Nicholas Nickleby

by

Charles Dickens

Mr. Bray Character Analysis

Mr. Bray is Madeline’s father. He owes a significant amount of money around town. After Madeline’s mother dies, she enlists the Cheeryble brothers to help her with that debt, which ultimately leads Nicholas to meet her. Mr. Bray dies on the day Madeline is supposed to marry Arthur, which saves Madeline from going through with the wedding.

Mr. Bray Quotes in Nicholas Nickleby

The Nicholas Nickleby quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Bray or refer to Mr. Bray. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Greed and Selfishness Theme Icon
).
Chapter 46 Quotes

The Rules are a certain liberty adjoining the prison, and comprising some dozen streets in which debtors who can raise money to pay large fees, from which their creditors do not derive any benefit, are permitted to reside by the wise provisions of the same enlightened laws which leave the debtor who can raise no money to starve in jail, without the food, clothing, lodging, or warmth, which are provided for felons convicted of the most atrocious crimes that can disgrace humanity. There are many pleasant fictions of the law in constant operation, but there is not one so pleasant or practically humorous as that which supposes every man to be of equal value in its impartial eye, and the benefits of all laws to be equally attainable by all men, without the smallest reference to the furniture of their pockets.

Related Characters: Nicholas, Madeline, Charles, Mr. Bray
Page Number: 570-571
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 54 Quotes

'I must go upstairs for a few minutes, to finish dressing. When I come down, I'll bring Madeline with me. Do you know, I had a very strange dream last night, which I have not remembered till this instant. I dreamt that it was this morning, and you and I had been talking as we have been this minute; that I went upstairs, for the very purpose for which I am going now; and that as I stretched out my hand to take Madeline's, and lead her down, the floor sunk with me, and after falling from such an indescribable and tremendous height as the imagination scarcely conceives, except in dreams, I alighted in a grave.'

'And you awoke, and found you were lying on your back, or with your head hanging over the bedside, or suffering some pain from indigestion?' said Ralph. 'Pshaw, Mr. Bray! Do as I do (you will have the opportunity, now that a constant round of pleasure and enjoyment opens upon you), and, occupying yourself a little more by day, have no time to think of what you dream by night.'

Related Characters: Ralph (speaker), Mr. Bray (speaker), Nicholas, Madeline, Arthur
Page Number: 671
Explanation and Analysis:
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Mr. Bray Quotes in Nicholas Nickleby

The Nicholas Nickleby quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Bray or refer to Mr. Bray. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Greed and Selfishness Theme Icon
).
Chapter 46 Quotes

The Rules are a certain liberty adjoining the prison, and comprising some dozen streets in which debtors who can raise money to pay large fees, from which their creditors do not derive any benefit, are permitted to reside by the wise provisions of the same enlightened laws which leave the debtor who can raise no money to starve in jail, without the food, clothing, lodging, or warmth, which are provided for felons convicted of the most atrocious crimes that can disgrace humanity. There are many pleasant fictions of the law in constant operation, but there is not one so pleasant or practically humorous as that which supposes every man to be of equal value in its impartial eye, and the benefits of all laws to be equally attainable by all men, without the smallest reference to the furniture of their pockets.

Related Characters: Nicholas, Madeline, Charles, Mr. Bray
Page Number: 570-571
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 54 Quotes

'I must go upstairs for a few minutes, to finish dressing. When I come down, I'll bring Madeline with me. Do you know, I had a very strange dream last night, which I have not remembered till this instant. I dreamt that it was this morning, and you and I had been talking as we have been this minute; that I went upstairs, for the very purpose for which I am going now; and that as I stretched out my hand to take Madeline's, and lead her down, the floor sunk with me, and after falling from such an indescribable and tremendous height as the imagination scarcely conceives, except in dreams, I alighted in a grave.'

'And you awoke, and found you were lying on your back, or with your head hanging over the bedside, or suffering some pain from indigestion?' said Ralph. 'Pshaw, Mr. Bray! Do as I do (you will have the opportunity, now that a constant round of pleasure and enjoyment opens upon you), and, occupying yourself a little more by day, have no time to think of what you dream by night.'

Related Characters: Ralph (speaker), Mr. Bray (speaker), Nicholas, Madeline, Arthur
Page Number: 671
Explanation and Analysis: