Struggles and Triumphs · Chapter
IV: Struggles for a Livelihood explained
Barnum recounts his early struggles after moving to New York in 1834-5, including failed business ventures, seeking employment, opening a boardinghouse, and his marriage to Charity Hallett in 1829.
What happens
Barnum recounts his early struggles after moving to New York in 1834-5, including failed business ventures, seeking employment, opening a boardinghouse, and his marriage to Charity Hallett in 1829. He also describes a practical joke involving a bet with Darrow over a whole shirt.
Themes in this chapter
Resilience in Adversity
Barnum faces financial struggles, bad debts, and failed business attempts but persists in seeking a livelihood.
Showmanship and Humbug
Barnum's love of practical jokes and the elaborate bet with Darrow illustrate his showman instincts.
Family and Domestic Life
Barnum marries Charity Hallett and describes his domestic arrangements, including opening a boardinghouse.
Financial Wisdom and Economy
Barnum reflects on his poor financial decisions, bad debts, and the need for saving.
Characters to notice
- P. T. Barnum
Narrator and protagonist; describes his struggles for a livelihood, marriage, and love of practical jokes.
- Charity Barnum
Married to Barnum in 1829; referred to as 'Charity Hallett' before marriage and 'one of the best women in the world.'
- Darrow
Noted joker in Bridgeport; Barnum plays a practical joke on him involving a bet about a whole shirt.
- Mr. John Moody
Partner with Barnum in a grocery store at No. 156 South Street.
- Mr. Samuel Sherwood
Accompanies Barnum on a pleasure trip to Philadelphia and later helps borrow money.
- Nelson Beers
Uncle of Charity Barnum; she visits him in New York before the wedding.
Key passages
“I had expended money as freely as I had gained it, for I had already learned that I could make money rapidly and in large sums, when I set about it with a will, and hence I did not realize the worth of what I seemed to gain so readily.”
Barnum spent money as quickly as he earned it, confident in his ability to make more, and thus failed to appreciate its value.
Reflects on his early financial imprudence.
“I do not approve or recommend early marriages. The minds of men and women taking so important a step in life should be somewhat matured, and hasty marriages, especially marriages of boys and girls, have been the cause of untold misery in many instances.”
Barnum advises against marrying young, believing that maturity is essential for such a serious commitment.
Barnum's opinion on early marriage, despite his own at age 19.
“Such a shriek of laughter as burst forth from the crowd I scarcely ever heard, and certainly such a blank countenance as old Darrow exhibited it would be hard to conceive.”
The crowd erupted in laughter at Darrow's stunned reaction after being outwitted in the bet.
Describes the climax of the practical joke on Darrow.