The Old Curiosity Shop · Chapter
LVII explained
Kit Nubbles becomes a regular visitor to Bevis Marks, carrying messages between the single gentleman and the Garland family.
What happens
Kit Nubbles becomes a regular visitor to Bevis Marks, carrying messages between the single gentleman and the Garland family. Sampson Brass feigns friendship and virtue, secretly manipulating events. Meanwhile, Richard Swiveller, left alone in the office, discovers the small servant spying through the keyhole and befriends her, teaching her cribbage and nicknaming her 'the Marchioness'.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Social Hierarchy
The small servant's impoverished condition contrasts with Swiveller's relative freedom, highlighting class divisions.
Greed and Exploitation
Sampson Brass manipulates Kit and Swiveller for his own ends, feigning virtue while exploiting them.
Characters to notice
- Christopher Nubbles
Regularly visits Bevis Marks with messages, groomed by Brass's false praise.
- Sampson Brass
Feigns virtue and friendship, secretly manipulates Kit and Swiveller.
- Richard Swiveller
Left alone in the office, he discovers the small servant and teaches her cribbage.
- The Small Servant
Spies on Swiveller through the keyhole; he feeds her and nicknames her 'the Marchioness'.
- Abel Garland
Visits Bevis Marks with Kit, part of the frequent correspondence.
Key passages
“Honesty is the best policy.—I always find it so myself. I lost forty-seven pound ten by being honest this morning. But it’s all gain, it’s gain!”
Brass claims honesty is best, boasting he lost money by being honest, though his sincerity is dubious.
Brass's ironic moralizing reveals his hypocrisy.
“I shall call you the Marchioness, do you hear?”
Swiveller gives the small servant the playful title 'Marchioness' as they play cards.
Swiveller's whimsical naming shows his kindness and the beginning of their friendship.