A Piece of Work explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Charity and Hypocrisy

  The entire election campaign is a farce of appearances: Veneering's friends 'rally round' him not out of genuine conviction but to maintain social pretenses, while the purchase of the seat is hidden behind a show of spontaneous support.

• Social Class and Mobility

  Veneering, a nouveau riche social climber, uses his wealth to buy a parliamentary seat, and his friends leverage their connections (Twemlow's relation to Lord Snigsworth, Podsnap's wealth) to bolster his status.

Characters to notice

• Mr. Veneering

  Decides to stand for Parliament for Pocket-Breaches; enlists friends to rally round him; delivers a stammering but effective speech.

• Twemlow

  Reluctantly asked by Veneering to solicit Lord Snigsworth's name; declines but joins the campaign; accompanies Veneering to Pocket-Breaches.

• Lady Tippins

  Works energetically as a self-styled electioneering agent, calling on acquaintances and promoting Veneering's candidacy.

• Mr. Podsnap

  Participates in the campaign; telegraphs Mrs. Veneering when Veneering begins his speech; is cited as a wealthy merchant-prince.

• Boots

  One of the 'hard workers' who dines at Veneering's and declares his intention to 'reel round' Veneering.

• Buffer

  Mentioned as capping Twemlow in the persuasion that he works like a Trojan.

• Mrs. Veneering

  Devotedly supports her husband's campaign; relinquishes baby to nurse and orders out the carriage.

• Analytical Chemist

  The Veneerings' butler, ordered to produce the cream of the bins for the rallying dinner.

Key passages

• “Britannia, sitting meditating one fine day (perhaps in the attitude in which she is presented on the copper coinage), discovers all of a sudden that she wants Veneering in Parliament.”

  The nation, personified as Britannia, suddenly decides that Veneering should become a Member of Parliament.

  Satirical opening suggesting that Veneering's candidacy is a whimsical, arbitrary decision by the state.

• “It is clearly understood between Britannia and the legal gentleman that nobody is to take up the five thousand pounds, but that being put down they will disappear by magical conjuration and enchantment.”

  It is an open secret that the five thousand pounds paid for the seat will vanish through corruption, as if by magic.

  Highlights the corrupt practice of purchasing parliamentary seats.

• “Above all things, he says, it behoves him to be clear, at a crisis of this importance, 'whether his friends will rally round him.'”

  Veneering insists that he must first confirm whether his social circle will support his candidacy.

  Emphasizes Veneering's dependence on social networks for political legitimacy.

• “Many vast vague reputations have been made, solely by taking cabs and going about.”

  Many people have built impressive reputations simply by appearing busy and rushing around town in cabs.

  Satirizes the empty performative nature of political work.

• “Veneering loses his way in the usual No Thoroughfares of speech, and Podsnap and Twemlow say Hear hear! and sometimes, when he can't by any means back himself out of some very unlucky No Thoroughfare, 'He-a-a-r He-a-a-r!' with an air of facetious conviction.”

  Veneering becomes lost and incoherent during his speech, but Podsnap and Twemlow cheer him on ironically, pretending his confusion is clever.

  Illustrates the hollow, theatrical nature of political oratory.