# Chapter XX explained — The Pickwick Papers

> Chapter companion for The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xx
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters