Nicholas Nickleby · Chapter
Chapter X explained
Ralph Nickleby arranges a position for Kate at Madame Mantalini's dressmaking establishment, persuading Mrs.
What happens
Ralph Nickleby arranges a position for Kate at Madame Mantalini's dressmaking establishment, persuading Mrs. Nickleby with visions of wealth and status. Kate reluctantly agrees, and Ralph escorts her to Cavendish Square. The chapter also includes a scene with Miss La Creevy painting Kate's portrait, discussing the art of miniature painting.
Themes in this chapter
Social Injustice and Corruption
Ralph exploits the family's poverty to pressure Kate into a low-paying, uncertain position, revealing the harsh realities of economic necessity.
Family and Loyalty
Kate's reluctant acceptance of the job underscores her sense of duty to her family, while Ralph's manipulative 'kindness' masks his self-interest.
Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality
Ralph's feigned benevolence contrasts with his cold pragmatism, and Mrs. Nickleby's fantasies of millinery wealth clash with the grim truth of Kate's situation.
Characters to notice
- Kate Nickleby
Sits for her portrait with Miss La Creevy and is taken by Ralph to begin work at Madame Mantalini's.
- Ralph Nickleby
Arranges Kate's employment, dismisses sentimentality, and escorts her to the dressmaker's.
- Mrs. Nickleby
Easily swayed by Ralph's promises of prosperity, she encourages Kate to accept the position.
- Miss La Creevy
Paints Kate's portrait and discusses the challenges of miniature painting.
Key passages
“Repining is of no use, ma’am. Of all fruitless errands, sending a tear to look after a day that is gone is the most fruitless.”
Ralph dismisses Mrs. Nickleby's regrets, asserting that mourning the past is pointless.
Ralph's pragmatic and unsympathetic attitude toward grief and loss.
“Dressmakers in London, as I need not remind you, ma’am, who are so well acquainted with all matters in the ordinary routine of life, make large fortunes, keep equipages, and become persons of great wealth and fortune.”
Ralph paints a rosy picture of dressmakers' prosperity to persuade Mrs. Nickleby.
Ralph's manipulation using false promises of wealth to secure Kate's compliance.
“The very essence of a good portrait is, that it must be either serious or smirking, or it’s no portrait at all.”
Miss La Creevy explains that portraits must convey either a serious or smiling expression.
Miss La Creevy's humorous commentary on the conventions of portrait painting.