# Chapter XX explained — Nicholas Nickleby

> Chapter companion for Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Ralph Nickleby confronts Mrs. Nickleby and Kate, accusing Nicholas of assault, theft, and running away with a boy. Nicholas returns and defends himself, explaining he punished a cruel master and returned a ring. Ralph disowns him, and Nicholas decides to leave London to avoid further conflict.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Loyalty

The chapter explores the conflict between familial loyalty and self-interest, as Ralph disowns Nicholas while Kate and Miss La Creevy support him.

### Hypocrisy and Appearance vs. Reality

Ralph presents himself as a benefactor while secretly undermining Nicholas, and Mrs. Nickleby's confusion highlights the gap between appearance and truth.

### Social Injustice and Corruption

Nicholas's account of cruelty at Dotheboys Hall and Ralph's manipulative use of accusations illustrate systemic injustice.

## Character check-ins

### Ralph Nickleby

Confronts Mrs. Nickleby and Kate, accusing Nicholas of misconduct and disowning him.

### Nicholas Nickleby

Returns home, defends his actions against Ralph's accusations, and decides to leave London.

### Kate Nickleby

Defends Nicholas against Ralph's accusations and pleads with him to stay.

### Mrs. Nickleby

Distressed and confused, she wavers between believing Ralph and supporting Nicholas.

### Miss La Creevy

Accompanies Nicholas to his mother's house and witnesses the confrontation.

## Key lines

> I will not help him, or those who help him. With a full knowledge of what he brought upon you by so doing, he has come back in his selfish sloth, to be an aggravation of your wants, and a burden upon his sister's scanty wages.

Ralph declares he will not assist Nicholas or anyone who aids him, accusing Nicholas of laziness and of worsening the family's financial troubles.

_Ralph's refusal to help underscores his cruelty and the theme of family loyalty._

> I interfered, to save a miserable creature from the vilest cruelty. In so doing, I inflicted such punishment upon a wretch as he will not readily forget, though far less than he deserved from me.

Nicholas explains that he intervened to protect a suffering child and punished the abuser, though not as severely as warranted.

_Nicholas defends his actions, highlighting his moral integrity and the theme of resilience._

## Links

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