The Pickwick Papers - chapters 35-37


Installment 13 of 20, in The Pickwick Papers 180th anniversary readalong, hosted by On Bookes, and commencing in March, just as Dickens’ thirteenth installment was published.




Chapter 35 – You may remember, in spite of the court finding against him, Pickwick vows to not pay the settlement awarded against him. Pickwick is aloof to the looming peril, and being advised he has several months before the matter comes to a head, he decides to take a holiday in Bath. As usual, the Pickwickians encounter new personalities along the way, and in Bath. They are invited to a ball, at which most of the guests, are at the very least the equals of Mr. Pickwick in terms of pomposity. Pickwick ends up playing cards with a group of women, who beat him rather soundly, and are highly critical of his every play.

Chapter 36 – Another one of those vignette chapters, that Dickens uses to tell a story within the story – this time, the authentic story of Prince Baldud.  Pickwick, partakes of the restorative waters at Bath, and swears they are working wonders for him, though his friends, and the reader, were not previously aware that he had any physical complaint. One evening before retiring, Pickwick finds a manuscript which tells the true story of Prince Baldud, who in grief over a lost love, is believed to water the ground at Bath with his tears and is the force behind their legendary powers.

Much later that evening, Mr. Winkle has a dream that disorients him – and then would you believe it – finds himself in a truly innocent, but seemingly very compromising situation, with the wife of a fellow lodger, Mr. Dowler. There is mayhem and threats of murder. Winkle manages to lock and block himself securely in his room, but Mr. Dowler promises satisfaction come the morning.

Chapter 37 – Meanwhile, Pickwick’s manservant, Mr. Weller has been away at a soiree, that his peers, the serving classes of Bath name a swarry. These honest folk, are equal to their masters in terms of self-importance and pretentiousness. Sam Weller is unimpressed and seems to have a bit of fun at their expense, but his tongue in cheek observations of their vanity, are usually lost on them, so there are no hard feelings. In the morning, Pickwick sends Sam on a mission, to discover where Mr. Winkle has run off to, and to bring him back. Unflappable, dependable Sam happily accepts the commission – and Dicken’s leaves the reader waiting another month to find out how Sam will fare.

1 comment:

  1. I wonder why Winkle chose Bristol of all places... perhaps we'll find out in the next instalment :)

    ReplyDelete