Barnaby Rudge · Chapter
Chapter 54 explained
Rumors of the riots spread through the countryside, but old John Willet stubbornly refuses to believe them.
What happens
Rumors of the riots spread through the countryside, but old John Willet stubbornly refuses to believe them. His cronies, Solomon Daisy, Mr. Cobb, and Mr. Parkes, decide to walk to London to see for themselves, but John dismisses them. After they leave, John falls asleep and wakes to the sound of an approaching mob. The rioters, led by Hugh, descend upon the Maypole, ransacking the bar and destroying property. Hugh protects John from harm, but ultimately the mob decides to tie him up to keep him quiet while they continue their work.
Themes in this chapter
Mob Violence and Chaos
The mob's destruction of the Maypole Inn illustrates the chaotic and destructive nature of the riots.
Innocence and Corruption
John Willet's naive disbelief contrasts with the brutal reality of the mob's violence.
Characters to notice
- John Willet
Stubbornly denies the riots, then is overwhelmed as the mob destroys his inn.
- Hugh
Leads the rioters into the Maypole, protecting old John while participating in the destruction.
- Solomon Daisy
One of the cronies who decides to go to London to verify the rumors.
- Simon Tappertit
Present among the rioters, kicks John Willet in a drunken assertion of authority.
- Mr. Dennis
Called upon to help bind John Willet as the mob decides his fate.
Key passages
“Mr. Willet—not so much, perhaps, on account of his having argued and settled the matter with himself, but by reason of his constitutional obstinacy—was one of those who positively refused to entertain the current topic for a moment.”
John Willet, due to his stubborn nature, refused to believe the rumors of the riots.
Highlights John's obstinacy.
“Here was the bar—the bar that the boldest never entered without special invitation—the sanctuary, the mystery, the hallowed ground: here it was, crammed with men, clubs, sticks, torches, pistols; filled with a deafening noise, oaths, shouts, screams, hootings; changed all at once into a bear-garden, a madhouse, an infernal temple.”
The once-sacred bar of the Maypole is transformed into a chaotic, hellish scene of destruction.
Describes the desecration of the inn.