A Christmas Carol

Narrator

The unnamed narrator who tells the story and occasionally addresses the reader.

Ebenezer Scrooge

Also known as Scrooge · Mr. Scrooge · Master Scrooge

A wealthy London businessman and Jacob Marley’s former partner. After visits from Marley’s Ghost and three Christmas spirits, he reforms, raises Bob Cratchit’s salary, supports the Cratchit family, and becomes generous.

Jacob Marley

Also known as Marley · Old Marley · Marley’s Ghost · the Ghost

Scrooge’s deceased business partner and former friend. Bound by a chain forged from his selfish deeds, he returns to warn Scrooge and arrange visits from three spirits.

Hamlet’s Father

A fictional middle-aged gentleman mentioned by the narrator as an example of a ghost; he is described as having died before the events of Hamlet.

Scrooge’s clerk

Also known as the clerk · the clerk in the Tank · Bob Cratchit · Bob

Scrooge’s poorly paid clerk, husband and father of a large family including Tiny Tim. Scrooge raises his salary and promises to help his struggling family.

Scrooge’s nephew

Also known as the nephew · Fred

Scrooge’s cheerful nephew Fred, who invites him to Christmas dinner and argues that Christmas encourages kindness and generosity. He is the son of Scrooge’s sister Fan.

First charity collector

Also known as one of the gentlemen

One of two unnamed gentlemen who ask Scrooge to contribute to a fund for poor and destitute people.

Second charity collector

Also known as the gentleman

One of two unnamed gentlemen who ask Scrooge to contribute to a fund for poor and destitute people.

Christmas carol singer

Also known as the singer · the boy singing a Christmas Carol

A young, unnamed singer who stoops to Scrooge’s keyhole to sing a Christmas carol and is frightened away. Scrooge later regrets not giving him something.

Lord Mayor

The unnamed Lord Mayor, who orders his household cooks and butlers to keep Christmas.

Unnamed tailor

Also known as the little tailor

A poor tailor whom the Lord Mayor fined for drunken and violent behavior; he makes a Christmas pudding in his garret.

Unnamed tailor’s wife

Also known as his lean wife

The tailor’s unnamed wife, who goes out with their baby to buy beef.

Unnamed tailor’s baby

Also known as the baby

The infant child of the unnamed tailor and his wife.

Scrooge’s doorknocker caroler

Also known as the owner of one scant young nose

An unnamed young person who tries to sing a Christmas carol at Scrooge’s door and flees when Scrooge threatens him with a ruler.

The old ghost in a white waistcoat

Also known as the old ghost

A chained phantom once known to Scrooge. In life, he could not bring himself to help a poor woman and her infant.

The poor woman with an infant

Also known as a wretched woman

An unnamed woman whom the old ghost in a white waistcoat saw in need, with her infant on a doorstep.

The infant on the doorstep

Also known as the infant

The unnamed child of the poor woman seen by the old ghost in a white waistcoat.

Ghost of Christmas Past

Also known as the First of the Three Spirits · the Spirit · the Ghost

A spirit with a childlike yet aged appearance who guides Scrooge through scenes from his past and urges his reclamation.

Young Ebenezer Scrooge

Also known as Scrooge’s former self · the lonely boy · the solitary child · the boy

Scrooge as a neglected schoolboy and later as a young man. His childhood memories and broken engagement reveal the loneliness and choices behind his miserly life.

Ali Baba

A character from a story that young Scrooge reads; he appears in the remembered scene as a wood-bearing traveler led by an ass.

Valentine

A character from a story young Scrooge recalls reading; Scrooge also mentions Valentine’s wild brother.

Orson

Also known as Valentine’s wild brother

A character from a story young Scrooge recalls reading, identified as Valentine’s wild brother.

The sleeper at the Gate of Damascus

An unnamed character from a story Scrooge remembers, who was put down in his drawers asleep at the Gate of Damascus.

