Fred

Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)

Fred represents Scrooge’s only living family. He is Scrooge’s nephew, the only child of Fan (his little sister whom he adored).

Highlights Scrooge's love for Fan

Fred may show how much Scrooge misses his sister.
It is possible that Scrooge doesn't want a relationship with his nephew because he is scared of losing someone else he loves.

Foil to Scrooge's character

Fred is used to show what Scrooge could be like if he made the right decisions – he is a foil to Scrooge’s character.
- He is happy with life: Scrooge is miserable.
- He is in love with his wife and enjoys being with her: Scrooge lost his fiancée and hates relationships.
- He sees the magic in Christmas, especially the goodness it brings to people: Scrooge thinks that Christmas brings out the worst in people.
- He is polite and kind: Scrooge is nasty and rude.
- He is generous: Scrooge is tight-fisted.

Significance of laughter

Fred laughs several times throughout the story, highlighting his love of life and the enjoyment he experiences.
Interestingly, Stave 5 (after he has decided to make changes and be a better person) is where Scrooge laughs until he cries.

Fred: Key Quotes

Here are 3 quotes highlighting aspects of Fred's character:

Happy and kind

“This nephew of Scrooge’s, that he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled”.
- Right from the start, Fred is shown to be so happy and kind that it seems to radiate from his skin – his goodness makes his skin and eyes glow.
- He directly contrasts Scrooge, who is dull and miserable. Fred loves life; Scrooge seems to hate it. Dickens uses Fred at the beginning to show what Scrooge could be like.

Constantly laughing

“Scrooge’s nephew laughed in this way: holding his sides”.
- This adds to the sense that Fred loves life. He laughs throughout the book, never seeming to take things too seriously or be offended at Scrooge’s behaviour.
- In his life, he also shows a sense of freedom; Scrooge seems to have locked away any sort of enjoyment in life – he does not laugh until he revisits the good times he had as a youth.

Example to the upper classes

“Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off”.
- Fred shows what upper-class people should be like – whilst Scrooge has always been horribly rude and dismissive of him, he does not take this to heart.
- As soon as his uncle makes an effort, Fred forgives him and invites him into his home.

1Plot Summary

1.1Plot Summary

1.1.1Outline

1.1.2Introducing Scrooge & Marley

1.1.3Stave 1

1.1.4Stave 2

1.1.5Stave 3

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Staves 1-3

1.1.7Stave 4

1.1.8Stave 5

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Staves 4-5

2Key Characters & Quotes

2.1Ebenezer Scrooge

2.1.1Outline & Stave 1

2.1.2Stave 2

2.1.3Stave 3

2.1.4Stave 4

2.1.5Stave 5 & Key Quotes

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Ebeneezer Scrooge

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Bob Cratchit

2.2.2Tiny Tim

2.2.3Fred

2.2.4The Ghosts Pt 1

2.2.5The Ghosts Pt 2

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.2Grade 9 - Extract Analysis

3Key Ideas

3.1Key Ideas

3.1.1Inequality, Ignorance & Want

3.1.2Duality, Family & Love

3.1.3Christianity & Redemption

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Key Ideas

3.1.5Grade 9 - Key Themes

4Context

4.1Context

4.1.1Dickens & Victorian England

4.1.2Poverty & Victorian Christmas

4.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Poverty

4.1.4Gothic Fiction

4.1.5Gothic Fiction & Victorian England

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Context

5Authorial Method

5.1Structure & Techniques

5.1.1Structure & Time

5.1.2Time Frame & Pace

5.1.3Narrative Voice & Tone

5.1.4Settings, Similes & Metaphors

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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