# XVI explained — Nicholas Nickleby

> Chapter companion for Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Nicholas seeks employment, first visiting a General Agency Office where he is intrigued by a beautiful young girl. He then applies to Mr. Gregsbury, a member of parliament, for a secretary position but declines the low pay of fifteen shillings a week. Returning home dejected, Newman Noggs informs him of a tutoring opportunity with the Kenwigs family, teaching French to their four daughters for five shillings a week, which Nicholas eagerly accepts.

## Themes in this chapter

### Ambition and Speculation

Nicholas's hopeful pursuit of employment and his rejection of a low-paying secretary position reflect his ambition and desire for better prospects.

### Resilience and Moral Integrity

Despite disappointment, Nicholas refuses to compromise his self-respect, declining the secretary role and later accepting a humble tutoring job with dignity.

## Character check-ins

### Nicholas Nickleby

Seeks employment, visits the General Agency Office, applies to Mr. Gregsbury, and accepts a tutoring offer from the Kenwigs family.

### Newman Noggs

Visits Nicholas at his new lodgings and relays the tutoring proposition from Mrs. Kenwigs.

### Smike

Arranges Nicholas's room and prepares a meal, anxiously awaiting his return.

### Mrs. Kenwigs

Proposes that Nicholas (as Mr. Johnson) teach French to her four daughters for five shillings a week.

### Mr. Gregsbury

Interviews Nicholas for a secretary position but offers only fifteen shillings a week, which Nicholas declines.

## Key lines

> I don't know what the terms are, as he said he'd settle them himself with the party, observed the fat lady; but they must be pretty good ones, because he's a member of parliament.

The fat lady assumes the salary must be high simply because the employer is a member of parliament.

_Highlights the naive assumption that political status guarantees good pay._

> If I could do anything, anything, however slight, until Ralph Nickleby returns, and I have eased my mind by confronting him, I should feel happier.

Nicholas expresses his desire to take any honest work to occupy himself until he can confront his uncle Ralph.

_Shows Nicholas's determination to act rather than remain idle._

## Links

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