The situation of the Cratchit family is used to represent a wider scale of people suffering in poverty during Victorian era England. Dickens depicts the wants, fears and wishes of the poor through the Cratchit family, how they attempt to make the most of what they have and how they celebrate Christmas with the little they do have. Dickens explores the Cratchits' need for Scrooge to represent the continuous struggle of the poor. In this extract, Dickens presents the worries of the Cratchit family as the whole family waits for Mr. Bob Cratchit, who they might describe as the 'wonder' in the family. Effectively, the adjective 'wonder' portrays him as the centrepiece of the family, as he is the breadwinner. This is emphasised by the use of the word 'great' to suggest that he is the greatest of them all. The Cratchits are described as 'waiting' for him to return, which illustrates that he is the most important member of the family. The adjective 'waiting' suggests that the family are constantly in fear of him not returning home, as he is the breadwinner. If he doesn't return, the family will remain sick and poverty-stricken, as they depend on him to bring home the bread. Dickens uses the word 'waiting' to create a sense of tension and suspense, as the reader is left wondering if he will return. This further highlights the intensity of the struggles faced by the poor. Not only financial struggles, but psychological and emotional struggles. The fact that the potential death related to Bob is because Tiny Tim is 'growing strong and hearty' and the Cratchits are 'not afraid of the boy dying' in any 'years' creates a sense of hope and reassurance. Dickens uses the adjective 'strong' to create a sense of hope in the audience about the consequences of poverty. The treatment of Tiny Tim is further used to evoke feelings of sympathy towards the poor, in order to create a sense of guilt in the reader. The 'poor' in Victorian times were seen as 'lazy' and 'loveless' because of poverty and starvation, and as such, were treated materially due to poverty. Dickens uses these adjectives to create a sense of realism in such situations, as overall the 'poor' are eradicated from society.