Kara Sears
Ebenezer Scrooge, the main protagonist of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, has an unnamed brother-in-law. Scrooge is the brother of Fan Scrooge, Fred's mother. Fan is described as loving Scrooge dearly, and she comes to pick him up from boarding school, promising never to send him back.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Not mentioned |
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What You'll Learn
- Scrooge's name is derived from the word scrouge, meaning crowd or squeeze
- Dickens may have based Scrooge's views on those of political economist Thomas Malthus
- Scrooge's character may be influenced by Dickens' own father, whom he loved and demonised
- Scrooge's character may be based on British eccentric and miser John Elwes
- Scrooge's character may be based on wealthy Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie
Scrooge's name is derived from the word scrouge, meaning crowd or squeeze
The name "Scrooge" has become synonymous with cranky, greedy misers, but what of its etymology? One theory suggests that the name was inspired by the word "scrouge", which means "to crowd or squeeze". This origin is particularly fitting when we consider Charles Dickens's description of Scrooge as "a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint... secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster".
The word "scrouge" was in use in the early 1800s, and it is thought that Dickens may have chosen the name "Scrooge" to reflect the character's miserly and solitary nature. Interestingly, the name Ebenezer, meaning "stone of help", may also have been selected to highlight the help Scrooge receives to transform his life.
The character of Scrooge is believed to have been influenced by Dickens's conflicting feelings towards his father, whom he both loved and resented. This psychological conflict may explain the two contrasting portrayals of Scrooge in the story: one a cold, stingy recluse, and the other a benevolent, loving man.
While the true origin of the name Scrooge remains uncertain, the connection between the character and the word "scrouge" is undeniable. Through his unique name, Dickens created a lasting legacy, with Scrooge becoming a byword for greed and misanthropy.
Now, regarding Scrooge's family relations, it is worth noting that his brother-in-law's name is not mentioned in the sources. However, we do know that Scrooge had a sister named Fan, who was dearly loved by Scrooge, and she was the mother of Scrooge's nephew, Fred.
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Dickens may have based Scrooge's views on those of political economist Thomas Malthus
Scrooge's brother-in-law's name is not mentioned in Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol." Scrooge is the brother of Fan and the uncle of Fred.
There is a theory that Dickens based Scrooge's views on those of political economist Thomas Malthus. Dickens may have based Scrooge's views on those of political economist Thomas Malthus, as evidenced by his callous attitude towards the "surplus population." In the story, Scrooge supports the workhouses, prisons, and the Poor Law, believing that charity encourages idleness and that the poor should be left to die to "decrease the surplus population."
Malthus, an amateur economist, created a theoretical model that allegedly proved that mass starvation was an inevitable result of population growth. He believed that populations grow geometrically, while wealth only grows arithmetically. He advocated for population control through birth control, abstinence, or delayed marriage, and his ideas contributed to the negative attitude towards the poor in Victorian society.
Dickens, through Scrooge's character, actively refutes Malthus's claims. He presents a Christmas market with an abundance of food, challenging the notion of scarcity. Scrooge's reference to the surplus population was chosen specifically to echo Malthus's ideas and present Scrooge as subscribing to that viewpoint. However, Scrooge's moral rebirth at the end of the story, where he helps one family, demonstrates Dickens's anti-Malthusian approach to issues like poverty.
Some commentators also suggest that Scrooge's character may have been influenced by Dickens's conflicting feelings about his father, whom he both loved and demonized. The two contrasting Scrooges in the tale—one stingy and reclusive, the other benevolent and loving—may reflect Dickens's psychological conflict.
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Scrooge's character may be influenced by Dickens' own father, whom he loved and demonised
The character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens's 1843 novella, *A Christmas Carol*, is widely considered one of the author's most famous creations. Initially a cold-hearted miser who despises Christmas, Scrooge undergoes a transformation into a kinder, gentler, and more generous man after being visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come.
Several theories have been put forward regarding the inspiration behind Scrooge's character. One theory suggests that Scrooge may have been influenced by Dickens' own father, John Dickens. Dickens was born into a middle-class family, but financial difficulties caused by his father's spendthrift nature resulted in the family facing economic hardship. In 1824, when Dickens was 12 years old, his father was imprisoned for debt, and Dickens was forced to leave school and work in a shoe-blacking factory. This experience left him with a "deep personal and social outrage", which likely influenced his writing.
