Struggles and Triumphs · Chapter
Incidents and Anecdotes explained
Barnum recounts his grandmother's death, his father's death and insolvency, his early work as a clerk, his first meeting with Charity Hallett, a humorous misunderstanding over 'Russia' furs, and a scheme to move a pensioner named Uncle Bibb
What happens
Barnum recounts his grandmother's death, his father's death and insolvency, his early work as a clerk, his first meeting with Charity Hallett, a humorous misunderstanding over 'Russia' furs, and a scheme to move a pensioner named Uncle Bibbins.
Themes in this chapter
Resilience in Adversity
Barnum begins the world barefooted after his father's death and insolvency, yet quickly finds work and starts speculating.
Showmanship and Humbug
Barnum's tin ware and green bottle lottery and the 'Russia' fur joke demonstrate his early flair for clever schemes and entertainment.
Family and Domestic Life
Barnum's grandmother's deathbed blessing, his father's death, and his mother's efforts to redeem the homestead highlight family bonds and domestic struggles.
Characters to notice
- P. T. Barnum
Narrator and protagonist; begins the world barefooted after father's death, works as a clerk, devises a lottery and a joke about 'Russia' furs.
- Charity Barnum
First introduced as 'Chairy' Hallett; Barnum escorts her home during a thunderstorm and is favorably impressed.
- Mrs. Jerusha Wheeler
Barnum's landlady at Grassy Plain; known as 'Aunt Rushia'; central to the 'Russia' fur misunderstanding.
- Mary
Daughter of Mrs. Wheeler; a milliner; involved in the 'Russia' fur confusion.
- Mr. Dibble
A hatter from Danbury who tries to buy 'Russia' fur and is sent on a wild goose chase by Barnum.
- Old Bevans
Revolutionary pensioner known as 'Uncle Bibbins'; Barnum engineers a duel to get him to leave for three months.
Key passages
“I literally began the world with nothing, and was barefooted at that.”
Barnum started his adult life with no money or assets, not even shoes.
Emphasizes his humble beginnings after his father's death.
“I conceived the idea of a lottery in which the highest prize should be twenty-five dollars, payable in any goods the winner desired...”
Barnum invented a lottery to sell old tin ware and glass bottles, with prizes in store goods.
Illustrates his early entrepreneurial and showman instincts.
“I did my best to please my employers and soon gained their confidence and esteem and was regarded by them as an active clerk and a ’cute trader.”
Barnum worked hard and earned his employers' trust, who saw him as a sharp businessman.
Shows his work ethic and business acumen as a young clerk.