Ebenezer Scrooge is a wealthy, misanthropic businessman working at a London warehouse. He lives a solitary life characterized by extreme miserliness and a deep disdain for holiday cheer. He rejects any form of social connection, actively refusing invitations from his family and denying charity to the poor. His rigid worldview faces a sudden challenge when he receives a supernatural visitation warning him of his impending fate.

Bob works as Scrooge's overworked clerk. Despite his harsh working conditions and lack of basic comforts, he maintains a patient and good-natured demeanor. He is a devoted family man who struggles to support his large household on a meager salary. He finds joy in his family and the holiday season regardless of his severe economic hardship.

Tiny Tim is the youngest and sickliest child in the Cratchit family. He wears leg braces and requires a crutch to walk. He possesses a remarkably sweet disposition despite his physical frailty and his family's poverty. He hopes his visible condition will remind others of the religious significance of the holiday.

The first spirit to visit Scrooge appears as a strange entity that is simultaneously old and young. A bright light burns from the top of its head, emitting a steady glow in the darkness. It speaks quietly and acts with gentle but firm insistence as it escorts Scrooge out the window. Its purpose is to guide Scrooge through long-forgotten scenes of his own youth.

The second spirit manifests as a joyful giant resembling Father Christmas. He wears a simple green robe bordered with white fur and carries a glowing torch shaped like a cornucopia. He is a boisterous, cheerful entity whose entire lifespan is limited to a single day. He uses his magic torch to sprinkle good cheer and soothe anger among the city's residents.

The final spirit resembles a grim reaper, entirely concealed in black except for one pointing hand. It is completely silent, communicating only through gestures and the scenes it reveals. It projects a frightening and implacable aura. Its purpose is to show Scrooge the grim consequences of an unexamined, selfish life.

Fred is Scrooge's nephew and the son of his late sister, Little Fan. He is a cheerful, warm-hearted young man who refuses to be discouraged by his uncle's hostility. He values family and human connection over financial wealth. He hosts a lively holiday gathering and continually extends an open hand to his reclusive relative.

Jacob Marley is Scrooge's deceased business partner, having died exactly seven years prior to the story's events. He appears weighed down by heavy chains forged from cash boxes, ledgers, and heavy purses. He is doomed to wander the earth witnessing human suffering he can no longer alleviate. He acts as a herald, returning to warn his former partner about the consequences of a life devoted solely to greed.

Fezziwig is an old, jovial businessman who employed Scrooge during his youth. He wears a traditional Welsh wig and treats his apprentices with warmth and generosity. He gladly halts business operations to host a vibrant, music-filled holiday party for his employees and neighbors. He models a form of compassionate leadership where employers actively care for their workers' happiness.

Belle is a young woman who was once engaged to marry Scrooge. She is perceptive and sorrowful as she realizes that Scrooge's growing obsession with financial security has eclipsed his affection for her. She eventually breaks their engagement and marries another man, building a warm family life that Scrooge can only observe from afar.

Little Fan is Scrooge's younger sister. She is an energetic, affectionate child who acts as a rescuer during Scrooge's lonely school days. She successfully advocates for her brother's return home, showing a persistent and loving nature. She passes away in adulthood, leaving behind one son.

Mrs. Cratchit is Bob Cratchit's hardworking wife. She manages the difficult task of feeding and clothing a large family on a severely restricted income. She is fiercely protective of her husband and children. She holds a strong grudge against Scrooge for the meager wages he pays Bob.

Martha is the eldest daughter of the Cratchit family. She works as an apprentice at a milliner's shop, putting in long hours to help support her impoverished family. She enjoys playfully teasing her father by hiding when he first returns home from church.

Peter is the eldest son of the Cratchit family. He is at the age where he is preparing to seek his own employment to help support the household. He takes pride in his appearance, even when wearing borrowed, ill-fitting hand-me-downs.

Ignorance is an allegorical figure appearing as a ragged, emaciated boy. He hides beneath the robes of the second spirit. He symbolizes the deliberate societal blindness to poverty and suffering. The spirit issues a specific warning that this child carries the doom of society on his brow.

Want is an allegorical figure manifesting as an impoverished, desperate little girl. She accompanies Ignorance beneath the spirit's garments. She represents the physical starvation and material deprivation suffered by the lower classes in Victorian society.

Mrs. Dilber is a charwoman who cleans homes for a living. She appears in a potential future sequence shown to Scrooge by the final spirit. She is opportunistic and pragmatic, willing to strip a deceased man's home of its valuables to sell for a meager profit.

Fred's unnamed wife is a cheerful host who plays the harp for her guests. Unlike her husband, she harbors little sympathy for Scrooge and is quick to mock his miserly behavior during their parlor games. She represents the broader societal judgment against Scrooge's isolation.

Dick Wilkins is a fellow apprentice who works with Scrooge during his youth. He shares the jovial environment created by their employer. He enthusiastically participates in clearing the warehouse floor to prepare for the holiday festivities.