Bob Cratchit
Country of Origin: England

n "A Christmas Carol", Charles Dickens draws out his visionary ideals of the “Christmas Spirit”. Coming from poverty during the industrial growth of Victorian England, Dickens’s knew first hand both the suffering of the working poor, and the greed of high society.

In Bob Cratchit, the appreciative, overworked and underpaid clerk in "A Christmas Carol", Dickens gives his readers a comparative figure to judge the greedy Scrooge against. Inspired by the uncompromising optimism of Bob, and the rugged heart of his ill son Tiny Tim, Scrooge has a complete character reversal at the end of the story, realizing the joy that is found in Christmas generosity.

I have endeavored in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.

Their faithful Friend and Servant
C. D. December, 1843.

Sources for the History of Bob Cratchit:

http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/christmascarol/
http://classiclit.about.com/library/weekly/aa121000a.htm

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