# Chapter 5 explained — Barnaby Rudge

> Chapter companion for Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Gabriel Varden visits the wounded gentleman's house, where he finds the widow and learns that Barnaby delivered a letter from Mr. Chester. As they talk, a mysterious knocking at the shutter leads the widow to answer, and she is confronted by the man Varden encountered the previous night. Varden attempts to chase him but is restrained by the widow, who begs him not to follow, revealing her terror and the man's dangerous significance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Innocence and Corruption

Barnaby's innocence is contrasted with the sinister presence of the mysterious man, and the widow's hidden terror suggests a corrupting secret.

### Guilt and Retribution

The widow's extreme fear and the man's appearance hint at past guilt and the threat of retribution, as she begs Varden not to follow him.

## Character check-ins

### Gabriel Varden

Visits the widow's house to check on the patient, shows concern for Barnaby, and attempts to chase the mysterious man.

### Mrs. Rudge

The widow, who is visibly agitated by the knocking and later terrified by the man at the door, begging Varden not to follow him.

### Barnaby Rudge

Mentioned as having delivered a letter and being asleep after a tiring day; his mother worries about his restlessness.

### Sir John Chester

Visited the patient earlier, as mentioned by the widow.

### The Blind Man

The mysterious man from the previous night, who appears at the widow's door and flees when Varden tries to catch him.

## Key lines

> Barnaby’s a jewel! ... and comes and goes with ease where we who think ourselves much wiser would make but a poor hand of it.

Gabriel Varden praises Barnaby's ability to navigate places where wiser people would struggle.

_Varden's admiration for Barnaby's unique qualities._

> There, at last, was that dreadful look—the very one he seemed to know so well and yet had never seen before—upon her face.

Varden sees a terrifying expression on the widow's face that he recognizes but has never witnessed before.

_The recurring motif of the widow's hidden terror._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-5
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barnaby_rudge_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters