Topper

Topper is a guest at the home of Scrooge's nephew Fred, appearing only during the Christmas party scene shown to Scrooge by the Ghost of Christmas Present. He is a minor character, but his actions are rendered with such comic detail that he becomes a memorable emblem of the uninhibited merriment that Scrooge has long rejected. Topper's primary function in the narrative is to embody the playful, social, and romantic energies of the Christmas season, contrasting sharply with Scrooge's isolation and miserliness.

Identity and Role at the Party

Topper is introduced as a member of Fred's social circle, a young man who is clearly a bachelor. When Fred playfully questions the competence of young housekeepers, he turns to Topper for an opinion, and Topper responds that "a bachelor was a wretched outcast, who had no right to express an opinion on the subject." This self-deprecating remark, delivered while he has "clearly got his eye upon one of Scrooge's niece's sisters," immediately establishes him as a flirtatious and good-humored participant in the evening's festivities. He is also noted for his musical ability, being able to "growl away in the bass like a good one" during a Glee or Catch, without any strain or visible effort, marking him as a lively and accomplished member of the group.

The Pursuit of the Plump Sister

The most extended and comedic sequence involving Topper is the game of blindman's buff. The narrator strongly implies that Topper's blindness is feigned, a "done thing between him and Scrooge's nephew" that the Ghost of Christmas Present likely knows about. Topper's behavior is described as "an outrage on the credulity of human nature": he knocks down fire-irons, tumbles over chairs, and smothers himself amongst the curtains, all in relentless pursuit of the plump sister in the lace tucker. He refuses to catch anyone else, and even when others fall against him on purpose, he makes a feint of trying to seize them before immediately "sidling off in the direction of the plump sister." When he finally corners her, his conduct becomes "the most execrable," as he pretends not to know her and uses the pretense of the game to touch her head-dress, press a ring upon her finger, and a chain about her neck. The scene is a masterful piece of comic writing, using Topper's exaggerated antics to illustrate the warmth, playfulness, and romantic possibility that are part of the Christmas spirit.

Thematic Significance and Contrast

Topper's character serves as a foil to Scrooge. Where Scrooge is solitary, cold, and dismissive of human connection, Topper is gregarious, warm, and actively seeking it. His flirtatious energy is part of the larger atmosphere of the party, which includes music, games, and the drinking of toasts. The party itself is a direct contrast to Scrooge's lonely Christmas Eve in his chambers. Topper's presence, along with the other guests, demonstrates the kind of communal joy and affection that Scrooge has cut himself off from. The fact that the party includes a game where Fred's guests eventually guess that the subject of their "Yes and No" game is "Uncle Scrooge" himself shows that even in his absence, Scrooge is a part of their thoughts, and they drink to his health. Topper, by being so fully immersed in the fun, highlights the depth of Scrooge's self-imposed exile from such human warmth. His role is small but essential, providing a vivid, humorous, and ultimately hopeful picture of the life Scrooge might yet embrace.