Martin Chuzzlewit · Chapter
XXI explained
Martin and Mark travel by train toward Eden, encountering General Choke and Mr.
What happens
Martin and Mark travel by train toward Eden, encountering General Choke and Mr. La Fayette Kettle, who praise the settlement. Mark cheerfully recounts warnings about rattlesnakes, and a stranger eavesdrops on their conversation. Martin resolves to see the land agent and attend a meeting of the Watertoast Sympathisers.
Themes in this chapter
American vs. British Society
The chapter contrasts British reserve with American boastfulness and commercialism, as seen in General Choke's patriotic speeches and the train's indifference to human life.
Deception and Trust
Martin's reliance on General Choke's advice is undermined by the General's financial interest in the Eden Land Corporation, highlighting the theme of misplaced trust.
Characters to notice
- Martin Chuzzlewit
Anxious about the Eden speculation, questions Mark about prospects, and decides to consult the agent.
- Mark Tapley
Remains jolly despite warnings about snakes, recounts a rattlesnake anecdote, and encourages Martin.
- General Choke
A member of the Eden Land Corporation, praises Eden, and promises to introduce Martin to the agent.
- La Fayette Kettle
A fellow passenger who extols General Choke and the virtues of Eden.
Key passages
“If the cunning work of man be urged beyond its power of endurance, it has within it the elements of its own revenge; whereas the wretched mechanism of the Divine Hand is dangerous with no such property, but may be tampered with, and crushed, and broken, at the driver’s pleasure.”
A machine, if overworked, can break and cause harm, but a human being can be abused without any built-in protection.
Narrator's commentary on the devaluation of human life in America compared to property.
“It shall cost a man more dollars in the way of penalty and fine, and satisfaction of the outraged law, to deface in wantonness that senseless mass of metal, than to take the lives of twenty human creatures!”
The law punishes damaging a locomotive more severely than killing multiple people.
Satirical critique of American legal priorities.
“We are a new country, sir; man is in a more primeval state here, sir; we have not the excuse of having lapsed in the slow course of time into degenerate practices; we have no false gods; man, sir, here, is man in all his dignity.”
America is a fresh start where people are uncorrupted by old-world vices.
General Choke's patriotic but ironic speech, given his involvement in a dubious land scheme.