Barnaby Rudge · Chapter
Chapter 60 explained
Hugh, Simon Tappertit, and Mr.
What happens
Hugh, Simon Tappertit, and Mr. Dennis head to The Boot tavern but learn from a scout that it has been seized by constables and soldiers. They divert to Fleet Market, a filthy and crowded area where many rioters have gathered. There, they receive word that Barnaby has been captured and taken to Newgate Prison. Hugh rallies the crowd, and they swear a great oath to attack Newgate the following night, release their friends, and burn the jail to the ground.
Themes in this chapter
Mob Violence and Chaos
The chapter depicts the aftermath of the riots, with rioters regrouping, planning further destruction, and swearing oaths to attack Newgate Prison.
Freedom and Imprisonment
Barnaby's capture and imprisonment becomes the catalyst for the rioters' vow to free him and all prisoners, highlighting the central conflict between liberty and confinement.
Manipulation and Exploitation
Hugh and Dennis manipulate the crowd's anger and fear, channeling it into a plan for a coordinated attack on Newgate, exploiting their desire for revenge.
Characters to notice
- Hugh
Boisterous and reckless, Hugh leads the rioters after learning of Barnaby's capture, swearing to burn down Newgate and every jail in London.
- Simon Tappertit
Accompanies Hugh and Dennis, enduring Hugh's mocking laughter as they make their way to Fleet Market.
- Mr. Dennis
The hangman, who cautions Hugh against his noisy behavior and later helps restrain the crowd, advocating for a planned attack on Newgate.
- Barnaby Rudge
Though not present, his capture and imprisonment at Newgate is the central news that spurs the rioters to plan a jailbreak.
- Grip
Not mentioned in this chapter.
Key passages
“The three worthies turned their faces towards The Boot, with the intention of passing the night in that place of rendezvous, and of seeking the repose they so much needed in the shelter of their old den; for now that the mischief and destruction they had purposed were achieved, and their prisoners were safely bestowed for the night, they began to be conscious of exhaustion, and to feel the wasting effects of the madness which had led to such deplorable results.”
Hugh, Simon, and Dennis headed to The Boot tavern to rest, but now that their destructive work was done, they felt the exhaustion and the draining effects of their madness.
This sets the scene, showing the rioters' fatigue after their violent actions.
“The air was perfumed with the stench of rotten leaves and faded fruit; the refuse of the butchers’ stalls, and offal and garbage of a hundred kinds. It was indispensable to most public conveniences in those days, that they should be public nuisances likewise; and Fleet Market maintained the principle to admiration.”
Fleet Market was a filthy, foul-smelling place, full of rotting produce and garbage, a perfect example of how public conveniences were also public nuisances.
This description emphasizes the squalid environment where the rioters gather.
“One man cried in a loud voice, “Who’ll follow me to Newgate!” and there was a loud shout and general rush towards the door. But Hugh and Dennis stood with their backs against it, and kept them back, until the clamour had so far subsided that their voices could be heard, when they called to them together that to go now, in broad day, would be madness; and that if they waited until night and arranged a plan of attack, they might release, not only their own companions, but all the prisoners, and burn down the jail.”
A man shouted for volunteers to go to Newgate, and the crowd rushed to the door, but Hugh and Dennis blocked them, arguing that attacking in daylight was foolish and that they should wait until night to plan a successful jailbreak and burn the prison.
This shows Hugh and Dennis's leadership and strategic thinking, redirecting the mob's impulsive anger into a more calculated plan.
