Ebenezer Scrooge

Age and build

Old man

“Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Face and hair

Pointed nose, shrivelled cheek, red eyes, blue lips

“Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Frosty rime on head, eyebrows, and wiry chin

“A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Cold eye that glisten with emotion

“Why did his cold eye glisten, and his heart leap up as they went past” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 2)

Ferret eyes

“He was endeavouring to pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes, when the chimes of a neighbouring church struck the four quarters” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 2)

Dress

Great-coat buttoned to the chin

“A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!" said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Slippers, dressing-gown, and nightcap when at home

“It would have been in vain for Scrooge to plead that the weather and the hour were not adapted to pedestrian purposes; that bed was warm, and the thermometer a long way below freezing; that he was clad but lightly in his slippers, dressing-gown, and nightcap” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 2)

Dressed in his best on Christmas morning

“He dressed himself "all in his best," and at last got out into the streets” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

Voice and speech

Grating voice

“and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Caustic and cold manner of speaking

“How now!" said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. "What do you want with me” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Accustomed growl

“Hallo!" growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign it” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

Signature words

Bah

“Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Humbug

“Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Good afternoon

“Good afternoon!" said Scrooge” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

I wish to be left alone

“I wish to be left alone," said Scrooge” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

It's not my business

“It's not my business," Scrooge returned” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Thank'ee

“Thank'ee," said Scrooge” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

Gait and mannerisms

Stiffened gait from the cold within him

“The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Habit of putting hands in breeches pockets when thoughtful

“It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful, to put his hands in his breeches pockets” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Walks with hands behind him

“walking with his hands behind him, Scrooge regarded every one with a delighted smile” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

Strengths

Excellent man of business

“he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Sharp mind for detail

“for the sharpest needle, best Whitechapel, warranted not to cut in the eye, was not sharper than Scrooge” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 3)

Capable of genuine transformation and redemption

“He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

Flaws

Tight-fisted and covetous

“he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Solitary and self-contained as an oyster

“secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Lacks warmth and generosity

“No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Indifferent to human suffering and beggars

“No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Traits

Devoted to money and business above all else

“Mine occupies me constantly” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

Capable of deep emotion and remorse

“Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the Spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 3)

Ultimately capable of joy and generosity

“I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

Lines in their own words

His dismissive response to Christmas wishes

“Bah!" said Scrooge, "Humbug” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

His harsh response to his nephew

“What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 1)

His joyful exclamation after redemption

“I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 4)

His transformed generosity toward Bob Cratchit

“A merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)

His commitment to his redemption

“I shall love it, as long as I live!" cried Scrooge, patting it with his hand” (A Christmas Carol, chapter 5)