The Pickwick Papers · Chapter
Chapter XX explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller encounter Sam's father, Tony Weller, who reveals the whereabouts of Jingle and Job Trotter in Ipswich. Meanwhile, Mr. Pickwick is served with a writ in the breach of promise suit brought by Mrs. Bardell, leading to a heated confrontation with Dodson and Fogg, after which Sam steers his master to consult Mr. Perker.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Jingle and Job Trotter's disguise and deceit are uncovered by Tony Weller, highlighting the theme of appearances versus reality.
Justice and Injustice
The breach of promise suit against Mr. Pickwick, instigated by Dodson and Fogg, exemplifies the manipulation of the legal system for unjust ends.
Social Class and Manners
Tony Weller's earthy wisdom and the interactions between master and servant reflect the social hierarchies and manners of the period.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pickwick
Resolves to pursue Jingle to Ipswich after learning his whereabouts from Tony Weller; later confronts Dodson and Fogg over the breach of promise writ.
- Sam Weller
Reunites with his father, Tony Weller, and recounts how he was duped by Job Trotter; later restrains Mr. Pickwick from assaulting Dodson and Fogg.
- Tony Weller
Sam's father, a stage-coachman, who identifies Jingle and Job Trotter as the passengers he drove to Ipswich and warns Sam about the dangers of widows.
- Alfred Jingle
Mentioned as the slim, tall man with 'the gift o' the gab' who, along with Job Trotter, is staying in Ipswich.
- Job Trotter
Identified by Tony Weller as the black-haired man in mulberry livery traveling to Ipswich with Jingle.
- Dodson and Fogg
Serve Mr. Pickwick with a writ for breach of promise, demanding £1,500 in damages, and provoke him into calling them swindlers.
- Mrs. Bardell
The plaintiff in the breach of promise suit; her lawyers state she will not compromise for less than the full damages.
- Mr. Perker
Mr. Pickwick resolves to visit his solicitor immediately after the confrontation with Dodson and Fogg.
Key passages
“I got reg'larly done the other day.”
I was thoroughly tricked recently.
Sam Weller admits to being duped by Job Trotter's stratagems.
“I've found a sov'rin' cure for that, Sammy... jist you marry a widder as has got a good loud woice, with a decent notion of usin' it, and you'll never have the gout agin.”
I've discovered a sure remedy for gout: marry a loud-voiced widow who will keep you active.
Tony Weller offers humorous, practical advice on avoiding gout.
“Battledore and shuttlecock's a wery good game, vhen you ain't the shuttlecock and two lawyers the battledores, in which case it gets too excitin' to be pleasant.”
Battledore and shuttlecock is a fine game unless you are the shuttlecock and two lawyers are the battledores—then it becomes too exciting to be enjoyable.
Sam Weller uses a metaphor to warn Mr. Pickwick against being manipulated by Dodson and Fogg.