The Pickwick Papers · Chapter
Chapter XV explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Pickwick receives an invitation from Mr. Leo Hunter to a fancy-dress breakfast hosted by Mrs. Leo Hunter. After some deliberation, he agrees to attend. The Pickwickians discuss their costumes, leading to a heated argument between Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman over the latter's choice of a brigand's outfit, which is resolved amicably. The chapter concludes with the group preparing for the event, including a description of Mr. Tupman's elaborate costume.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Manners
The chapter satirizes the pretensions of the Hunters and their literary circle, highlighting the social rituals and class aspirations of the provincial gentry.
Deception and Appearance
The focus on fancy-dress costumes and the argument over Mr. Tupman's outfit underscores themes of identity, vanity, and the gap between appearance and reality.
Friendship and Loyalty
The quarrel and reconciliation between Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman demonstrate the strength of their friendship and mutual respect.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pickwick
Receives an invitation from Mr. Leo Hunter, argues with Mr. Tupman over his costume, and ultimately reconciles.
- Tracy Tupman
Decides to dress as a bandit, leading to a quarrel with Mr. Pickwick, which is later resolved.
- Augustus Snodgrass
Mediates the argument between Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Tupman, and plans to wear a fancy-dress.
- Nathaniel Winkle
Informs Mr. Pickwick about Mrs. Pott's costume and also plans to wear a fancy-dress.
- Sam Weller
Delivers Mr. Leo Hunter's card to Mr. Pickwick with characteristic wit.
- Mr. Leo Hunter
Invites Mr. Pickwick to his wife's fancy-dress breakfast and recites her poetry.
Key passages
“‘Say, have fiends in shape of boys, With wild halloo, and brutal noise, Hunted thee from marshy joys, With a dog, Expiring frog!’”
The poem asks whether cruel boys, shouting and making noise, have driven the frog from its happy marsh with a dog.
Mr. Leo Hunter recites his wife's poem 'Ode to an Expiring Frog' to Mr. Pickwick.
“‘Sir,’ said Mr. Tupman, his face suffused with a crimson glow, ‘this is an insult.’ ‘Sir,’ replied Mr. Pickwick, in the same tone, ‘it is not half the insult to you, that your appearance in my presence in a green velvet jacket, with a two-inch tail, would be to me.’”
Mr. Tupman feels insulted by Mr. Pickwick's criticism of his costume, but Mr. Pickwick retorts that seeing him in such an outfit would be even more offensive.
The argument escalates as Mr. Pickwick objects to Mr. Tupman's choice of a brigand's costume.