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{{more citations needed|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
| name = Bob Cratchit
| name = Bob Cratchit
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| creator = [[Charles Dickens]]
| creator = [[Charles Dickens]]
| nickname = Bob
| nickname = Bob
| occupation = Clerk
| occupation = Money accountant (Clerk)


| spouse = Mrs. Cratchit (named Emily in some adaptations)
| spouse = Mrs. Cratchit (named Emily in some adaptations)
| gender = Male
| gender = Male
| children = Martha<br />Belinda<br />Peter<br /> [[Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)|Tiny Tim]]<br />an unnamed son (named Matthew in some adaptations)<br /> an unnamed daughter (named Lucy or Gillian in some adaptions)
| children = Martha<br />Belinda<br />Peter<br /> [[Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)|Tiny Tim]]<br />an unnamed son (named Matthew in some adaptations)<br /> an unnamed daughter (named Lucy or Gillian in some adaptions)
|nationality = English
}}
}}


'''Bob Cratchit''' is a fictional character in the [[Charles Dickens]] 1843 novella ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''. The abused, underpaid clerk of [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] (and possibly [[Jacob Marley]], when he was alive), Cratchit has come to symbolize the poor working conditions, especially long working hours and low pay, endured by many working-class people in the early [[Victorian era]].
'''Robert "Bob" Cratchit''' is a fictional character in the [[Charles Dickens]] 1843 novel ''[[A Christmas Carol]]''. The overworked, underpaid clerk of [[Ebenezer Scrooge]], Cratchit has come to symbolise the poor working conditions, especially long working hours and low pay, endured by many working-class people in the early [[Victorian era]].


==In the novella==
==In the novel==
When Cratchit timidly asks Scrooge for Christmas Day off work so he can be with his family, Scrooge at first threatens to dock his pay, but reluctantly agrees on the condition that Cratchit comes to work early the day after Christmas.
When Cratchit timidly asks Scrooge for Christmas Day off work so he can be with his family, he notes it only comes once a year. Scrooge reluctantly agrees on the condition that Cratchit comes to work early the day after Christmas.


Cratchit and his family live in poverty because Scrooge is too miserly to pay him a decent wage. Cratchit's son, [[Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)|Tiny Tim]], is crippled and sick; according to the Ghost of Christmas Present, Tim will die because the family is too poor to give him the treatment he needs. While Cratchit's family curses Scrooge for his stinginess, however, Cratchit says he feels sorry for his employer, and insists that they toast his health.
Cratchit and his family live in poverty<ref name=MW>{{cite book |date=1995 |title=Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature |location=Springfield, Massachusetts |publisher=[[Merriam-Webster]] |pages=280–281, 1117 |isbn=0-87779-042-6}}</ref> because Scrooge is like any other employer at the time. Cratchit's son, [[Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)|Tiny Tim]], is very ill.<ref name=MW/> According to the Ghost of Christmas Present, Tim will die because the family is too poor to give him the treatment he needs. While Scrooge is the "ogre" of the Cratchit family, with Cratchit's wife, calling him out for his stinginess, Bob mildly insists that they toast his health for Christmas Day.


After Scrooge changes his ways on Christmas Day, he anonymously sends a Christmas turkey to Cratchit for his family's dinner. The next day Scrooge states that he will increase Cratchit's salary immediately and promises to help his struggling family.
After Scrooge decides to change his ways on Christmas Day, he anonymously sends a Christmas turkey to Cratchit for his family's dinner. The next day, Scrooge states that he will increase Cratchit's salary immediately and promises to help his struggling family.


==Family==
==Family==
The Cratchit family has been described as "impoverished, hardworking, and warmhearted".<ref name=MW/>
⚫
Seven members of Cratchit's family are mentioned in the original story, five of whom are named:

* '''Mrs. Cratchit''', Bob Cratchit's wife, who is named '''Emily''' in some adaptations.
⚫
Seven members are mentioned in the original story, five of whom are named:<ref name=MW/>
* '''Martha Cratchit''', the eldest daughter, who works as an [[Apprenticeship|apprentice]] at a [[Hatmaking|milliner]]s.
* '''Belinda Cratchit''', the second daughter.
* '''Mrs. Cratchit''', Bob Cratchit's wife,<ref name=MW/> who is named '''Emily''' in some adaptations.
* '''Peter Cratchit''', the [[Inheritance|heir]], for whom his father is arranging employment at the weekly rate of five shillings and sixpence.
* '''Martha Cratchit''',<ref name=MW/> the eldest daughter, who works as an [[Apprenticeship|apprentice]] at a [[Hatmaking|milliner]]s.
* '''Belinda Cratchit''',<ref name=MW/> the second daughter.
⚫
* '''Timothy "[[Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)|Tiny Tim]]" Cratchit'''. The youngest child, he is desperately ill and walks with a crutch.
* '''Peter Cratchit''',<ref name=MW/> the [[Inheritance|heir]], for whom his father is arranging employment at the weekly rate of five shillings and sixpence.
⚫
* '''Timothy "[[Tiny Tim (A Christmas Carol)|Tiny Tim]]" Cratchit'''. The youngest child, he is desperately ill and walks with a crutch.<ref name=MW/>


==Notable portrayals==
==Notable portrayals==
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2020}}
Some adaptations have tried to depict Cratchit to have also been the clerk of [[Jacob Marley]], when he was alive.
* [[Edward Richard Wright]] in ''[[A Christmas Carol; or, Past, Present, and Future]]'' (1844)
* [[John Lawrence Toole|J. L. Toole]] in ''[[A Christmas Carol; or, Past, Present, and Future]]'' (1859)
* [[Charles Stanton Ogle|Charles S. Ogle]] in the 1910 film ''[[A Christmas Carol (1910 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''
* [[Charles Stanton Ogle|Charles S. Ogle]] in the 1910 film ''[[A Christmas Carol (1910 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''
* [[Donald Calthrop]] in the 1935 film ''[[Scrooge (1935 film)|Scrooge]]''. Calthrop bore a remarkable resemblance to Cratchit as illustrated in the original published edition of ''A Christmas Carol''.
* [[Donald Calthrop]] in the 1935 film ''[[Scrooge (1935 film)|Scrooge]]''. Calthrop bore a remarkable resemblance to Cratchit as illustrated in the original published edition of ''A Christmas Carol''.
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* [[Bob Bergen]] (as [[Porky Pig]] in a similar but not identical role) in the 2006 video ''[[Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas]]''
* [[Bob Bergen]] (as [[Porky Pig]] in a similar but not identical role) in the 2006 video ''[[Bah, Humduck! A Looney Tunes Christmas]]''
* [[Gary Oldman]] in the 2009 animated version '' [[A Christmas Carol (2009 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''
* [[Gary Oldman]] in the 2009 animated version '' [[A Christmas Carol (2009 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''
*[[Ashleigh Ball]] (as Rainbow Dash) in the 2016 series of [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]] episode [[A Hearth's Warming Tail]].
* [[Ashleigh Ball]] (as Rainbow Dash) in the ''[[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic]]'' episode ''[[A Hearth's Warming Tail]]''.
* [[Jonathan Sayer]] (as Dennis Tyde) in [[Mischief Theatre]]'s ''A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong''.
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Catherine Beadnell in ''[[Barbie in a Christmas Carol]]''
* [[Kandyse McClure]] as Catherine Beadnell in ''[[Barbie in a Christmas Carol]]''
* [[Joe Alwyn]] in the 2019 miniseries ''[[A Christmas Carol (miniseries)|A Christmas Carol]]''
* [[Joe Alwyn]] in the 2019 miniseries ''[[A Christmas Carol (miniseries)|A Christmas Carol]]''
⚫
* In [[Nature Cat]]'s Christmas special ''[[A Nature Carol]]'', a mouse named Bob Scratchit is Cratchit's mouse counterpart.
* [[Joey Richter]] in [[StarKid Productions|Starkid Productions]]' A VHS Christmas Carol.
* [[Johnny Flynn]] (voice) in ''[[Scrooge: A Christmas Carol]]''.

== In popular culture ==
The character of Bob Cratchit has been featured in works based on ''A Christmas Carol''.