The Sultan’s Groom

A character from a story young Scrooge recalls, who is turned upside down by the Genii.

The Princess

An unnamed princess from a story young Scrooge recalls; the Sultan’s Groom is described as having married her.

Robin Crusoe

Also known as Robinson Crusoe · Poor Robin Crusoe

The castaway in the story young Scrooge remembers reading. Scrooge recalls him returning to find his parrot.

The Parrot

Robin Crusoe’s parrot in the story young Scrooge remembers; it speaks to Crusoe after his return.

Friday

A character from the story young Scrooge recalls, fleeing toward a creek.

Fan

Also known as little Fan

Scrooge’s younger sister, who lovingly brings him home from school as a boy. She later dies, leaving one child: Scrooge’s nephew.

Scrooge’s father

Also known as Father

Scrooge and Fan’s father, mentioned in Fan’s account of his becoming kinder and allowing Scrooge to return home from school.

Scrooge’s schoolmaster

Also known as the schoolmaster

The unnamed, imposing master at Scrooge’s former school, who sees him and Fan off when Scrooge leaves.

Scrooge’s meagre servant

Also known as the servant

An unnamed servant at Scrooge’s school, sent by the schoolmaster to offer a drink to the postboy.

The postboy

An unnamed postboy who declines the schoolmaster’s drink, recalling that he disliked the same drink before.

Fezziwig

Also known as old Fezziwig · Mr. Fezziwig

Scrooge’s jovial former employer, who makes his apprentices’ work light and hosts a generous Christmas Eve ball.

Dick Wilkins

Also known as Dick

Scrooge’s fellow apprentice at Fezziwig’s warehouse and a close friend of young Scrooge.

Mrs. Fezziwig

Fezziwig’s warm and substantial wife, who joins him in hosting the apprentices and their guests at the Christmas ball.

Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the three Miss Fezziwigs

One of Fezziwig’s three daughters, who attends the Christmas ball. The text does not distinguish her individually from her sisters.

Second Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the three Miss Fezziwigs

One of Fezziwig’s three daughters, who attends the Christmas ball. The text does not distinguish her individually from her sisters.

Third Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the three Miss Fezziwigs

One of Fezziwig’s three daughters, who attends the Christmas ball. The text does not distinguish her individually from her sisters.

A young follower of a Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the six young followers

One of six unnamed young men who attend the ball and are said to have had their hearts broken by the Fezziwig daughters.

Second young follower of a Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the six young followers

One of six unnamed young men who attend the ball and are said to have had their hearts broken by the Fezziwig daughters.

Third young follower of a Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the six young followers

One of six unnamed young men who attend the ball and are said to have had their hearts broken by the Fezziwig daughters.

Fourth young follower of a Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the six young followers

One of six unnamed young men who attend the ball and are said to have had their hearts broken by the Fezziwig daughters.

Fifth young follower of a Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the six young followers

One of six unnamed young men who attend the ball and are said to have had their hearts broken by the Fezziwig daughters.

Sixth young follower of a Miss Fezziwig

Also known as one of the six young followers

One of six unnamed young men who attend the ball and are said to have had their hearts broken by the Fezziwig daughters.

Fezziwig’s fiddler

Also known as the fiddler

An unnamed musician who plays at Fezziwig’s Christmas ball and leads the dancing.

Housemaid at Fezziwig’s ball

Also known as the housemaid

An unnamed housemaid who attends the ball with her cousin, the baker.

The baker at Fezziwig’s ball

Also known as the baker

An unnamed baker who attends the ball with his cousin, the housemaid.

The cook at Fezziwig’s ball

Also known as the cook

An unnamed cook who attends the ball with her brother’s particular friend, the milkman.

The milkman at Fezziwig’s ball

Also known as the milkman

An unnamed milkman who attends the ball with the cook, who is his friend’s sister.

The boy from over the way

An unnamed boy who attends Fezziwig’s ball and is suspected of being underfed by his master.

