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Chapter 33
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Pickwick Papers, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Male Friendship
Predatory Social Institutions
Social Class and Inequality
Marriage and Courtship
Generosity and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
The morning after the trial, Perker visits Pickwick, urging him to reconsider his refusal to pay the costs and damages. Pickwick, however, stands firm, stating he will not pay even a halfpenny. Perker, realizing that Pickwick is serious, informs him that the opposing party can legally pursue execution of the debt in two months. Pickwick calmly accepts this timeline and dismisses the subject. Then, he asks the other Pickwickians, who are also present, where they should go next. The group remains silent, so he proposes Bath as their next destination. Everyone agrees, hoping the change of scenery might influence Pickwick’s stance.
Pickwick’s stubbornness becomes more than just a moment of principle—it’s a defining feature of his personality. He’s not just unwilling to pay the damages; he’s prepared to face real consequences. The group’s silence highlights their uncertainty, suggesting they are torn between supporting their friend and worrying about his choices. Bath, known as a place of leisure and relaxation, feels like an intentional contrast to the grim court proceedings.
Themes
Sam is dispatched to book places on the morning coach. After securing the seats, he returns to prepare for the journey. The following day, Pickwick and his friends arrive early at the coach stop and seek shelter from the rain in a travelers’ room. Inside, they encounter a stern-looking man named Mr. Dowler, who is annoyed at the possibility of being squeezed into a crowded coach. After a brief confrontation, Dowler apologizes for being rude, introduces himself, and quickly becomes acquainted with the group.
Sam’s routine task of booking the coach keeps things grounded, showing how life carries on despite personal crises. Mr. Dowler’s initial rudeness followed by a quick apology reflects the fleeting nature of social tensions—especially among strangers sharing space. Dickens plays with social etiquette here, reminding readers how easily people can move from hostility to friendliness when convenience requires it.
Themes
The journey itself is uneventful and, by seven in the evening, the group arrives in Bath and settles into the White Hart Hotel. The next morning, Dowler introduces his friend Angelo Cyrus Bantam, a flashy, overdressed man who is the Master of Ceremonies in Bath. Bantam is delighted to meet Pickwick, mistakenly assuming he is someone of high renown in Bath. Despite Pickwick’s attempts to correct him, Bantam continues to fawn over him. After exchanging pleasantries, Bantam invites the group to a ball that evening, promising to make all the necessary arrangements.
Bantam’s character is a caricature of Bath society, as he is overly obsessed with status and appearances. His assumption that Pickwick must be important just because he doesn’t recognize him reveals the superficiality of his world. This moment is another instance of Pickwick being thrust into situations beyond his control. Despite his humble nature, he becomes an unwitting participant in the social rituals of Bath’s upper class.
Themes
That evening, the ball at the Assembly Rooms is in full swing. Bantam, in his finest attire, greets guests with great enthusiasm. The scene is lively, with beautiful women, bustling conversations, and plenty of flirting among the young people in attendance. In the tea-room, Bantam introduces Pickwick to the local elite, though Pickwick is unaware of their significance. As the ball progresses, Pickwick is introduced to a card game with three women named Lady Snuphanuph, Mrs. Colonel Wugsby, and Miss Bolo. The three women, being sharp and experienced card players, intimidate Pickwick, who is unfamiliar with their ruthless style.
The ball is space of both performance and confusion. Everyone is playing a role, and Pickwick finds himself out of his depth. His interactions with the elite women at the card game highlight how clueless he is in this environment. There’s a sense of playful discomfort in these moments—Pickwick is far too innocent to grasp the social cues, and the women’s sharpness leaves him flustered. Dickens uses these interactions to emphasize how little Pickwick belongs in this version of high society.
Themes
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Throughout the game, the women criticize Pickwick, making him increasingly nervous. Despite his best efforts, Pickwick plays poorly, much to the disappointment of his partners. By the end of the game, Miss Bolo is in tears, and Pickwick is relieved to finally leave the table. Rejoining his friends, who declare they had a wonderful time, Pickwick heads back to the White Hart. After enjoying a drink, he quickly goes to bed, feeling both exhausted and amused from what has transpired.
Pickwick’s discomfort at the card table mirrors the larger tension between his genuine kindness and the ruthless competitiveness of the society he finds himself in. Miss Bolo’s tears over a card game feel exaggerated, but perhaps it is simply par for the course in Bath. Although the evening was more stressful than what Pickwick was hoping for, he ultimately finds the humor in it with a little help from his drink.
Themes
