Peg Character Analysis in Nicholas Nickleby

Peg is Arthur’s housekeeper. She cannot read and is hard of hearing. Arthur thinks that makes her a model employee because she can’t go through his papers and has a hard time eavesdropping on him. However, Peg steals documents from Arthur to get back at him for years of mistreatment, showing the consequences of Arthur’s self-serving approach to life. One of the documents she steals is a will that proves that Madeline is the rightful heir to a small fortune. Ralph hires Squeers to steal that document from Peg. Peg and Squeers are arrested when they are caught burning some of those stolen legal documents.

Peg Character Timeline in Nicholas Nickleby

The timeline below shows where the character Peg appears in Nicholas Nickleby. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...a suit. It’s the suit he plans to wear when he marries Madeline. Arthur’s housekeeper, Peg, jibes him. She says that it won’t matter what he’s wearing when he gets married... (full context)

...Arthur’s home. They ring the bell, but there’s no answer. Arthur assumes it’s simply because Peg, his servant who is hard of hearing, doesn’t hear the bell. (full context)

...and Ralph continue to ring and ring the bell. Eventually, they force their way inside. Peg is nowhere to be seen. When Arthur investigates further, he finds that almost all of... (full context)

...interfered with that marriage, which caused Ralph to lose money. He says that Arthur’s servant Peg then stole a paper from Arthur showing that Madeline is the rightful heir to a... (full context)

Injustice, Complicity, and Moral Integrity Theme Icon

Squeers is tired of following around Peg for Ralph. He’s been trying to accomplish the mission of stealing the document that shows... (full context)

Squeers goes to Peg’s apartment. It’s not the first time they’ve met. Squeers tells Peg that he’s ready to... (full context)

As Peg and Squeers go through Arthur’s papers, Squeers tells her which papers to burn and which... (full context)

...that Squeers hasn’t been seen for 10 days. Ralph then goes to the place where Peg had been staying, where Squeers also took a room to carry out the scheme of... (full context)

...he couldn’t account for his possession of Madeline’s deed or why he had been with Peg, he was remanded for a week. Peg was too. Charles tells Ralph that that’s what... (full context)

...held. Squeers says he was taken into custody because he was in the presence of Peg, and both were committing fraud by burning legal documents. Since Squeers could not adequately explain... (full context)

...murder him in his bed. They had been tempted by Arthur’s vast wealth. Squeers and Peg go to prison overseas. Neither ever returns to England. Brooker dies, having confessed to his... (full context)