Within this section you will find ideas for discussion based on the themes of A Christmas Carol. Leave your comments on the website for others to see.

At the beginning of A Christmas Carol there is an unmistakable divide between rich and poor. Scrooge hoards his money and is very well off, while the Cratchit family are very poor.

• Who is the happier character at the beginning of the play – Scrooge or Bob Cratchit? Why are they happy/unhappy? What can they learn from each other?
• How does each character change over the course of the play? What causes them to change?

Most of the people who know Scrooge at the beginning of the play have a very strong opinion of him.

• What are the opinions of the different characters towards Scrooge? Consider both major characters and those who we only see briefly.
• How do they change throughout the play? What causes them to change?

There are several representations of families and family relationships throughout the play.

• Identify three different representations of family. How are they different? Why are they different? Is it only due to circumstance or do the characters in each family have a different outlook?

One of the main themes of A Christmas Carol is that of redemption.

• Which characters experience redemption?
• How do they change their ways or their opinions for the better? Don’t just think of the obvious characters such as Scrooge. Other characters change too – think of other characters like Scrooge’s nephew, Bob Cratchit, Mrs Cratchit or any other character who changes.
• How does the theme of redemption relate to Christianity? Does this theme make A Christmas Carol a religious story?