mannered and rude. In the first part of the novella, Scrooge often speaks rudely to those he should be kind to, such as Bob Crachit, his employee, and Fred, his nephew, for example when he says to Fred that “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart”

• Exclamatory statements: His curt and dismissive responses are emphasised through the use of exclamations such as “Bah!” and “Humbug!” which highlight his brusque nature

• Rhetorical questions: Scrooge often asks rhetorical questions, which are used by Dickens to show his ignorance of the plight of the poor. They are also used to demonstrate that his ability to change his and others’ outcomes rests with himself, such as with his unanswered questions to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Scrooge key quotes

Scrooge character development

Scrooge character interpretations

Social inequality

Dickens’ novella still resonates with people today due to its central theme of transformation, and its belief that we all hold the power to change and redeem ourselves. Scrooge’s actions are not necessarily to be viewed through a religious lens, but rather as a social contract, in which the inequality between those who “have” and those who “have not” can be evened out. A Christmas Carol could therefore be argued to convey an over-simplified and sentimental message which does not fully explore the underlying reasons for social inequality.

Scrooge as philanthropist

During the mid-19th century, a weakening economy in England meant many middle-class Victorians saved their money for the prospect of poorer times ahead. This then means less money is spent by everyone in society. Scrooge’s initial materialism and money-hoarding can be contextualised against this backdrop, but rather than advocating charity and benevolence, one interpretation is that Dickens was encouraging higher consumer spending as a way back to health (exemplified by Tiny Tim) and prosperity. Scrooge then is seen not as a miserly sinner, but as a reflection of his times: a wealthy man who has learned to spend what money he has in order to bolster the economy for everyone.