Martha Cratchit

Martha Cratchit, the eldest daughter of Bob Cratchit and Mrs. Cratchit, is a young woman already immersed in the world of labor, working as an apprentice at a milliner's. Her role in the Cratchit family Christmas is marked by a late arrival that becomes the occasion for a brief, affectionate ruse, revealing the family's deep bonds and their capacity for joy despite poverty.

Identity and Background

Martha is introduced as a working girl, a "poor apprentice at a milliner's," a trade that demands long hours and leaves her little time for leisure. On Christmas Day, she arrives home later than expected, explaining to her mother that she and her coworkers "had a deal of work to finish up last night, and had to clear away this morning." This detail establishes her as a contributor to the family's meager income, a young woman who, like her father, must labor even on the eve of a holiday. Her mother, Mrs. Cratchit, greets her with a flurry of kisses and officious care, taking off her shawl and bonnet, a gesture that underscores Martha's cherished place in the household.

The Christmas Day Reunion

Martha's entrance is the catalyst for a small, joyful deception. When the two youngest Cratchit children, who are "everywhere at once," spot their father approaching, they cry out, "Hide, Martha, hide!" Martha complies, concealing herself behind the closet door. Bob Cratchit, upon entering with Tiny Tim on his shoulder, immediately asks, "Why, where's our Martha?" Mrs. Cratchit, playing along, replies, "Not coming." Bob's high spirits, which had been buoyed by carrying Tim home from church, visibly fall: "Not coming upon Christmas-day!" Martha, unable to bear his disappointment even in jest, emerges prematurely and runs into his arms. The moment is a testament to the family's playful intimacy and Bob's tender heart, which is so easily moved by the thought of his children's absence.

Role in the Family and Household

During the Christmas dinner preparations, Martha takes on a specific task: she "dusted the hot plates" as the family bustled around the goose. This small but necessary chore places her among the older children who share in the work of the feast. Later, after the meal, she shares stories of her life as a milliner's apprentice, telling the family "what kind of work she had to do, and how many hours she worked at a stretch, and how she meant to lie abed to-morrow morning for a good long rest." She also recounts having seen a countess and a lord, noting that the lord "was much about as tall as Peter," a comment that sends her brother Peter into a fit of pride, pulling his collars up so high that his head is nearly hidden. These details paint Martha as a storyteller and a link between the Cratchits' humble world and the larger society beyond, her observations bringing both humor and a sense of wonder to the family circle.

Thematic Significance

Martha Cratchit embodies the theme of industriousness and familial loyalty that runs through the Cratchit household. Her late arrival and the subsequent game of hide-and-seek highlight the family's ability to transform even a moment of potential disappointment into a shared joke and a reaffirmation of love. She is a figure of quiet strength, contributing to the family's survival through her labor while also participating fully in its joys. In a story that contrasts Scrooge's isolated miserliness with the Cratchits' communal warmth, Martha stands as a representative of the younger generation already engaged in the world of work, yet never losing her place in the heart of her family.