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Chapter 25
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
After exposing Jingle in Ipswich, Pickwick returns to London, hoping to check on the lawsuit brought against him. Once in the city, Pickwick sends Sam to Mrs. Bardell’s house in Goswell Street to settle rent, give notice, and collect his belongings. When Sam arrives, Mrs. Bardell is entertaining her friends, Mrs. Cluppins and Mrs. Sanders, who are shocked to see him. After explaining his business, Sam listens as the women criticize Pickwick for not marrying Mrs. Bardell. They express confidence in the lawsuit, because of what Dodson and Fogg have told them. Sam finishes the conversation with a sarcastic toast to Dodson and Fogg and returns to report the situation to Pickwick. The next day, Pickwick’s lawyer, Perker, confirms that the case will go to trial soon.
This chapter serves as a brief interlude to catch the reader up on what is happening with the Bardell trial. The Bardell trial is the centerpiece of the novel, which Dickens mentioned in several installments of The Pickwick Papers before it actually appeared. Although Pickwick simply sends Sam to handle practical matters, Sam sits around to listen to the women talk, knowing he might be able to gleam some important information about the upcoming trial. Again, Sam proves himself to be invaluable, as he takes an active role in defending his master’s reputation.
Themes
