| Bob Cratchit | |
|---|---|
Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim as depicted in the 1870s by Fred Barnard |
|
| First appearance | A Christmas Carol 1843 |
| Created by | Charles Dickens |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Family | Mrs. Cratchit, Martha, Belinda, Peter, an unnamed son (named Matthew in some adaptations), an unnamed daughter, Tiny Tim. |
| Spouse(s) | Mrs. Cratchit (named Emily in some adaptations) |
| Children | Martha, Belinda, Peter, an unnamed son (named Matthew in some adaptations), an unnamed daughter, Tiny Tim. |
Robert "Bob" Cratchit is a fictional character who is the abused, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol. The character has come to symbolize poor working conditions, especially long working hours.[1]
Contents |
In the story, Cratchit is first seen at work, where he copies letters by hand in an underheated "dismal little cell", "a sort of tank". He is repeatedly described as "ugly" and clothes himself in a tattered white comforter, since he cannot afford a coat. Cratchit is treated poorly by Scrooge and given a weekly salary of "but fifteen bob",[2] insufficient to feed his family a proper Christmas dinner. Nevertheless, he remains loyal to his employer, even in face of the protestations of his wife, who for years has watched her husband work faithfully for the negectful and stingy Mr. Scrooge.
Scrooge invisibly visits Cratchit and his family in their small Camden Town home on Christmas Day as well as on a future Christmas. He is accompanied on these visits by the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, respectively. It is partly through concern for the plight of Cratchit's youngest son, the frail and crippled Tiny Tim, that Scrooge makes the transformation from miser to philanthropist, offering Cratchit a raise and "discussion of his affairs".
Seven members of Cratchit's family are mentioned in the original story, four of whom are named:
The role of Bob Cratchit has been performed (live action, voiced or animated) by, among others: