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Chapter 32
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
On the morning of the trial, February 14th, Snodgrass expresses a curiosity about what the jury’s foreman might have had for breakfast. Perker humorously suggests that a well-fed, contented juryman is essential for a favorable outcome. Upon arrival at the courthouse, Perker shows the Pickwickians to their seats and takes Pickwick toward the front of the courtroom. Pickwick surveys the courtroom, noticing the various barristers and their peculiar mannerisms. He observes the arrival of Serjeant Snubbin, and Mr. Serjeant Buzfuz—the latter being the opposing counsel. Pickwick is shocked when Buzfuz greets Snubbin with a friendly nod and remarks on the weather as if no trial were about to take place.
Snodgrass’s comment is playful on the surface, but it hints at how fickle and unpredictable juries can be. Perker’s joke about keeping jurymen happy captures the absurd reality that these small, irrelevant details could influence the outcome. Pickwick’s disbelief at the friendly exchange between Snubbin and Buzfuz reveals just how unprepared he is for the performative nature of the legal system. The lawyers, after all, treat trials as part of their daily routine, stripping away any sense of personal stakes.
Themes
The trial begins with the entrance of Justice Stareleigh, who immediately calls for order in the court. The jurymen are summoned, though only 10 special jurymen are present. The court quickly presses a greengrocer and a chemist into service as the remaining jurors. The chemist tries to excuse himself, claiming he has no assistant to run his shop, but the judge dismisses his concerns, insisting the chemist should have hired one. Mrs. Bardell enters the court, supported by her friends Mrs. Cluppins, Mrs. Sanders, and her son, Master Bardell. She dramatically faints upon seeing her son, adding a layer of emotion to the proceedings, which Perker notes is a common tactic of Dodson and Fogg.
The rushed jury assembly shows how justice, instead of being an intricate process, is often cobbled together in haste. The chemist’s attempt to avoid jury duty emphasizes the indifference with which the system treats personal circumstances. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bardell’s fainting spell adds a touch of melodrama, and Perker’s remark about Dodson and Fogg hints that such theatrics are part of their strategy. The courtroom is not just a place for facts but for spectacle, where emotion is weaponized as much as evidence.
Themes
Serjeant Buzfuz opens the case with great solemnity, emphasizing the gravity of Mrs. Bardell’s claims and painting Pickwick as a heartless villain who deceived the widow. He recounts how Mrs. Bardell, after her husband’s death, took comfort in renting her apartment to a single gentleman. According to Buzfuz, Pickwick took advantage of her trust, leading her to believe he would marry her, only to abandon her after a prolonged period of residing in her house.
Buzfuz plays up the narrative of betrayal, relying on emotionally charged language to make Pickwick seem callous. The strategy here is clear: by casting Pickwick as a man who exploited a grieving widow, Buzfuz shapes a version of events that the jury is likely to sympathize with. This rhetoric emphasizes the courtroom’s focus on winning over impartiality.
Themes
Buzfuz reads two letters from Pickwick to Mrs. Bardell, which he presents as evidence of Pickwick’s intentions. One letter mentions “chops and tomato sauce,” and the other advises her not to worry about a warming-pan. Buzfuz dramatically argues that these letters are not merely about food or household items but are veiled promises of marriage. He claims that Pickwick’s casual mention of such details proves his deceitful intentions toward the vulnerable Mrs. Bardell. After Buzfuz’s impassioned speech, Mrs. Cluppins testifies, claiming that she overheard Pickwick making affectionate comments to Mrs. Bardell. Winkle is then called to the stand, where he reluctantly admits seeing Pickwick holding Mrs. Bardell in his arms. Though Winkle tries to downplay the significance, his testimony adds to the plaintiff’s case.
Buzfuz’s argument transforms mundane domestic notes into supposed romantic promises, a clever example of how legal rhetoric can warp context. The warming-pan and chops become stand-ins for commitment, even though they are clearly ordinary exchanges. Winkle’s testimony adds to the confusion—his attempt to be honest only complicates things further. This section emphasizes how the predatory legal system of Dickens’s Victorian England could sometimes obscure the truth, using strategic narrative framing to recast innocent actions as evidence of wrongdoing.
Themes
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Serjeant Snubbin, defending Pickwick, questions the witnesses and attempts to undermine the credibility of their testimonies. However, overall, the case does not seem to be going in Pickwick’s favor. The one bright spot of the trial from Pickwick’s perspective is Sam, who manages to cast doubt on the integrity of Dodson and Fogg by recounting how Mrs. Bardell’s friends praised the solicitors for taking the case on a speculative basis.
Snubbin’s defense feels lackluster, as though he is simply going through the motions. His effort to poke holes in the testimonies does little to sway the momentum that Buzfuz has built. Sam’s testimony stands out not because of any legal brilliance but because it hints at the opportunism driving the lawsuit.
Themes
Following Sam’s testimony, the case concludes with the jury deliberating. After a tense quarter of an hour, the jury returns with a verdict for the plaintiff, awarding Mrs. Bardell £750 in damages. Pickwick, stunned and indignant, vows never to pay the damages or legal costs, declaring that he would rather spend the rest of his life in a debtor’s prison. As Pickwick and his friends exit the courtroom, Mr. Weller catches up with Sam, shaking his head and lamenting the outcome. Mr. Weller claims that the absence of an alibi—or an a “alleybi” as he calls it—was the crucial missing element in the case.
The swift verdict suggests that the case was doomed from the start. Pickwick’s vow to refuse payment reflects both his stubborn pride and his belief that one should stick to one’s principles, even if doing so is impractical—a stance that will have serious consequences later. Mr. Weller’s quip about the missing “alleybi” adds a humorous touch. He thinks he is helping, but in reality, Pickwick’s failure had nothing to do with not having an alibi.
Themes
