Daniel Character Analysis in Mr. Pip

One of Matilda’s classmates. Matilda describes Daniel as “slow,” and though he may not always pick up on social cues or nuances, his ignorance sometimes enables him to make astute observations. For example, when Mr. Watts says that he feels especially conscious of his own whiteness when around black people, Daniel replies, “We feel the same. […] We feel black around white people.” There are, however, times when Daniel’s innocence misguides him, such as when he accidentally insinuates to the the “redskin” soldiers that Pip “belongs” to Mr. Watts, a confusion that forces Mr. Watts to assert that he is, in fact, Charles Dickens. Later, after the “redskin” officer confrontationally asks the townspeople if they witnessed the killing of Mr. Watts (a rhetorical question not meant to be answered), Daniel replies, “I saw it, sir.” He is later found dead in the jungle.

Daniel Character Timeline in Mr. Pip

The timeline below shows where the character Daniel appears in Mr. Pip. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...same. On the day they were set to start the novel once more, Matilda’s classmate Daniel raised his hand and asked, “What’s it like to be white?” Mr. Watts responded by... (full context)

...Suddenly his voice had lost its friendly, mocking tone. “Pip belongs to Mr. Dickens, sir,” Daniel said, to which the officer replied, “Who is this Mister Dickens?” Happy to be useful,... (full context)

Along with Daniel, the “redskin” soldiers fetched Mr. Watts from the schoolhouse, demanding to know who he was.... (full context)

...This made his audience uncomfortable, though Matilda suspects they weren’t surprised to hear this. Finally, Daniel broke the tension by saying, “We feel the same. We feel black around white people.” (full context)

...up,” barked the “redskin” officer. “Who saw this?” he asked them. “I saw it, sir,” Daniel said, happy to have “beaten his classmates with the answer.” Two soldiers took him into... (full context)

After the “redskin” soldiers left, Matilda and the village were in a daze. Daniel was eventually found crucified in a tree. Matilda woke up that night and wandered in... (full context)