ACC Key Quotes - Family and Relationships

“I want nothing from you; I ask nothing of you; why cannot we be friends?”

• Speaker: Fred

• Stave: 1

• Analysis: Fred contrasts with Scrooge, showing kindness despite rejection. He values family and goodwill over money.

• Effect on the reader: Highlights the importance of forgiveness and family bonds, reinforcing the Christmas spirit.

“Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home’s like Heaven!”

• Speaker: Fan

• Stave: 2

• Analysis: Fan’s words suggest that Scrooge’s father was once harsh but has changed, allowing Scrooge to return home. This moment highlights the theme of redemption and second chances.

• Effect on the reader: Creates sympathy for Scrooge’s lonely childhood and explains why he may struggle with relationships. It also reinforces the idea that people can change, a key message of the novella.

“They were not a handsome family … But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another...”

• Speaker: Narrator

• Stave: 3

• Analysis: Describes the Cratchits, showing that love and gratitude matter more than wealth or appearance. Their joy contrasts with Scrooge’s loneliness.

• Effect on the reader: Challenges the idea that happiness comes from money, reinforcing Dickens’ message about the value of family and contentment.

“My little, little child!...My little child!”

• Speaker: Bob Cratchit

• Stave: 4

• Analysis: Bob’s grief over Tiny Tim’s death highlights the deep love within the Cratchit family. The repetition of "little" emphasizes Tim’s vulnerability and innocence.

• Effect on the reader: Evokes sympathy and reinforces the consequences of social injustice, urging compassion for the poor.

“It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?”

• Speaker: Scrooge

• Stave: 5

• Analysis: Scrooge’s change is complete as he seeks connection with family. His hesitation shows vulnerability, and this moment symbolizes reconciliation.

• Effect on the reader: A heart-warming conclusion that reinforces the novella’s message of redemption, love, and the importance of family.

“Another idol has displaced me… a golden one.”

• Speaker: Belle

• Stave: 2 (The Ghost of Christmas Past)

• Analysis: Belle breaks off her engagement with Scrooge because he prioritizes wealth over love. The metaphor of a "golden idol" compares money to a false god, showing Scrooge's moral corruption.

• Effect on the reader: Highlights how greed can destroy relationships and happiness. It also builds sympathy for Scrooge, as readers see the emotional cost of his obsession with wealth.

"They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed... but they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another.”

• Speaker: Narrator

• Stave: 3 (The Ghost of Christmas Present)

• Analysis: This description of the Cratchit family reinforces the theme that happiness comes from love and togetherness, not wealth. Despite their hardships, they appreciate what they have.

• Effect on the reader: Challenges Victorian attitudes towards poverty, showing that true joy is found in relationships rather than material success.