The Pickwick Papers · Chapter
The First Day's Journey, and the First Evening's Adventures; with Their Consequences explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Pickwick begins his journey from Goswell Street, hails a cab, and notes the driver's absurd claims about his horse. At the Golden Cross, he meets his fellow Pickwickians—Tupman, Snodgrass, and Winkle. After a dispute with the cabman, they are rescued by a loquacious stranger (Mr. Jingle), who joins them for dinner and later accompanies them to Rochester, entertaining them with rambling tales and anecdotes.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Exploration
Mr. Pickwick's departure from Goswell Street and the journey to Rochester embody the spirit of adventure and discovery that drives the Pickwickians.
Deception and Appearance
The cabman's absurd claims about his horse and Jingle's exaggerated tales highlight the theme of appearance versus reality.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pickwick
Wakes early, reflects on the narrow views of philosophers, hails a cab, and notes the driver's claims about his horse. Meets his friends at the Golden Cross and is rescued from a quarrel by the stranger.
- Tracy Tupman
Anxiously awaits Pickwick at the Golden Cross, shows interest in the ball and in the stranger's tales of Spanish conquests, and offers to lend the stranger clothes.
- Augustus Snodgrass
Welcomes Pickwick at the Golden Cross, is described as having a poetic turn, and falls asleep during dinner.
- Nathaniel Winkle
Greets Pickwick at the Golden Cross, claims to be a sportsman, and falls asleep during dinner.
- Alfred Jingle
The loquacious stranger who rescues Pickwick from the cabman, joins the party for dinner, tells disjointed stories about Spain, a dog, and the Revolution of July, and travels with them to Rochester.
Key passages
“Such are the narrow views of those philosophers who, content with examining the things that lie before them, look not to the truths which are hidden beyond.”
Mr. Pickwick criticizes philosophers who only study what is directly in front of them instead of seeking deeper truths.
Reflects Pickwick's enthusiasm for exploration and discovery.
“He always falls down when he's took out o' the cab, but when he's in it, we bears him up werry tight, and takes him in werry short, so as he can't werry well fall down; and we've got a pair o' precious large wheels on, so ven he does move, they run after him, and he must go on—he can't help it.”
The cabdriver explains that his horse is so weak it collapses when taken out, but inside the cab it is held up tightly and the large wheels force it to keep moving.
A humorous example of the absurdity and deception encountered by Pickwick.
“Conquests! Thousands. Don Bolaro Fizzgig—grandee—only daughter—Donna Christina—splendid creature—loved me to distraction—jealous father—high-souled daughter—handsome Englishman—Donna Christina in despair—prussic acid—stomach pump in my portmanteau—operation performed—old Bolaro in ecstasies—consent to our union—join hands and floods of tears—romantic story—very.”
Jingle tells a rapid, exaggerated story of a Spanish romance involving a jealous father, a love-struck daughter, and a dramatic rescue with a stomach pump.
Illustrates Jingle's flamboyant and untrustworthy storytelling style.