The girl from next door but one

An unnamed girl who attends Fezziwig’s ball and is said to have had her ears pulled by her mistress.

The young woman

Also known as Scrooge’s former fiancée

Scrooge’s unnamed former fiancée, shown in mourning dress as their engagement ends because his pursuit of wealth has displaced his love for her.

Belle

Scrooge’s former fiancée, later a happily married woman with children. Her husband recalls seeing Scrooge alone at his office.

Belle’s husband

Also known as the master of the house

Belle’s unnamed husband and the father of her children. He tells her that he saw Scrooge alone at the office and heard that Marley is near death.

Belle’s daughter

Also known as the daughter

Belle and her husband’s graceful young daughter, who plays with her many siblings and leans affectionately on her father.

Belle’s eldest child

Also known as the beautiful young girl

An unnamed young woman who resembles Belle and sits by the fire with her mother before becoming a playful, affectionate matron.

Belle’s baby

Also known as the baby

The youngest of Belle’s children, who is comically suspected of swallowing a toy turkey.

Christmas Present’s torchbearer family

Also known as the younger members of my family

The Ghost of Christmas Present refers collectively to more than eighteen hundred younger spirits of Christmas Present as its family; they are not individually identified.

Ghost of Christmas Present

Also known as the Second of the Three Spirits · the second messenger · the Phantom · the Spirit

A jolly giant spirit dressed in green, who shows Scrooge Christmas scenes from the present and blesses people in need. It says it has more than eighteen hundred younger family members, and warns Scrooge against the figures Ignorance and Want.

Mrs. Cratchit

Also known as Cratchit’s wife

Bob Cratchit’s wife and mother of their children, including Tiny Tim. She manages their modest Christmas meal and resents Scrooge’s treatment of her husband.

Belinda Cratchit

Also known as Miss Belinda · Miss Belinda Cratchit

The second of Bob and Mrs. Cratchit’s daughters. She helps prepare the family’s Christmas dinner.

Peter Cratchit

Also known as Master Peter · Master Peter Cratchit

Bob and Mrs. Cratchit’s son and heir. Bob hopes to find him a better-paying situation, and Peter later helps support the family after Tiny Tim’s death.

Two young Cratchits

Also known as the two young Cratchits · the youngest Cratchits

An unnamed Cratchit boy and girl, younger children of Bob and Mrs. Cratchit. They welcome Martha and help with the family’s Christmas dinner.

Martha Cratchit

Also known as Martha

The eldest Cratchit daughter, who works as an apprentice at a milliner’s. She comes home for Christmas and comforts her family after Tiny Tim’s death.

Tiny Tim

Also known as Tim

Bob and Mrs. Cratchit’s young son, who has a disability and uses a crutch and leg supports. Kind and devout, he survives in the changed future and Scrooge becomes a second father to him.

The lamplighter

An unnamed lamplighter who runs ahead lighting the streets and laughs as the Ghost of Christmas Present passes.

Old miner

Also known as the old man

An unnamed elderly miner who sings an old Christmas song to his extended family in a hut on the moor.

Old miner’s wife

Also known as the old woman

An unnamed elderly woman, part of the miner’s family gathered for Christmas.

Elder lighthouse keeper

Also known as the elder

One of two unnamed men keeping the lighthouse. His weather-scarred face and sturdy Christmas song are particularly noted.

Second lighthouse keeper

Also known as the other man

The other unnamed man keeping the lighthouse; he shares Christmas wishes and grog with his fellow keeper.

Scrooge’s niece by marriage

Also known as Scrooge’s niece

Fred’s unnamed wife, who laughs with him and warmly joins the family’s Christmas gathering. She has sisters, one of whom is especially pursued by Topper.

Topper

A friend of Fred and his wife who sings bass and plays party games. He pretends to be blind in order to pursue one of Scrooge’s niece’s sisters.

