Bob Cratchit
| Bob Cratchit | |
|---|---|
| A Christmas Carol character | |
 Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim as depicted in the 1870s by Fred Barnard | |
| First appearance | A Christmas Carol 1843 |
| Created by | Charles Dickens |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Bob |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Spouse(s) | Mrs. Cratchit (named Emily in some adaptations) |
| Children |
Martha, Belinda, Peter, an unnamed son (named Matthew in some adaptations), an unnamed daughter, Tiny Tim. |
Robert "Bob" Cratchit is a fictional character in the Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol. The abused, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge, Cratchit has come to symbolize poor working conditions, especially long working hours.[1]
According to a comment by his wife, Cratchit works for 15 shillings a week at a rate of three pence ("thruppence") an hour for 60 hours per week. Until the decimalization of the British Pound in 1971, one shilling was twelve pence. Thus, fifteen shillings is 180 pence. It would take 60 hours to earn 180 at a rate of three pence per hour.[2] In terms of 2015 purchasing power, this would be approximately £63.00[3] or about $94 US per week.
Family
Seven members of Cratchit's family are mentioned in the original story, four of whom are named:
- Mrs. Cratchit, Bob Cratchit's wife, who is named Emily in some adaptations.
- Martha Cratchit, the eldest daughter, who works as an apprentice at a milliner's.
- Belinda Cratchit, the second daughter.
- Peter Cratchit, the heir, for whom his father is arranging employment at the weekly rate of five shillings and sixpence.
- Timothy "Tiny Tim" Cratchit. The youngest child, he is desperately ill and walks with a crutch.
- An unnamed younger son, named Matthew; or alternatively, a daughter named Miranda in varied adaptations.
- An unnamed younger daughter, named Lucy or Gillian in various adaptations.
Notable actors who portrayed Bob Cratchit in A Christmas Carol
The role of Bob Cratchit has been performed (live action, voiced or animated) by, among others:
- Donald Calthrop in the 1935 film Scrooge. Calthrop bore a remarkable resemblance to Cratchit as illustrated in the original published edition of A Christmas Carol.
- Gene Lockhart in the 1938 film A Christmas Carol
- Mervyn Johns in the 1951 film Scrooge
- Daws Butler in the 1958 parody record "Green Chri$tma$"
- Jack Cassidy in the 1962 animated television movie Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
- David Collings in the 1970 film Scrooge
- Mel Blanc (as Porky Pig) in the 1979 animated short film Bugs Bunny's Christmas Carol
- Wayne Allwine (as Mickey Mouse) in the 1983 animated film Mickey's Christmas Carol
- David Warner in the 1984 television movie A Christmas Carol
- Alfre Woodard (as Grace Cooley) in the 1988 film Scrooged
- Steve Whitmire (as Kermit the Frog) in the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol
- Frank Welker (as Barney Rubble) in A Flintstones Christmas Carol, 1994
- Richard E. Grant in the 1999 television movie A Christmas Carol
- Brian McNamara in the 2000 television movie A Diva's Christmas Carol. Here Bob's character is merged with Scrooge's fiancée Belle.
- Rhys Ifans in the 2001 animated version Christmas Carol: The Movie
- 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
- Kandyse Mcclure as Catherine Beadnell in Barbie in a Christmas Carol
References
- ↑ "Wall Street: Bob Cratchit Hours". Time Magazine. 18 August 1967. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
- ↑ "Understanding old British money - pounds, shillings and pence". Resources.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
- ↑ "Purchase Power of the Pound". Measuring Worth. Retrieved 2015-12-25.