Pickwick Character Analysis in The Hiding Place

A wealthy Haarlem merchant, frequent customer at the ten Booms’ shop, and genial family friend. As Corrie starts to shelter Jews in her house, she discovers that Pickwick is at the center of the Dutch resistance network. In this capacity, Pickwick provides much-needed contacts and help, like introducing Corrie to the architect who constructs the secret room in her house. Pickwick is arrested by the Gestapo at the same time as Corrie and her family; although he undergoes imprisonment and abuse, he survives the war and eventually returns to Haarlem.

Pickwick Character Timeline in The Hiding Place

The timeline below shows where the character Pickwick appears in The Hiding Place. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...young boy delivering flowers. Looking for the card, the sisters see the gift is from Pickwick, a wealthy customer who often visits the family. Pickwick is “the ugliest man in Haarlem,”... (full context)

...for Father. Children love him because he’s always kind and always wearing many interesting watches. Pickwick himself arrives and sinks down into a chair. He amuses the surrounding children by pretending... (full context)

...square. She herself is inside it, alongside Father, Betsie, Willem, Peter, and family friends like Pickwick and Toos. She feels that they should get off the wagon, but she doesn’t know... (full context)

...at a large suburban house, where a maid opens the door. Inside, Corrie immediately sees Pickwick, who leads her into a room filled with distinguished people drinking real coffee, which is... (full context)

As Pickwick takes her around the room making introductions, referring to each person as “Mr. or Mrs.... (full context)

...danger to everyone in her work. Just as she and Kik are preparing to leave, Pickwick tells them he’s learned that Peter will soon be released. Indeed, three weeks later an... (full context)

In this fashion, Corrie continues her work, solving each problem as it comes up. Pickwick sends someone to install a clandestine telephone in the house, which is incredibly useful—by now... (full context)

Leendert makes an especially important contribution by building an electric warning system, which Pickwick has encouraged Corrie to acquire—something that will alert the whole household in the event of... (full context)

Six days later, Pickwick calls and summons Corrie to his house. He tells her that Annaliese is free, having... (full context)

Nollie herself is transferred to another prison in Amsterdam, but Pickwick knows a sympathetic German doctor who sometimes can arrange a medical discharge for people. Corrie... (full context)

...sort of signal. Just then, an underground member arrives at the door to announce that Pickwick has been arrested. The Gestapo officer gets as much information out of her as he... (full context)

...Corrie counts thirty-six people arrested in the raid on the Beje, but she doesn’t see Pickwick. (full context)

...out in horror at the idea of him going to prison. Corrie sees officers hauling Pickwick, who is covered in bruises and dried blood, onto the bus. As the bus starts... (full context)

...to her. Eventually, she finds that while Betsie is still in prison, Nollie, Toos, Peter, Pickwick, Willem, and everyone else from the raid has been released. Only about Father is there... (full context)

...hiding from conscription. Still, she’s anxious to get home to the Beje, and Willem asks Pickwick to drive her there. Corrie’s old friend waves aside her recollections of the terrible wounds... (full context)