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Chapter 45
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
Trotter rushes through the streets of London, determined to deliver Sam’s urgent message to Perker before the prison closes for the night. However, by the time he reaches Gray’s Inn, the gates have already been shut. After locating Perker’s laundress and eventually Lowten, Trotter relays Sam’s message. Lowten decides they must inform Perker immediately, even though it is late. They take a cab to Perker’s residence, where they interrupt a dinner party, and Trotter finally delivers his news.
For once, Trotter is finally working for Pickwick and Sam instead of trying to undermine them. Because Jingle and Trotter’s fates are—at least in part—in Pickwick’s hands, they are much more willing to cooperate. This is especially helpful because both men were already extremely capable, and now they are trustworthy as well.
Themes
Perker is astonished at the cleverness of Dodson and Fogg, though he also finds them despicable. He listens to the full details and decides he must visit Pickwick first thing in the morning. The following day, Perker arrives at the Fleet Prison to speak with Pickwick. During their conversation, Perker reveals that Mrs. Bardell’s release from prison is entirely in Pickwick’s hands. By paying both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s legal costs, Pickwick can secure Mrs. Bardell’s freedom, not to mention his own. Perker presents a letter from Mrs. Bardell in which she apologizes for her role in the lawsuit, stating that Dodson and Fogg manipulated her into pursuing it. Perker emphasizes that by paying the costs, Pickwick would not only free Mrs. Bardell but also prove his moral superiority. After hearing Perker’s arguments, Pickwick begins to consider the proposal, though he remains conflicted.
Perker’s conversation with Pickwick lays out the complicated intersection of personal responsibility and legal entanglement. It’s not just about paying a debt—the situation becomes a matter of character and how one values one’s relationships with others. Mrs. Bardell’s letter, filled with regret, adds emotional weight to the decision, showing how much of this legal battle is the fault of Dodson and Fogg. For Pickwick, the conflict is no longer strictly legal but involves balancing his principles with the reality of getting everyone—including himself—out of prison.
Themes
While Pickwick contemplates his decision, Sam interrupts to announce that a lady with urgent news has arrived. To Pickwick’s great surprise, the visitors are Winkle and Arabella Allen—now Mrs. Winkle. Overjoyed, Pickwick embraces Arabella and forgives them for not letting him know that they were getting married. Arabella asks Pickwick to help reconcile her with Benjamin, who remains unaware of her marriage. Pickwick agrees to help, wanting to ensure that Winkle’s marriage gets off on the right foot. Ultimately, he pays the money to get himself and Mrs. Bardell out of prison, spurred on in part by his desire to help his friends. Sam also settles his debt and the Pickwickians spend a day celebrating Pickwick and Sam’s freedom.
The arrival of Arabella and Winkle shifts the tone toward reconciliation and celebration. This is not just a happy reunion but also a moment where Pickwick’s priorities become clear. His decision to pay the legal costs follows naturally from his desire to restore balance within his group. The act is not just a resolution of the legal conflict but also a way for Pickwick to assert control over his life once more. In addition to getting out of prison himself, he shows great generosity in forgiving and helping Mrs. Bardell.
Themes
