Martin Chuzzlewit · Chapter
Chapter II explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Pecksniff, with his daughters Charity and Mercy, receives Tom Pinch and John Westlock. Westlock, leaving Pecksniff's tutelage, attempts a friendly parting, but Pecksniff refuses to shake hands, offering a sanctimonious forgiveness. Westlock exposes Pecksniff's hypocrisy and exploitation of Tom Pinch, but Tom remains loyal and blind to his master's faults. The chapter ends with Westlock departing by mail, leaving Tom in confused admiration of Pecksniff.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Self-Deception
Pecksniff's grand pronouncements of forgiveness and virtue are undercut by his manipulative treatment of Tom and refusal to reconcile with Westlock.
Deception and Trust
Tom Pinch's blind trust in Pecksniff is contrasted with Westlock's clear-eyed exposure of Pecksniff's deceit.
Characters to notice
- Seth Pecksniff
Delivers a hypocritical speech about forgiveness and virtue, refusing to shake hands with Westlock while claiming to bear no ill-will.
- Tom Pinch
Acts as a mediator between Westlock and Pecksniff, naively defending Pecksniff and failing to see his exploitation.
- John Westlock
Leaves Pecksniff's house for good, exposing Pecksniff's hypocrisy and warning Tom about his master's true nature.
- Charity Pecksniff
Echoes her father's sentiments and shows disdain for Tom Pinch and John Westlock.
- Mercy Pecksniff
Joins her sister in mocking Tom and supporting her father's hypocritical stance.
Key passages
“I bear no ill-will to any man on earth.”
Pecksniff claims he holds no grudges against anyone.
This statement is immediately contradicted by his refusal to shake hands with Westlock.
“Forgiveness is a high quality; an exalted virtue; far above your control or influence, John. I will forgive you.”
Pecksniff asserts that forgiveness is a virtue beyond John's power to reject, and he will forgive him regardless.
Pecksniff uses forgiveness as a tool of moral superiority rather than genuine reconciliation.
“He never scraped and clawed into his pouch all your poor grandmother's hard savings... He never speculated and traded on her pride in you...”
Westlock accuses Pecksniff of exploiting Tom's grandmother's savings and pride for his own gain.
Westlock reveals Pecksniff's financial exploitation of Tom's family, which Tom is unable to recognize.