A Christmas Carol

by Charles Dickens

Children's book review by Jane Finch.

(Visit Jane's work at Finchlark.)

Ages 3-8

Is Scrooge a sympathetic character?

So the question is, do we dislike old Ebenezer Scrooge, or do we feel sorry for him?

There’s no doubt he’s a grumpy old man and he makes sure everyone around him is miserable, but we do find out through this story that there is a reason for his foul mood and temper. Perhaps, therefore, we can have some sympathy for him. It is certainly hard, though, because the writer Charles Dickens makes the reader empathise with all the other characters, but it is not until further into the story that there is the glimmer of feeling for old Scrooge. So whilst he spends his time counting his money and making life miserable for his loyal employee Bob Cratchit, the reader sees that he has a sad life, living alone and without any home comforts, although to be fair this would appear to be of his own making. So why should we feel sorry for him?

Well, the appearance of three ghosts give the reader an insight into Scrooge’s past, present, and possible future (the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come), and this is where the reader’s feelings for the old grump start to change. Then we see Bob Cratchit’s family and how he struggles to make a living, and of course little Tiny Tim, Bob’s unfortunate son. Scrooge gets a chance during the visit of the Ghost of Christmas Present to see what poor Bob really has to put up with, and yet how he refuses to hear an ill word against his employer, and how he and his family all remain cheerful, despite their struggling existence.

A Christmas Carol isn’t just another Christmas story, but there are a lot of hidden moral aspects within. I think this is a story showing how people can be weighed down with life’s problems and disappointments, and how different people deal with similar situations. So, a moralistic story with a supernatural element.

The writing style is, of course, that of Charles Dickens and written in the 1800’s, so it does not easily lend itself to reading by the younger child, but it would be perfect to listen to as a parent reads out loud. A Christmas Carol may be a familiar story but there always seems to be an element I had not previously noticed each time I read it. I don’t dislike the old miser at all now, not even at the beginning. This story has characters that will be remembered throughout childhood and into adulthood. They are timeless, as is the moral of the story.

A Christmas Carol takes us back to a time where the traditions of Christmas were foremost and where the importance of family was paramount. It is of a time when the little things in life were the most important. Adults will enjoy this journey just as much as the children.

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