The Pickwick Papers - chapters 38-40


Installment 14 of 20, in The Pickwick Papers 180th anniversary readalong, hosted by On Bookes, and commencing in April, just as Dickens’ fourteenth installment was published.




Chapter 38 – Last month left us with Mr. Pickwick’s faithful manservant Sam about to set off in search of Mr. Winkle. Mr. Winkle had run off after incurring the wrath, and death threats, of Mr. Dowler – suspicious husband of a woman Winkle had innocently stumbled into a seemingly compromising situation. Can you imagine. Winkle, the professed sportsman, whom the reader now knows is a fraud, ran off out of sheer cowardice. But Dickens employs a humorous description of Winkle’s motives, dripping with irony, that is a prime example of one of Dickens’ favorite techniques.

The excellent and considerate feelings which prompted Mr. Winkle to take this step can never be too highly appreciated or too warmly extolled. ‘If’ reasoned Mr. Winkle with himself, ‘if this Dowler attempts (as I have no doubt he will) to carry into execution his threat of personal violence against myself, it will be incumbent on me to call him out. He has a wife; that wife is attached to, and dependent on him. Heavens! If I should kill him in the blindness of my wrath, what would be my feelings ever afterwards!’ This painful consideration operated so powerfully on the feelings of the humane young man, as to cause his knees to knock together, and his countenance to exhibit alarming manifestations of inward emotion. Impelled by such reflection, he grasped his carpet-bag, and creeping stealthily down stairs, shut the detestable street-door with as little noise as possible, and walked off.

Prince of a man, our Winkle.

He takes the first available coach, which happens to Bristol. While aimlessly wandering, he chances upon Bob Sawyer and Ben Allen, whom we know from chapter 30. (Dickens also loves coincident and happenstance.) Winkle is sweet on Ben’s sister, Arabella. This is unknown to Ben, who intends Arabella for his friend Bob. Winkle is dismayed, but too craven to announce his own intentions. Meanwhile another happenstance, Mr. Dowler shows up – apparently also something of a coward and now on the lamb to avoid Winkle. It’s not quite clear what made Dowler so bold the night before and now so timid, but nevertheless Winkle and Dowler acknowledge it was all a misunderstanding and are fast friends. And then, Sam catches up with Winkle, prepared to return him to Pickwick bound hand and foot if necessary. Winkle pleads he cannot leave, as he must find Arabella, who is reportedly in the vicinity, in order to understand his position with her. Sam agrees to post an urgent appeal to Mr. Pickwick and delay until an answer is received.

Chapter 39 – The answer comes in the person of Mr. Pickwick himself, who proposes to assist lovelorn Mr. Winkle. The first order of business is to locate Arabella. Pickwick and Winkle set out together in search, with no clear method, and Sam does the same but separately. More coincidence, Sam chances upon HIS sweetheart, a servant in a local household, which happens to be next door to the very home where Arabella is staying. After some misadventure, as Pickwickians are want to encounter, Winkle achieves an interview with Arabella, they express their mutual love and all is well – for the moment.

Chapter 40 – Mr. Pickwick and company return to Bath, and then return to London. Shortly thereafter, officers of law arrive to execute the judgment against Mr. Pickwick in the breach of promise suit. True to his defiant word, Pickwick refuses to pay a farthing, and is processed for internment in debtor’s prison. This includes having his portrait done - a Victorian era mugshot if you will.

And with this distressing circumstance we must wait, not one but two months, as there will be no installment in May, just as there was no installment in May 1837.

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