Nicholas Nickleby

by

Charles Dickens

Nicholas Nickleby: Chapter 46 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
At work the following day, Nicholas decides that it would be best to tell Charles immediately about what happened the night before regarding Smike. Nicholas explains the situation, and Charles agrees with Nicholas. He says that if Mr. Snawley is indeed Smike’s father, then Mr. Snawley is a barbarian and a hypocrite, and Nicholas did right by refusing to hand Smike over to him. Nicholas is relieved that his employer takes his side. Charles then says that he became acquainted with the situation when Ralph visited earlier that day. Nicholas is surprised that Ralph would have come to his work. Charles says they promptly sent Ralph away, and that Ned and Tim are also on Nicholas’s side.
Charles, along with Ned and Tim, show again that they have the same kind of moral integrity as Nicholas. Instead of being intimidated by someone like Ralph, they stand up to him. That moral integrity is especially on display in Charles’s comments about Mr. Snawley. As Charles says, regardless of whether it’s true, Mr. Snawley’s claim to be Smike’s father is irrelevant. It’s irrelevant because even if it’s true, Mr. Snawley would have abandoned Smike and only wants custody of him now to help Ralph and Squeers get revenge on Smike and Nicholas. By refusing to give in to Ralph, Charles makes it clear that he, like Nicholas, is guided first and foremost by his conscience and isn’t easily swayed. 
Themes
Greed and Selfishness Theme Icon
Power and Abuse Theme Icon
Altruism and Humility Theme Icon
Family and Loyalty Theme Icon
Injustice, Complicity, and Moral Integrity Theme Icon
Charles then says that he has a job he wants Nicholas to do. He explains that it relates to the woman who Nicholas saw in Charles’s office a few days ago. That woman is Madeline Bray. She is the daughter of Mrs. Bray, who Charles was in love with when he was Nicholas’s age. Ned was also in love with Mrs. Bray’s sister. The sister died, and Mrs. Bray recently died, too. When she was younger, Mrs. Bray decided not to marry Charles and married another man instead. That man, Mr. Bray, turned out to be cruel and inconsiderate and constantly got into debt. His wife never stopped loving him, though. When she died, Madeline was left alone trying to manage her father’s debts. At Madeline’s request, Charles has been giving her money in small amounts so that her father doesn’t steal it.
Charles finally explains to Nicholas who the woman Nicholas first saw in the employment agency is, which begins to resolve the mystery introduced several chapters before. It also becomes clear that Charles is involved with Madeline because he is a generous person who wants to help, which is the same reason that led Charles to get involved with Nicholas. Like several other plots in the novel, Madeline’s story revolves around debt brought on by an irresponsible man, whose lack of responsibility impacts everyone around him in catastrophic ways.
Themes
Greed and Selfishness Theme Icon
Altruism and Humility Theme Icon
Family and Loyalty Theme Icon
Charles says that they have a new plan now. They’re going to buy artwork from Madeline so that she has a steady stream of income. Charles, Ned, and Tim can’t act as the dealer because Mr. Bray knows who they are. Charles is reluctant to send Frank because he thinks Frank would fall in love with Madeline. Charles adds that he believes Frank was defending Madeline’s honor the night when Frank and Nicholas first met in the tavern. For those reasons, Charles asks Nicholas to pose as an art dealer to buy artwork from Madeline. Madeline is aware of the plan and knows Nicholas will be sent from the Cheeryble Brothers, but Charles says that Nicholas would do well to convince her that they will sell her paintings for a profit, which they don’t actually plan to do. 
Charles’s statement that he doesn’t want Frank to pose as the art dealer is an example of dramatic irony, considering that the reader knows Nicholas is already infatuated with Madeline, while Charles remains unaware of that. Charles’s comment also implies that he does not want whoever poses as the art dealer to develop feelings for Madeline, suggesting that the role might put Nicholas in a difficult situation because in order to do what Charles wants him to, Nicholas won’t be able to act on the feelings he already has for Madeline.
Themes
Altruism and Humility Theme Icon
Family and Loyalty Theme Icon
Nicholas visits the Brays’ house. The exterior seems shabby to him. When he goes inside, he sees Madeline, who has occupied countless hours of his thoughts. He can’t believe she’s sitting across from him. Mr. Bray sits on the other side of the room. He’s emaciated and looks much older than his 50 years. Nicholas, playing the role of dealer, offers 5 pounds for ornamented velvet. Mr. Bray interjects and treats both Nicholas and Madeline rudely. When Mr. Bray asks if Nicholas needs a receipt, Nicholas says no. Mr. Bray says they don’t need anyone’s charity. As Nicholas leaves, Madeline follows him out the door. She asks him not to mention the business deal to her mother’s friends, who want Madeline to distance herself from her father. Nicholas says he wouldn’t dream of doing that. He says that he is Madeline’s devoted servant and will do anything she wishes.
Madeline’s relationship with her father signals that she feels loyal to her family in the same way that Nicholas feels loyalty to his. Madeline maintains that loyalty in the face of her father’s growing debt and the abandonment of her mother’s friends, who want Madeline to abandon her father. Madeline remains dedicated to her father, even though it would be in her material self-interest to leave him on his own. With that in mind, the novel again contends that loyalty to one’s family is one of the highest virtues and that that kind of loyalty is a sign of selflessness, the opposite of greed and selfishness.
Themes
Greed and Selfishness Theme Icon
Family and Loyalty Theme Icon
Injustice, Complicity, and Moral Integrity Theme Icon
Quotes
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