An American Christmas Carol

A miserly businessman whose wealth and control stem from exploiting others. Haunted by visions, he reevaluates his past and present choices and ultimately embraces generosity and empathy. By Christmas morning, he repairs wrongs, returns items, and commits to helping those he previously harmed.

The former business partner and original warehouse owner who haunts Slade to warn him of a grim fate if he remains unrepentant. Latham embodies the consequences of exploitation and serves as a catalyst for Slade’s wake-up call.

The first ghost who appears in Slade’s visions, representing a debt of culture and community. Through his embodiment, Slade revisits his apprenticeship and the Brewster connection, seeing how ambition can erode relationships.

Manager of the local orphanage, symbolizing communal care and the vulnerable. He guides Slade through a present scene of carol-singing children, underscoring the importance of mercy toward those in need.

The final ghost who reveals a possible future in which Jonathan Thatcher dies if Slade’s actions do not change. He functions as a stark warning, illustrating the human cost of neglect and the urgency of reform.

Daughter of the Brewster family and Slade’s former acquaintance, now a happily married woman with a daughter. Her presence highlights personal relationships and the potential for reconciliation across past wounds.

Slade’s loyal clerk whose life and job are at stake as the debt-collection enterprise continues. Thatcher’s family life anchors the human stakes of the story and the town’s vulnerability during the Depression.

Thatcher’s disabled son who relies on crutches. His potential death in the future vision adds urgency to Slade’s vow to reform and protect those most at risk.

Matriarch of the Brewster family, whose legacy and the factory’s challenges underscore the fragility of community ties when business pressures rise. Her presence frames the intertwined fates of family and industry.

Father in the Brewster family whose factory and decisions contribute to the family’s misfortunes. His role emphasizes the consequences of industry-driven risk and its impact on loved ones.

A bitter orphan representative of the vulnerable children in the town. Slade’s decision to take him on as a ward and apprentice signals a hopeful reversal from his earlier miserliness to active care.