# XXXIV explained — Martin Chuzzlewit > Chapter companion for Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. ## What happens Martin and Mark encounter the Honourable Elijah Pogram and other American characters on their journey home. They face hostility from Captain Kedgick and the boarders for returning alive from Eden. Mark secures a job as a cook to pay for Martin's passage, and they leave a note for Mr. Bevan explaining their deception. The chapter ends with Martin and Mark sailing back to England, reflecting on the American character. ## Themes in this chapter ### American vs. British Society Martin and Pogram's argument about politeness and institutions exemplifies the cultural clash between British civility and American rugged individualism. ### Hypocrisy and Self-Deception Pogram and the American passengers defend their coarse behavior as national virtues, revealing self-deception about their own shortcomings. ## Character check-ins ### Martin Chuzzlewit Engages in a debate with Elijah Pogram about American social manners and institutions; returns from Eden and faces criticism from Captain Kedgick; sails back to England. ### Mark Tapley Secures a job as a cook on the ship to pay for Martin's passage; devises a plan to deceive Mr. Bevan about their passage money; reflects on the American Eagle. ### Elijah Pogram A languid Member of Congress who chews tobacco and defends American institutions; is honored with a levee by the boarders. ### Captain Kedgick The landlord of the National Hotel; expresses displeasure at Martin and Mark's return from Eden, feeling they let down the public. ### Mr. Bevan A kind friend who offers to pay for Martin's passage; Martin and Mark deceive him by taking his money but leaving a note explaining their arrangement. ## Key lines > The mass of your countrymen begin by stubbornly neglecting little social observances, which have nothing to do with gentility, custom, usage, government, or country, but are acts of common, decent, natural, human politeness. Martin argues that Americans deliberately ignore basic politeness, which has nothing to do with class or nationality, but is simply common decency. _Martin criticizes American social habits as a failure of basic human courtesy._ > I should want to draw it like a Bat, for its shortsightedness; like a Bantam, for its bragging; like a Magpie, for its honesty; like a Peacock, for its vanity; like a Ostrich, for its putting its head in the mud, and thinking nobody sees it Mark says he would paint the American Eagle as a bat for its poor vision, a bantam for its boasting, a magpie for its dishonesty, a peacock for its pride, and an ostrich for its denial of reality. _Mark humorously critiques American character traits through animal metaphors._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxiv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters