# In which Mr. Pickwick encounters an old acquaintance—to which fortunate circumstance the reader is mainly indebted for matter of thrilling interest herein set down, concerning two great public men of might and power. explained — The Pickwick Papers

> Chapter companion for The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Mr. Pickwick and his companions endure a gloomy, rainy morning before setting out for London. During a stop at Coventry, Sam Weller engages in a philosophical conversation with Bob Sawyer about postboys. The journey continues, and the party encounters Mr. Pott and Mr. Slurk, rival editors of the Eatanswill Gazette and Independent, whose mutual animosity escalates into a physical fight involving a carpetbag and fire-shovel. Mr. Pickwick intervenes and is struck by both weapons, but Sam Weller ends the conflict by smothering Pott with a meal-sack. The editors later depart, continuing their war in print.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance

The editors' public posturing and feigned reading of each other's papers mask their deep-seated animosity, which erupts into violence.

### Social Class and Manners

The behavior of the editors, despite their pretensions to respectability, descends into crude violence, contrasting with Mr. Pickwick's attempts at polite intervention.

## Character check-ins

### Samuel Pickwick

Mr. Pickwick is depressed by the weather and the outcome of his embassy, but later intervenes in the fight between Pott and Slurk, receiving blows from both.

### Sam Weller

Sam engages in a witty exchange with Bob Sawyer about postboys and later stops the fight by covering Pott with a meal-sack.

### Bob Sawyer

Bob Sawyer is present during the journey and the fight, feeling 'floored' by the weather and excitement, and later provokes the editors.

### Benjamin Allen

Ben Allen is also affected by the weather and joins Bob Sawyer in observing and later intervening in the editors' quarrel.

### Mr. Pott

Mr. Pott, editor of the Eatanswill Gazette, engages in a heated argument with Slurk, leading to a physical fight.

### Slurk

Slurk, editor of the Independent, trades insults with Pott and initiates the fight by striking Pott with a carpetbag.

## Key lines

> Wotever is, is right, as the young nobleman sweetly remarked wen they put him down in the pension list 'cos his mother's uncle's vife's grandfather vunce lit the king's pipe vith a portable tinderbox.

Whatever happens is for the best, as the young nobleman said when he was granted a pension because a distant relative once performed a trivial service for the king.

_Sam Weller uses a convoluted anecdote to illustrate his philosophical acceptance of circumstances._

> I consider you, sir, a viper. I look upon you, sir, as a man who has placed himself beyond the pale of society, by his most audacious, disgraceful, and abominable public conduct.

I regard you as a venomous person who has made himself an outcast through his shameless and wicked behavior.

_Mr. Pott delivers a formal insult to Slurk, escalating their quarrel._

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