# XXXII explained — Martin Chuzzlewit

> Chapter companion for Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Miss Pecksniff returns to Mrs. Todgers's boarding house in London, confiding in Mrs. Todgers about her father's plan to remarry. Mrs. Todgers expresses shock and bitterness, and recounts the youngest gentleman's (Mr. Moddle's) previous infatuation with Merry and his subsequent despair. Charity decides to encourage Mr. Moddle's attentions, and after a series of sentimental interactions and games of cribbage, he becomes increasingly attached to her, leading to a mutual understanding.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Dysfunction

Charity Pecksniff's resentment of her father's remarriage and her determination to oppose it highlight the dysfunctional family dynamics within the Pecksniff household.

### Deception and Trust

Mrs. Todgers and Charity engage in mutual deception, with Mrs. Todgers feigning sisterly concern while Charity manipulates Mr. Moddle's affections for her own benefit.

### Social Class and Pretension

The boarding house setting and the characters' preoccupations with social standing, marriage prospects, and appearances reflect the theme of social class and pretension.

## Character check-ins

### Charity Pecksniff

Returns to Mrs. Todgers's boarding house and confides about her father's intended remarriage. She begins to encourage Mr. Moddle's attentions and ultimately accepts his proposal.

### Mrs. Todgers

Receives Miss Pecksniff warmly, expresses shock at Mr. Pecksniff's plans, and advises Charity on encouraging Mr. Moddle. She reports Mr. Moddle's sentimental behavior to Charity.

### Augustus Moddle

The youngest gentleman at the boarding house, still pining for Merry but gradually transferring his affections to Charity. He becomes engaged to Charity after a period of sentimental courtship.

### Mercy Pecksniff

Mentioned as the object of Mr. Moddle's former infatuation; now married to Jonas Chuzzlewit.

### Jinkins

Mentioned as having been threatened by Mr. Moddle with a bootjack, and later as sending anonymous letters to Mr. Moddle.

## Key lines

> She said there was no truth in man, and that the warmer he expressed himself, as a general principle, the falser and more treacherous he was.

Mrs. Todgers declared that men are inherently untrustworthy, and that the more passionately they speak, the more deceitful they are.

_Mrs. Todgers's bitter generalization about men, prompted by Mr. Pecksniff's planned remarriage._

> I have seen him standing in a corner of our drawing-room, gazing at her, in such a lonely, melancholy state, that he was more like a Pump than a man, and might have drawed tears.

Mrs. Todgers describes Mr. Moddle's mournful staring at Merry, comparing him to a pump that could draw tears.

_Mrs. Todgers's vivid description of Mr. Moddle's infatuation with Merry._

> Oh! what a day this has been! I can't go back to the office this afternoon. Oh, what a trying day this has been, Good Gracious!

Mr. Moddle exclaims in distress after becoming engaged to Charity, saying he cannot return to work.

_Mr. Moddle's melodramatic reaction to his engagement._

## Links

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