The Pickwick Papers - chapters 44 - 46


Installment 16 of 20, in The Pickwick Papers 180th Anniversary Read Along hosted by On Bookes. This installment comes in July, just as Dickens’ sixteenth installment was published.



Chapter 44 – With Mr. Pickwick and now Sam both in debtor’s prison. Pickwick is able to pay his debt but will not on matter of principle – he is after all innocent. Pickwick is of course able and willing to pay Sam’s debt – but Sam will not allow it. Of course, the reader knows that Sam’s debt was a contrivance, arranged precisely so he could wait upon Mr. Pickwick in prison. So, the two are making themselves as comfortable as possible and are visited by the other Pickwickians, Messrs. Tupman, Snodgrass and Winkle. The three are very somber at their friend’s circumstance, but Winkle is particularly affected. He seems to share some secret confidence with Sam, and is on the verge of making an impassioned confession to Pickwick, but is summarily called away before he is able to do so.

Chapter 45 – Sam is going about his daily routine, or more precisely taking a respite from them, when he hears his name being called. Upon investigating he finds he has visitors – his father, mother-in-law, and Rev Stiggins the pompous hypocrite Sam met some chapters back. Sam’s father reveals a plan for Mr. Pickwick to escape – hidden in a piano (which has no inner working parts to allow for Mr. Pickwick boots and all), and also serving as reason to send the piano out for repair. Pickwick could then sail to America. Of course, the reader knows Pickwick will have nothing to do with such a plan – and I assume that is the last we will hear of it.

We are reintroduced to Mr. Jingles and his valet Job – the scoundrels of earlier chapters – now brought very low in prison life. In fact, they were near starvation and saved by the kindness of Mr. Pickwick, who is able to purchase food and comfort even in prison. Mr. Pickwick gets a close and grim look at prison life and is so repulsed he vows to keep to his own room – which he does – but it begins to take its toll on his health.

Chapter 46 – Finally, some poetic justice. I’ve read enough Dickens to know Pickwick is not going to founder in prison much longer. Mr. Pickwick as I mentioned earlier is innocent – though technically he is not innocent. He is in Fleet Prison, debtor’s prison, for refusal to pay a judgment rendered against him for breach of promise to his erstwhile landlady, the widow Mrs. Bardell. So, he is indeed guilty of refusing to pay a lawful debt – but the circumstances of the debt – breach of promise is something he is NOT guilty of. It was a humorous misunderstanding. Pickwick is innocent, and the silly, addled brained Mrs. Bardell is the cause of the injustice done to Mr. Pickwick. And now it is her turn.

Her attorneys, Dodson and Fogg, took her case expecting their fee would be paid from the judgement, but since Pickwick refuses to pay, Mrs. Bardell cannot pay Dodson and Fogg. Their patience has apparently run out, and they have had Mrs. Bardell committed to Fleet Prison. A satisfying development – but not really of any help to Pickwick – or is it.

Sam has a rather excited reaction to these developments.  ‘Here, Job, Job!’ shouted Sam, dashing into the passage. ‘Run to Mr. Perker’s, Job. I want him directly. I see some good in this. Here’s a game. Hooray! vere’s the gov’nor?’

I don’t know what the worldly wise and ever clever Sam has in mind, but I suspect Mr. Pickwick and Sam will be out of Fleet before September.

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