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Chapter 43
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
A few days into his time in prison, Sam decides to take a break from attending to Pickwick and heads to the taproom for a pint. His leisurely moment gets interrupted when he hears shouts of his name echoing through the prison. Irritated at first, Sam finds that the shouts are coming from nonother than Mr. Weller, sits on the steps, calling for him. After exchanging some humorous banter, Sam learns that his father has brought Mrs. Weller and Stiggins with him.
This scene places Sam between two very different worlds: the chaotic environment of the prison and the strange domestic entanglements of his family. Sam’s initial irritation reveals how much he values a moment of calm, which the sudden arrival of his father disrupts. Although Sam loves his father and is always glad to see him, he is less enthused to find Mrs. Weller and Stiggins present as well.
Themes
Mrs. Weller expresses her sorrow over Sam’s imprisonment, while Stiggins, in his usual sanctimonious manner, tries to preach about moral improvement. Sam responds with sarcastic politeness, making it clear that he does not respect what they have to say. Meanwhile, Mr. Weller struggles to hide his amusement, much to the increasing frustration of Stiggins and his wife.
Sam’s calm demeanor here shows his ability to maintain control when faced with unwanted advice, especially from figures like Stiggins. Through his polite sarcasm, he navigates unwanted situations without openly confronting them. It is an effective tactic because everyone knows what he is doing, but they have a difficult time calling it out.
Themes
As the visit continues, Stiggins implies that he would like a drink, so Sam fetches him one, which Stiggins eagerly drinks. Mrs. Weller follows suit, and both indulge in multiple rounds, becoming increasingly emotional with each glass. Disgusted, Mr. Weller remarks to Sam that something must be wrong with them if all the alcohol they consume turns into nothing but tears. The scene peaks with Mr. Stiggins delivering a pompous sermon, admonishing Sam to avoid hypocrisy and pride while praising his own virtues. However, Sam remains unfazed and mocks Stiggins’s hypocrisy.
Sam serves Stiggins a drink to shut the man up while simultaneously exposing his hypocrisy. Rather than argue, Sam allows Stiggins to prove his own inconsistency by indulging in exactly what he claims to reject. Although the drink only makes Stiggins talk more, the display he puts on is childish and absurd on its face. Although Mrs. Weller does not seem to take issue with Stiggins’s behavior, Sam and Mr. Weller take comfort in knowing they are correct about the man.
Themes
As the visit nears its end, Mr. Weller pulls Sam aside with a conspiratorial air, eager to share a secret plan that he has been devising. He outlines an audacious scheme to smuggle Pickwick out of the prison inside a hollow piano. He suggests that once safely hidden in the piano, Pickwick could go to America, where he would remain until Mrs. Bardell’s case blows over. Sam listens to his father with a mixture of disbelief and amusement, fully aware that it is a crazy idea.
Mr. Weller’s plan shows how far he’s willing to go to protect Pickwick, but Sam’s reaction suggests he knows better than to take the scheme seriously. His response reflects a mixture of respect for his father’s boldness and recognition of the plan’s impracticality. He doesn’t dismiss the idea outright but knows better than to act on impulse.
Themes
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Despite the absurdity, Sam respects Mr. Weller’s creativity and his willingness to take drastic measures to help Pickwick. He doesn’t dismiss the plan outright, but he remains skeptical. After outlining the plan, Mr. Weller bids his son farewell, urging Sam to communicate the plan to Pickwick. Despite his skepticism, Sam remains grounded in his loyalty to Pickwick, ready to follow whatever course of action his master deems best, though he silently hopes it won’t involve a hollow piano and a transatlantic voyage.
Sam cannot bring himself to shut down Mr. Weller’s hairbrained scheme altogether because he knows his father is only trying to help. Although Pickwick’s situation is dire, it seems a long way away from needing to resort to such drastic methods, which are unlikely to work. Instead, Sam stays practical and patient, waiting for the right opportunity to come about.
Themes
