Nicholas Nickleby · Chapter
LXI explained
Nicholas returns home after Smike's death, and the family mourns together.
What happens
Nicholas returns home after Smike's death, and the family mourns together. He resolves to confess his love for Madeline Bray to the Cheeryble brothers, believing it dishonorable to pursue her given his circumstances. Kate supports his decision, and they reaffirm their bond.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Loyalty
Nicholas and Kate reaffirm their unwavering bond and mutual support in the face of grief and moral dilemmas.
Resilience and Moral Integrity
Nicholas chooses to act honorably by confessing his love to the Cheerybles, prioritizing duty over personal desire.
Love and Marriage
The chapter explores the tension between romantic love and social/financial considerations in marriage.
Characters to notice
- Nicholas Nickleby
Returns home after Smike's death, comforts Kate, and resolves to confess his feelings for Madeline to the Cheeryble brothers.
- Kate Nickleby
Mourns Smike, supports Nicholas's decision, and shares her own regrets about a past sacrifice.
- Mrs. Nickleby
Grieves Smike in her self-centered manner, lamenting the loss of his attentions.
- Miss La Creevy
Visits and is overcome with emotion upon seeing Nicholas return alone, eventually recovering from hysterics.
- Tim Linkinwater
Greets Nicholas warmly, becomes emotional upon hearing that Smike remembered him.
- Smike
Mourned by the family; his death and memory are central to the chapter's emotional tone.
Key passages
“What man would not be sufficiently rewarded for any sacrifice of fortune by the possession of such a heart as Kate's, which, but that hearts weigh light, and gold and silver heavy, is beyond all praise?”
Nicholas reflects that a loving heart like Kate's is worth more than any fortune, though society values wealth over love.
Highlights the theme of love versus material wealth.
“I have determined to remove this weight from my mind. I doubt whether I have not done wrong, even now; and today I will, without reserve or equivocation, disclose my real reasons to Mr. Cherryble, and implore him to take immediate measures for removing this young lady to the shelter of some other roof.”
Nicholas decides to confess his feelings for Madeline to Mr. Cheeryble and ask that she be moved elsewhere, fearing he has acted dishonorably.
Shows Nicholas's moral struggle and commitment to integrity.