Nicholas Nickleby · Chapter
Nicholas starts for Yorkshire. Of his leave-taking and his fellow-travellers, and what befell them on the road. explained
Nicholas Nickleby bids a sorrowful farewell to his mother and sister, and departs London for Yorkshire to work as an assistant at Dotheboys Hall.
What happens
Nicholas Nickleby bids a sorrowful farewell to his mother and sister, and departs London for Yorkshire to work as an assistant at Dotheboys Hall. He encounters Miss La Creevy, who promises to look after Kate, and then meets Mr. Squeers and his five starved pupils at the Saracen's Head. Squeers feeds the boys a meager breakfast of watered milk and bread, preaching moral precepts while gorging himself. Ralph Nickleby arrives with Mrs. Nickleby and Kate, and after a tense exchange, Nicholas boards the coach with Squeers and the boys.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Squeers preaches moral lessons about conquering passions and gratitude while he gorges on beef and denies the boys proper food, exposing his hypocrisy.
Education and Exploitation
Squeers's treatment of the boys—meager rations, enforced hunger, and cynical 'moral' instruction—highlights the exploitation of children under the guise of education.
Family and Loyalty
The emotional farewell between Nicholas, Kate, and Mrs. Nickleby underscores the family's loyalty and sacrifice in the face of hardship.
Characters to notice
- Nicholas Nickleby
Leaves home reluctantly, exchanges farewells with Miss La Creevy, and joins Squeers for the journey to Yorkshire.
- Kate Nickleby
Helps pack Nicholas's trunk, weeps silently, and comes to the coach-yard to see him off, expressing distaste for Squeers.
- Mrs. Nickleby
Anxiously prepares for Nicholas's departure and arrives at the coach-yard to embrace him, heedless of onlookers.
- Ralph Nickleby
Appears at the coach-yard, sarcastically comments on the hackney coach, and coldly observes the farewell.
- Wackford Squeers
Breakfasts heartily while doling out watered milk and scant bread to his pupils; prepares to depart for Yorkshire with Nicholas.
- Miss La Creevy
Bids Nicholas goodbye early in the morning, promises to be kind to Kate, and receives a playful kiss.
Key passages
“If tears dropped into a trunk were charms to preserve its owner from sorrow and misfortune, Nicholas Nickleby would have commenced his expedition under most happy auspices.”
If tears could protect a traveler from harm, Nicholas's journey would be blessed, because so many were shed over his packing.
The narrator uses irony to emphasize the sorrow of Nicholas's departure.
“When I want a nose or an eye for any particular sitter, I have only to look out of window and wait till I get one.”
Miss La Creevy claims she can find facial features for her miniatures by observing passersby from her window.
A humorous remark illustrating Miss La Creevy's eccentric and practical approach to her art.
“Subdue your appetites, my dears, and you've conquered human natur. This is the way we inculcate strength of mind, Mr. Nickleby.”
Squeers tells the boys to control their hunger as a lesson in self-discipline, while he himself eats heartily.
Squeers's hypocrisy is laid bare as he preaches abstinence while indulging.