* ''Cratchit'' by Alexander Knott premiered at London's Park Theatre, with John Dagleish as Bob. The play "explores what might happen if Cratchit was visited by the Ghost of Christmas yet-to-come and shown a bleak vision of the future, where the gap between rich and poor has grown beyond measure."<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Dagleish to play titular role in Cratchit at the Park Theatre |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/john-dagleish-cratchit-park-theatre_55297.html |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=WhatsOnStage |date=10 November 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcolina |first=Cindy |title=BWW Review: CRATCHIT, Park Theatre |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/BWW-Review-CRATCHIT-Park-Theatre-20211211 |access-date=2022-04-07 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}}</ref>
* The character has been featured in the 2002 musical comedy ''[[Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge]].''


⚫
In [[Nature Cat]]'s Christmas special ''[[A Nature Carol]]'', a mouse named Bob Scratchit is Cratchit's mouse counterpart.
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Fictional people from London]]
[[Category:Fictional people from London]]
[[Category:Fictional clerks]]
[[Category:Fictional clerks]]
[[Category:Fictional people from the 19th-century]]
[[Category:Fictional characters from the 19th century]]
[[Category:Male characters in film]]
[[Category:Male characters in film]]
[[Category:Male characters in literature]]
[[Category:Male characters in literature]]
[[Category:Christmas characters]]

Latest revision as of 16:30, 6 May 2024

Bob Cratchit
A Christmas Carol character
Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim as depicted in the 1870s by Fred Barnard
First appearanceA Christmas Carol 1843
Created byCharles Dickens
In-universe information
NicknameBob
GenderMale
OccupationMoney accountant (Clerk)
SpouseMrs. Cratchit (named Emily in some adaptations)
ChildrenMartha
Belinda
Peter
Tiny Tim
an unnamed son (named Matthew in some adaptations)
an unnamed daughter (named Lucy or Gillian in some adaptions)
NationalityEnglish

Robert "Bob" Cratchit is a fictional character in the Charles Dickens 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. The overworked, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge, Cratchit has come to symbolise the poor working conditions, especially long working hours and low pay, endured by many working-class people in the early Victorian era.

In the novel[edit]

When Cratchit timidly asks Scrooge for Christmas Day off work so he can be with his family, he notes it only comes once a year. Scrooge reluctantly agrees on the condition that Cratchit comes to work early the day after Christmas.

Cratchit and his family live in poverty[1] because Scrooge is like any other employer at the time. Cratchit's son, Tiny Tim, is very ill.[1] According to the Ghost of Christmas Present, Tim will die because the family is too poor to give him the treatment he needs. While Scrooge is the "ogre" of the Cratchit family, with Cratchit's wife, calling him out for his stinginess, Bob mildly insists that they toast his health for Christmas Day.

After Scrooge decides to change his ways on Christmas Day, he anonymously sends a Christmas turkey to Cratchit for his family's dinner. The next day, Scrooge states that he will increase Cratchit's salary immediately and promises to help his struggling family.

Family[edit]

The Cratchit family has been described as "impoverished, hardworking, and warmhearted".[1]

Seven members are mentioned in the original story, five of whom are named:[1]

  • Mrs. Cratchit, Bob Cratchit's wife,[1] who is named Emily in some adaptations.
  • Martha Cratchit,[1] the eldest daughter, who works as an apprentice at a milliners.
  • Belinda Cratchit,[1] the second daughter.
  • Peter Cratchit,[1] the heir, for whom his father is arranging employment at the weekly rate of five shillings and sixpence.
  • Timothy "Tiny Tim" Cratchit. The youngest child, he is desperately ill and walks with a crutch.[1]

Notable portrayals[edit]

Some adaptations have tried to depict Cratchit to have also been the clerk of Jacob Marley, when he was alive.

In popular culture[edit]

The character of Bob Cratchit has been featured in works based on A Christmas Carol.

  • Cratchit by Alexander Knott premiered at London's Park Theatre, with John Dagleish as Bob. The play "explores what might happen if Cratchit was visited by the Ghost of Christmas yet-to-come and shown a bleak vision of the future, where the gap between rich and poor has grown beyond measure."[2][3]
  • The character has been featured in the 2002 musical comedy Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature. Springfield, Massachusetts: Merriam-Webster. 1995. pp. 280–281, 1117. ISBN 0-87779-042-6.
  2. ^ "John Dagleish to play titular role in Cratchit at the Park Theatre". WhatsOnStage. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
  3. ^ Marcolina, Cindy. "BWW Review: CRATCHIT, Park Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2022-04-07.
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