Scrooge's character, like Dickens, is marked by a strong fear of poverty and a preoccupation with material gain. Both had unhappy childhoods, with Scrooge's unloving father sending him away to a strict boarding school, mirroring Dickens' own experience of being separated from his family and sent to work at a young age. The rejection by a fiancée or girlfriend is another shared experience between Scrooge and Dickens, with Belle leaving Scrooge due to his growing greed, and Dickens' own fiancée ending their engagement due to his financial situation.
The character of Scrooge also embodies Dickens' criticism of the Poor Laws and the selfish and wealthy society he despised. Scrooge, as a moneylender, embodies the greedy wealthy individuals in Victorian England, who, like Scrooge, would have supported the workhouses that caused so much suffering, including to Dickens' own father.
While Scrooge's character may reflect Dickens' complicated feelings towards his father, it also demonstrates the power of redemption and the potential for personal transformation. Through the visits from the ghosts, Scrooge recognises the errors of his ways and becomes a father figure to Tiny Tim, embodying the spirit of Christmas.
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Scrooge's character may be based on British eccentric and miser John Elwes
In Charles Dickens's novella, *A Christmas Carol*, Ebenezer Scrooge is the anti-heroic protagonist. Initially a stingy moneylender who despises Christmas, Scrooge transforms into a benevolent, generous man after being visited by three spirits who show him the errors of his ways.
Elwes is believed to have inspired William Harrison Ainsworth's character John Scarfe in *The Miser's Daughter* (1842). Dickens himself referenced Elwes in *Bleak House* (1853) and *Our Mutual Friend* (1865), along with another notable 18th-century miser, Daniel Dancer.
Dickens may have encountered Elwes' name during a walk in Edinburgh's Canongate kirkyard in 1841, where he came across the gravestone of Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie, a corn trader and vintner. Dickens is thought to have misread 'meal man' as 'mean man', later writing in his notebook: "To be remembered through eternity only for being mean seemed the greatest testament to a life wasted."
Other possible inspirations for Scrooge include Jemmy Wood, owner of the Gloucester Old Bank; Thomas Malthus, a political economist; and Dickens's own father, who was unfairly imprisoned for debt.
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Scrooge's character may be based on wealthy Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie
In Charles Dickens's "A Christmas Carol," Ebenezer Scrooge is the greedy, selfish, and stingy protagonist who despises Christmas and embodies the wealthy individuals of Victorian England. Scrooge's character may be based on several people, including wealthy Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie.
Carnegie, a real-life millionaire, shared similarities with Scrooge and Scrooge McDuck, the cartoon character created by Carl Barks in 1947 for The Walt Disney Company. Both Carnegie and Scrooge McDuck came from humble Scottish origins and achieved immense wealth, reflecting the American Dream. Scrooge McDuck, with his frugality and pursuit of wealth, embodies the promise of the American Dream, where one can escape poverty and achieve success.
Scrooge McDuck's journey to America at the age of 13 mirrors Carnegie's own journey across the Atlantic at the same age. In America, Carnegie worked his way up and became one of the richest men in the world, much like Scrooge McDuck, who achieved similar success.
The idea of the self-made man, rising from poverty to riches, may be a reflection of Dickens' own fears and aspirations. Literary critics suggest that Scrooge's character may be influenced by Dickens' conflicting feelings towards his father, whom he both loved and resented. This psychological conflict could explain the two contrasting portrayals of Scrooge—one a stingy recluse, and the other a benevolent, loving man.
Additionally, Scrooge's views on the poor and his support for the Poor Laws in "A Christmas Carol" may be influenced by Dickens' criticism of the Poor Laws during his time. Dickens' father was unfairly imprisoned for debt, and Scrooge's callous attitude towards the "surplus population" may reflect the views of political economist Thomas Malthus.
While Scrooge McDuck and Carnegie share similarities, it is important to note that Scrooge McDuck is also influenced by Dickens' Scrooge and other literary precursors, such as the title character of "Martin Chuzzlewit" and Gabriel Grub from "The Pickwick Papers."
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Frequently asked questions
Unnamed in the book.
The brother of Scrooge's wife, Fan.
Yes, Scrooge's sister was called Fan.
Yes, Scrooge's nephew was called Fred, who was Fan's son.
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