Plump sister of Scrooge’s niece

Also known as the plump one with the lace tucker · Scrooge’s niece’s sister

An unnamed sister of Fred’s wife, distinguished by her lace tucker. She blushes at Topper’s attention and guesses that Fred is thinking of Uncle Scrooge in a party game.

Other sister of Scrooge’s niece

Also known as the one with the roses

An unnamed sister of Fred’s wife, distinguished from the plump sister by wearing roses.

The other ladies at Fred’s gathering

Also known as Scrooge’s niece’s sisters, and all the other ladies

Unnamed women attending Fred’s Christmas gathering who share the niece’s opinion of Scrooge.

Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Also known as Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come · Ghost of the Future · the Last of the Spirits · the Phantom · the Spectre · the Spirit

A silent, hooded spirit who shows Scrooge visions of a possible future, including his lonely death and Tiny Tim’s death. Its warnings spur Scrooge to change his life.

First businessman discussing the dead man

Also known as the great fat man with a monstrous chin · the man with the large chin

An unnamed businessman who says a man has died and speculates that his money may have gone to his company. He jokes that nobody will attend the funeral.

Second businessman discussing the dead man

Also known as the second man

An unnamed businessman who asks when the dead man died.

Third businessman discussing the dead man

Also known as the third man · the gentleman with the large snuff-box

An unnamed businessman who asks what killed the dead man while taking snuff.

Red-faced businessman

Also known as the gentleman with the excrescence on his nose

An unnamed businessman who asks what the dead man did with his money and says he would attend the funeral if lunch were provided.

First wealthy man meeting on the street

Also known as one of the two wealthy men

An unnamed, influential businessman who briefly discusses the dead man with another wealthy acquaintance.

Second wealthy man meeting on the street

Also known as the other wealthy man

An unnamed, influential businessman who briefly discusses the dead man with another wealthy acquaintance.

Old Joe

Also known as Joe

An elderly dealer in stolen goods who buys items taken from the dead man’s room. He is nearly seventy and jokes with the charwoman, Mrs. Dilber, and an undertaker’s man.

Charwoman

Also known as the first woman · the woman

An unnamed woman who worked in the dead man’s house and stole his bed curtains and burial shirt. She shows no remorse, saying he had driven everyone away while alive.

Mrs. Dilber

Also known as the laundress · the second woman

A laundress who steals sheets, towels, clothing, teaspoons, sugar-tongs, and boots from the dead man’s house and sells them to Old Joe.

Undertaker’s man

Also known as the man in faded black

An unnamed worker from the undertaker’s who steals small valuables from the dead man and sells them to Old Joe.

Caroline

A young, patient woman married to a man who owes money to the dying Scrooge. She is relieved when the creditor’s death gives the family hope of escaping their debt.

Caroline’s husband

Also known as her husband

A young, careworn man burdened by debt to Scrooge. He tells Caroline that their creditor has died, giving them hope that his successor will be less merciless.

Caroline’s children

Also known as the children

The unnamed children of Caroline and her husband, who gather quietly to hear their parents discuss the creditor’s death.

Dead Scrooge

Also known as the dead man · the unhappy man · the wretched man

Scrooge as seen in the possible future, dead and left alone in an uncurtained bed. His servants have stolen his belongings, and Caroline’s family is relieved by his death because he had been their merciless creditor.

Boy in Sunday clothes

Also known as the boy · my fine fellow · my buck · the lad

An unnamed boy Scrooge calls from his window on Christmas morning. He eagerly runs to buy a large turkey for Scrooge to send to the Cratchits.

Poulterer’s man

Also known as the poulterer’s man · the man

An unnamed delivery man who brings Scrooge’s large turkey and takes it by cab to Bob Cratchit’s home.

Girl at Fred’s house

Also known as the girl · my dear

An unnamed domestic servant at Fred’s house who tells Scrooge that her master is home and directs him to the dining room.

Portly gentleman

Also known as the old gentleman · the gentleman

One of the charity collectors who visited Scrooge’s office. Scrooge later meets him on the street and makes a generous donation to the cause.