Analysis The indirect speech shows that Scrooge is threatening and in charge. He will not give permission for Cratchit to take more coal. Ill-mannered How is Scrooge like this? His nephew visits ...

There hasn’t been a change of tone like it since the freezing bookkeepers in The Muppet Christmas Carol asked Michael Caine’s Ebenezer Scrooge if they could have some more coal for their fire.