The main characters in Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak and A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens both illustrate the significance of living an ethical and moral life. Both texts demonstrate poverty, family relationships and pride as well as what Zusak and Dickens think of these universal themes. These themes play a large part within the main character traits. Both novels represent these themes differently showing their similarities and differences.
Poverty is a crucial theme in both novels. Charles Dickens and Markus Zusak describe and represent poverty differently in each novel. Dickens believes that the character Scrooge who is rich, greedy and cold hearted is not aware or considers the poor, however Zusak cares and relates to the poor as valuable members of society. Ruben and Cameron are the two main characters in Fighting Ruben Wolfe. Financial pressures are displayed by the Wolfe family having very little money. Their ethics and morals keep the family together. Mr Wolfe is currently unemployed while Mrs Wolfe is working two jobs to keep their family together. Mr Wolfe refuses to take the dole. Mr and Mrs Wolfe are stressed because they can not afford to pay all the bills. “The phone’s been cut off because we don't have the money to pay the bill. Or really, Mum and Dad don't have the money to pay it. Steve or Sarah could pay, but there’s no way. It’s not allowed. It isn't even considered.” Cameron and Ruben have started to fight illegally, so they could help their family out to pay the bills. Ebenezer Scrooge is the main…show more content… The universal themes in both novels represent poverty, family relationships and pride. Both texts depict these themes differently showing similarities and differences and how the main characters play a large part of their traits. Strength, courage and pride plays an important part to their ethical and moral
