The Pickwick Papers - chapters 47 - 49

The Pickwick Papers - chapters 47 - 49


Installment 17 of 20, in The Pickwick Papers 180th Anniversary Read Along hosted by On Bookes. This installment comes in August, just as Dickens’ seventeenth installment was published.




I concluded last month that I thought Mr. Pickwick would be out of Fleet Prison before September and I was correct. I wasn’t sure how until I saw part of the description for chapter 47 which states: Mr. Pickwick’s Benevolence proves stronger than his Obstinacy. And then I was pretty sure what was going to happen and I was again correct.

Chapter 47 – Last month, in a bit of poetic justice, Mr. Pickwick’s accuser, the widow Mrs. Bardell, was put in debtor’s prison because she could not pay the shady attorneys who made her case against Mr. Pickwick. Sam Weller saw an opportunity and acted quickly. He summoned Pickwick’s attorneys who in turn struck a deal with Mrs. Bardell. She would renounce her complaint against Pickwick if he would be good enough to pay her comparatively much smaller debt. Mr. Pickwick, a man of some means, was always able to pay his debt, but as he is also a man of principle had always refused to as he was never at fault. The silly widow had hopefully seized upon some words of Pickwick’s as a proposal – but that was never his intent. Well now, he has only to pay her debt, as a mere act of benevolence and at the same time have his reputation and honor restored. He is at first reluctant, but when his attorneys explain all the advantages, at very small cost. He agrees. Sam’s debt is also cleared up, as it was a sham all along just to get him into prison to wait upon Mr. Pickwick. The reader is even led to believe that Mr. Pickwick would soon do something to secure the freedom of the humbled rascals Mr. Jingles and servant Job Trotter. At the very end of the chapter, we see more of Mr. Pickwick’s kind and gentle disposition. As he is shaking hands with the many inmates he is leaving behind, the narrative explains that Pickwick was: far more sad and melancholy, for the moment, than when he had first entered it [Fleet Prison] Alas! How many sad and unhappy beings had he left behind!

But the reader is still much relieved. All the great injustices are being set right. There is another surprise in the chapter. Mr. Winkle arrives with his new wife, Arabella. Mr. and Mrs. Winkle are delighted for Mr. Pickwick’s release but their joy is somewhat tempered by fear that their recent marriage will cause great unrest to both Mr. Winkle’s and Arabella’s family. They implore Mr. Pickwick for his assistance, which of course he promises to provide.

Chapter 48 – Begins with the evening meal at the medical offices of Ben Allen (Arabella’s brother) and his partner Bob Sawyer. They anticipate a new, and much needed, patient when a coach arrives, but it is Ben’s aunt with the distressing news that Arabella is married. Neither aunt or brother approves, nor does Ben Allen who had set his sights on Arabella himself – though it was more for her one-thousand pounds at three percent annum than true affection for Arabella. This was also at least partially Ben Allen’s motivation, as the combined medical practice was suffering financial hardship.

The ever-capable Mr. Pickwick, and even more capable Sam Weller arrive to placate the situation. There are some tense moments, but in the end, all are reconciled to the situation and everyone is quite friendly. Indeed, perhaps too friendly. Pickwick and company are invited to stay for tea, but Pickwick declines.

The truth is, that the old lady’s [Arabella’s aunt] evidently increasing admiration, was Mr. Pickwick’s principal inducement for going away. He thought of Mrs. Bardell; and every glance of the old lady’s eyes threw him into a cold perspiration.

Chapter 49 – Now Mr. Pickwick has only to warm Mr. Winkle’s father to the union and all will be well. However, the story takes a brief detour – a colorful character whom Pickwick encounters at an Inn tells a family story that marks one of the little vignettes that have characterized the greater tale.

A one-eyed bagman, at Mr. Pickwick’s invitation, tells about a story of his uncle who was something of a legend within the family. His uncle, on one particular adventure chances upon a group of old, dilapidated, and presumably retired mail carriages. He falls asleep in one and has an astonishing dream of assisting a maiden in distress and fencing with her captors, all while traveling via mail coach. Upon waking, the uncle concludes that ghosts of letter carriers, passengers, and others ride the old mail coaches each night. When the landlord wonders what parcels they are carrying, the Bagman replies:
The dead letters of course

And that fine pun seems to be the purpose of the entire chapter.

There are only three installments left. The only unfinished business at this point is reconciling Mr. Winkle’s father to the marriage, which hardly seems problematic for Pickwick and Weller.

There is one annoying bit of injustice still lingering though. Widow Bardell’s attorneys, Dodson and Fogg are scoundrels and have thus far profited by their unsavory practice. I suggest, Mr. Dicken’s will not allow them to escape this tale without some satisfying justice falling upon them.

Pickwick Papers Introduction

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