The Pickwick Papers · Chapter
The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton explained
This chapter presents a supernatural tale told by Mr.
What happens
This chapter presents a supernatural tale told by Mr. Wardle, recounting the story of Gabriel Grub, a morose and ill-tempered sexton who despises Christmas cheer. On Christmas Eve, after assaulting a boy for singing, he is confronted by a goblin king and his minions, who force him to witness visions of human happiness, suffering, and eventual peace, ultimately teaching him a lesson about compassion and joy.
Themes in this chapter
Charity and Benevolence
The goblin's visions teach Gabriel Grub the value of kindness, family, and compassion, contrasting his earlier malice.
Prison and Suffering
Gabriel Grub is spiritually imprisoned by his own bitterness and is subjected to terrifying supernatural punishment before his redemption.
Characters to notice
- Gabriel Grub
The surly, misanthropic sexton who takes pleasure in gloom and is punished by goblins for his cruelty.
- Mr. Wardle
The narrator of the goblin story, sharing it with the Pickwickians during their Christmas festivities.
Key passages
“Gabriel Grub was an ill-conditioned, cross-grained, surly fellow—a morose and lonely man, who consorted with nobody but himself, and an old wicker bottle which fitted into his large deep waistcoat pocket”
Gabriel Grub was a sour, antisocial man who kept company only with himself and a flask he carried in his pocket.
Introduces the protagonist's grim character, setting up his need for transformation.
“Gabriel waited until the boy came up, and then dodged him into a corner, and rapped him over the head with his lantern five or six times, just to teach him to modulate his voice.”
Gabriel cornered the boy and hit him repeatedly with his lantern to stop him from singing.
Illustrates Gabriel's cruelty and disdain for joy, which provokes the goblin intervention.
“We know the man with the sulky face and grim scowl, that came down the street tonight, throwing his evil looks at the children, and grasping his burying-spade the tighter. We know the man who struck the boy in the envious malice of his heart, because the boy could be merry, and he could not.”
The goblin king identifies Gabriel as the bitter man who scowled at children and hit a boy out of envy for his happiness.
The goblin's accusation reveals the moral lesson: malice stems from one's own unhappiness.
“Slowly and peacefully, the father sank into the grave, and, soon after, the sharer of all his cares and troubles followed him to a place of rest. The few who yet survived them, kneeled by their tomb, and watered the green turf which covered it with their tears; then rose, and turned away, sadly and mournfully, but not with bitter cries, or despairing lamentations, for they knew that they should one day meet again; and once more they mixed with the busy world, and their content and cheerfulness were restored.”
The vision shows an elderly couple dying peacefully, mourned by loved ones who find comfort in the hope of reunion and return to joyful lives.
The final vision teaches Gabriel that grief can be endured with hope and that life goes on, prompting his change of heart.