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Chapter 17
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
For two days, the Pickwickians remain in Eatanswill, anxiously awaiting news from Pickwick. Tupman and Snodgrass amuse themselves, while Winkle stays with the Potts, enjoying their hospitality. One morning, Pott storms into the breakfast room, enraged, and accuses Winkle of being a “serpent.” Confused, Winkle learns that The Independent has printed a scandalous poem, which implies that Winkle is having sex with Mrs. Pott. Mrs. Pott reads the offensive poem and immediately collapses into a fit of hysterics. Mrs. Pott insists that the poem is a lie and demands that Pott correct the record immediately.
This section delves into the intersection of gossip, reputation, and personal relationships. Victorian society often placed a heavy emphasis on public image, and The Independent’s scandalous poem becomes a threat not just to Winkle but to the Potts’ marriage. Winkle’s status as a guest within their household complicates the situation, as hospitality becomes entangled with suspicion. Mrs. Pott’s reaction—both hysterical and defensive—reflects how women in Victorian literature often bear the burden of preserving their reputations, whether or not the allegations people make against them are true.
Themes
Shortly after, Winkle learns that Pickwick has summoned the group to Bury St. Edmunds. Upon arriving at the Angel Inn, where Pickwick is staying, the Pickwickians are surprised to find Wardle and Trundle waiting for them. Wardle announces that there will soon be a wedding, as Trundle is marrying his daughter Isabella. Over dinner, Pickwick recounts his misadventure with Jingle to the Pickwickians, lamenting the rheumatism he caught in the process. Winkle then shares the drama involving Pott and the scandal in The Independent.
This scene reinforces the importance of social bonds and collective storytelling within the novel. Weddings symbolize unity, contrasting with the earlier turmoil caused by scandal and deception. Pickwick’s retelling of his encounter with Jingle emphasizes how storytelling functions as a way to process misfortune and reaffirm identity. At the same time, his rheumatism points to the physical toll that his sense of duty often inflicts on him.
Themes
The conversation takes a sudden turn when Sam delivers a legal letter informing Pickwick that Mrs. Bardell is suing him for breach of promise of marriage. Shocked, Pickwick initially refuses to believe it, calling it a conspiracy. Though his friends try to comfort him, the reality of his situation soon sets in. Pickwick vows to travel to London to confront the lawyers and clear his name.
This section introduces the legal conflict that will haunt Pickwick throughout the narrative, signaling a shift from lighthearted misadventures to more serious challenges. The breach of promise suit reflects the complexities of Victorian marriage laws, where personal relationships became formalized and disputes over intentions were often settled in court.
Themes
