In his didactic novella, Dickens uses the Cratchits to teach a stratified Victorian society about the struggles of the poor, but also to show how these struggles can lead to a fulfilled life. Dickens is reinforcing the message that “we are all fellow passengers to the grave”. Through the Cratchit family, in the extract Dickens reveals that the struggles of the poor can lead to a prosperous life, despite having very little. In the phrase “nobody said or thought it was at all a small pudding for a large family”, Dickens uses the juxtaposition of “small” and “large” to highlight the huge impacts that something as simple as a pudding can have on the poor. Moreover, Dickens suggests that the struggles of the poor is what unites them and makes them strong. The “fire” causes them to all draw “round the hearth”, in which Bob calls a “circle”; the imagery of “round” and “circle” creates a sense of unity and togetherness that is caused because they need to be close to the fire as they struggle to provide enough fuel for it. Adding onto this, Tiny Tim’s hand is described by Dickens as “withered”, a term with connotations of death and uselessness, and yet he “sat very close to his father’s side”, which reveals that with his father, Tiny Tim is less vulnerable. This is compounded by Bob dreading “that he might be taken from him”. The term “might” shows the uncertainty that faced the poor in the 19th century, but despite this the Cratchits are able to enjoy their life and overcome their struggles, which unites them. Dickens also uses Bob Cratchit’s working conditions to show the struggles of the poor, as they are also reliant on their employer. “He tried to warm himself at the candle”, Dickens uses the pitiful verb “tried” to build a sense of helplessness. This is followed by the blunt remark “he failed” to show the social reality that faces the poor. Crucially, Dickens places this statement at the beginning of Stave 1 using structure to reveal the harsh reality that the poor face; they do not get a break, from the moment they are born their lives will be tough. This enhances the image of helplessness, as this is not deemed fair, which contradicts popular beliefs at the time that the poor are poor due to a fault of their own. Despite the “meagre working conditions and pay of ‘15 shillings per week’”, Bob still toasts Scrooge as “the founder of the feast”. The alliteration of the “f” sound builds a sense of softness and again helplessness. It is not that they want to be thankful, but instead are forced to be by the oppression of the rich. Furthermore, “Bob” earns a salary of 15 shillings in the 19th century, which Dickens uses to show how Mr Cratchit’s identity is reliant upon money as this is what he needs for him and his family to survive. Dickens shows that the poor are reliant on their employer and most of all money, providing a sense of responsibility for the rich and also a sense of helplessness for the poor. Finally, Dickens presents the Cratchits as an idealised poor family, encouraging the upper classes to better relate to the poor and to cause sympathy. In the 19th century, the poor were seen as an “asset” or more than people, who could be put to work in “workhouses”, a belief which Scrooge encapsulates. However, the Cratchits are shown to be a “loving” family and who also “go to church”. These are characteristics that many Victorian readers would relate to of all classes, shown directly as Scrooge becomes joyful when he is told “that he is much kinder” and home is like “a heaven”. The simile creates an image that these two, despite their differences in class, share common values, which is the overall message Dickens wants his readers to believe, enhancing the idea that we are all passengers to the grave.