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Chapter 37
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
Sam keeps a close watch over Winkle, determined to prevent him from fleeing or causing trouble until Pickwick arrives to clarify the situation. By evening, Pickwick arrives, much to Sam’s relief. After speaking with Winkle, Pickwick decides that Winkle is sincere in his feelings for Arabella. As such, Pickwick insists on helping Winkle secure a meeting with Arabella, even offering his moral support to ensure that no improper rumors arise from the visit. The group devises a plan, with Sam tasked to gather information while Pickwick and Winkle explore the town.
This section shows how Sam balances responsibility and loyalty to both Pickwick and Winkle. Pickwick’s insistence on ensuring propriety shows both his concern for reputation and his genuine desire to help. The practical planning between Sam and Pickwick emphasizes the trust they place in each other, as they once again work together to solve a problem on behalf of their friend.
Themes
Sam embarks on his quest to locate Arabella. After a series of fruitless conversations with various grooms and nursemaids, Sam’s luck turns when he encounters Mary. She informs him that Arabella is staying in the house next door, thus solving the mystery of her whereabouts. Sam and Mary then agree on a plan to allow Winkle to meet Arabella in the garden that evening, under the cover of dusk. When the time comes, Sam hoists Winkle over the garden wall and stands guard while Winkle speaks with Arabella. Pickwick is also present, though he has brought with him a lantern, which makes the group rather conspicuous.
Sam and Mary demonstrate that they are both plenty capable of doing what needs to be done to bring Winkle and Arabella together. Although the process is nerve-wracking for Winkle and Arabella, Sam and Mary find the process rather simplistic. Their shared understanding of the world and the fickle nature of their superiors brings them close together, even if their relationship is not the scene’s main focus. Winkle, though also capable, would not have been able to advance his romance with Arabella without the help of others.
Themes
A curious scientific gentleman living nearby notices the lights from Pickwick’s lantern and decides to investigate. However, when he ventures out to uncover the source of the light, Sam knocks him out with a quick punch to the head, allowing Winkle, Arabella, and the rest of the party to escape without detection. When the scientific gentleman regains consciousness, he theorizes that the lights were an electrical phenomenon. His findings delight the scientific community, even though they have no basis in fact.
Pickwick’s well-meaning yet conspicuous behavior once again complicates the group’s plans. Sam’s quick decision to punch the intruder without hesitation demonstrates his practical, no-nonsense approach to protecting Winkle’s rendezvous. The scientific gentleman’s misinterpretation of events playfully critiques human folly—here, even the most absurd mistakes can become celebrated “discoveries” when viewed from the right perspective.
Themes
