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Chapter 16
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Pickwick Papers, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Male Friendship
Predatory Social Institutions
Social Class and Inequality
Marriage and Courtship
Generosity and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
Pickwick suffers from rheumatism after his uncomfortable night in the garden. Despite his physical discomfort, his spirits remain high. Sam, always loyal, attends to Pickwick’s needs throughout his recovery. During his recovery, Pickwick writes a story, and, by the third day of his illness, he feels well enough to host Wardle and Trundle in his room. That evening, he proudly shares the story he has penned.
Pickwick’s decision to use this time to write reflects his instinct to create connection through storytelling. The bond between Pickwick and Sam gains further depth, showing how acts of service and companionship reinforce mutual respect. The moment Pickwick shares his work also suggests that personal creativity serves as a tool for recovery.
Themes
The story, The Parish Clerk: A Tale of True Love, centers around Nathaniel Pipkin, a meek parish clerk in a small town. Nathaniel spends his days teaching young boys and assisting the local curate. His life changes when he becomes infatuated with Maria Lobbs, the lively daughter of a wealthy saddler named Old Lobbs. After catching Maria looking at him from her window, Nathaniel begins to harbor hopes of winning her affection, though he fears Old Lobbs’s protective attitude toward his daughter.
The tale within a tale portrays romantic infatuation as a transformative force. In this story, romance disrupts Nathaniel Pipkin’s previously uneventful life. His fixation on Maria Lobbs introduces the notion that love reshapes identity, even if only temporarily. Maria’s gaze triggers a shift in Nathaniel’s perception, framing his newfound desire as both a source of hope and fear.
Themes
One day, Nathaniel awkwardly confesses his love for Maria and, although Maria appreciates his confession, she knows she cannot do anything without Old Lobbs’s approval. Shortly after, Nathaniel receives an invitation to tea at Maria’s home. When Nathaniel goes to see Maria, Old Lobbs is away, but Maria’s friends are around, and their gathering quickly turns into a party. Also present is Henry, Maria’s cousin, who is also in love with her. When Old Lobbs returns, everyone hides, not wanting to get in trouble. Nathaniel squeezes into a closet, but he does not remain hidden for long, as Old Lobbs opens it shortly after returning home.
Nathaniel’s timid confession demonstrates his inability to take control of his own fate, suggesting that love alone does not guarantee anything in Victorian society. Although Maria has a rebellious spirit, she is not so rebellious as to be able to throw off the shackles of Victorian social mores and go against her father. When Old Lobbs returns home, everyone at the party immediately respects his authority and chooses to hide rather than face his wrath.
Themes
Old Lobbs angrily accuses Nathaniel of coming to court Maria and shakes him violently. For his part, Nathaniel insists that his intentions are pure and that he loves Maria. Before Old Lobbs can react further, Henry emerges from his hiding place. He confesses his own feelings for Maria and reveals that they planned to meet secretly that night. Old Lobbs grows irate but calms down after Maria pleads with him. After a brief conversation, Old Lobbs allows Maria and Henry to pursue a relationship to together, as they seem more compatible. Nathaniel accepts that he cannot be with Maria. He instead becomes a close family friend, eventually attending Maria and Henry’s wedding. This marks the end of Pickwick’s tale, which Wardle and Trundle greatly enjoy.
The story ends not with romantic fulfillment but with acceptance, where Nathaniel reconciles with the limits imposed on him and redirects his role within Maria’s life. His transformation into a family friend underscores the idea that affection can evolve into other forms, even when initial hopes are not realized. Pickwick’s choice to include this story in his recovery hints at his own belief in the importance of adaptability—an ability to find satisfaction even when one’s life doesn’t go according to plan.
Themes
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