Barnaby Rudge · Chapter
Chapter 31 explained
Joe Willet, after a sleepless night at the Maypole, decides to leave home and enlist in the army.
What happens
Joe Willet, after a sleepless night at the Maypole, decides to leave home and enlist in the army. He encounters a recruiting sergeant at the Black Lion, who persuades him to join. Joe, feeling disheartened by his father's treatment and his unrequited love for Dolly, agrees to meet the sergeant later that evening. Meanwhile, Simon Tappertit, who has been secretly watching Joe and Dolly's parting, is overjoyed at the prospect of winning Dolly for himself.
Themes in this chapter
Freedom and Imprisonment
Joe seeks freedom from his unhappy home and father's control, but enlisting in the army may be a different kind of confinement.
Parental Love and Sacrifice
Joe's father's lack of affection drives Joe away, contrasting with the sacrifices parents might make for their children.
Manipulation and Exploitation
The recruiting sergeant uses flattery and persuasion to manipulate Joe into enlisting, exploiting his vulnerable state.
Characters to notice
- Joe Willet
Leaves home to enlist in the army, feeling disheartened by his father and his love for Dolly.
- Dolly Varden
Cries after Joe leaves, though she would likely treat him the same if he returned.
- Simon Tappertit
Secretly watches Joe and Dolly's parting, rejoicing that Dolly might now be his.
- John Willet
Mentioned as Joe's father, whose treatment drives Joe away.
Key passages
“He was gone, actually gone. Dolly waited a little while, thinking he would return, peeped out at the door, looked up the street and down as well as the increasing darkness would allow, came in again, waited a little longer, went upstairs humming a tune, bolted herself in, laid her head down on her bed, and cried as if her heart would break.”
Dolly, after Joe leaves, waits for him to come back, but eventually goes to her room and cries bitterly.
Dolly's contradictory feelings towards Joe are highlighted.
“Tremble, Willet, and despair. She’s mine! She’s mine!” With these triumphant expressions, he seized a hammer and dealt a heavy blow at a vice, which in his mind’s eye represented the sconce or head of Joseph Willet.”
Simon Tappertit, believing Dolly is now his, imagines striking Joe's head with a hammer.
Simon's jealousy and malicious intent towards Joe are shown.
“In the course of five minutes after his arrival at that house of entertainment, he was enrolled among the gallant defenders of his native land; and within half an hour, was regaled with a steaming supper of boiled tripe and onions, prepared, as his friend assured him more than once, at the express command of his most Sacred Majesty the King.”
Joe quickly enlists and is treated to a meal, with the sergeant claiming it was ordered by the King.
The sergeant's persuasive tactics and the romanticized view of military service are depicted.
“You’re a gentleman, by G—!” was his first remark, as he slapped him on the back. “You’re a gentleman in disguise. So am I. Let’s swear a friendship.””
The sergeant flatters Joe by calling him a gentleman in disguise and proposes a friendship.
The sergeant uses flattery to gain Joe's trust.
““For king and country!” cried the serjeant, flourishing his cap. “For bread and meat!” cried Joe, snapping his fingers. And so they parted.”
The sergeant toasts to king and country, while Joe cynically toasts to bread and meat, showing his practical motives.
Joe's motivation is more about survival than patriotism.
