# Chapter XLIII explained — Nicholas Nickleby

> Chapter companion for Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Nicholas meets Frank Cheeryble, the nephew of his employers, and they become fast friends. Nicholas begins to feel jealous of Frank's possible interest in the mysterious young lady he admires. Frank visits the Nickleby home, charming Kate and Mrs. Nickleby. The day ends with a happy family gathering, though Smike remains a sorrowful figure.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Nicholas's internal conflict about Frank's potential interest in the unknown lady highlights the possessive and selfish aspects of romantic love.

### Family and Loyalty

The Cheeryble brothers' affection for their nephew and the Nickleby family's unity during the visit underscore familial bonds.

### Resilience and Moral Integrity

Smike's quiet endurance and the family's ability to find happiness despite past hardships demonstrate resilience.

## Character check-ins

### Nicholas Nickleby

Meets Frank Cheeryble and feels both friendship and jealousy regarding the mysterious young lady.

### Frank Cheeryble

Introduced as the nephew of the Cheeryble brothers; he is good-humored and charming, visiting the Nickleby home.

### Kate Nickleby

Blushes at Frank's visit and enjoys the evening walk and conversation.

### Mrs. Nickleby

Proud of her children during the visit, and engages in light banter about Frank's supposed German romance.

### Smike

Accompanies the group on the walk, finding comfort in Charles Cheeryble's kindness.

### John Browdie

Present at the initial meeting with Frank Cheeryble, along with his wife.

## Key lines

> Is selfishness a necessary ingredient in the composition of that passion called love, or does it deserve all the fine things which poets, in the exercise of their undoubted vocation, have said of it?

The narrator questions whether love is inherently selfish or truly as noble as poets claim.

_This passage reflects on Nicholas's jealous thoughts about Frank and the unknown lady._

> Pride is one of the seven deadly sins; but it cannot be the pride of a mother in her children, for that is a compound of two cardinal virtues—faith and hope.

A mother's pride in her children is not sinful but stems from faith and hope.

_Describes Mrs. Nickleby's feelings of happiness and gratitude after the visit._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xliii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters