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Chapter 53
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 Mrs. Weller’s funeral, Mr. Weller informs Sam that he has found his late wife’s will—it was hidden in an old teapot, a place she used to stash banknotes. The will grants £200 to Sam and leaves everything else to Mr. Weller, who is named executor. Despite his initial inclination to burn the will, Sam quickly snatches it away, reminding his father that it needs to be probated. Mr. Weller suggests they consult Solomon Pell, who has come in handy when dealing with tricky legal matters.
As it turns out, Mrs. Weller has a fair amount of money, which could radically alter the outcome of Sam’s life if he wished to take advantage of it. However, because neither Sam nor Mr. Weller are confident in their financial literacy, they go to Solomon Pell, who they simply have to hope will not take advantage of them.
Themes
On the way to Pell, Mr. Weller decides to bring along some friends as “umpires” to ensure everything goes smoothly. The group—comprising Mr. Weller, Sam, and three coachmen—meets Pell at a public house. Pell agrees to handle the will for a fee of five pounds. He assures them that he will manage the process with ease. Over the following days, Pell navigates the legal formalities, ensuring everything is in order. After much bureaucratic wrangling and several meetings, they finally set a date to transfer Mrs. Weller’s stock to Sam and sell out Mr. Weller’s portion. The entire group, dressed in their best clothes, heads to meet Wilkins Flasher, a stockbroker.
Although Mr. Weller cannot guarantee that Pell will play fair even with his “umpires” present, his decision to bring a group of men with him once again reinforces the value of male comradery in the novel. Ultimately, Pell proves to be a worthy advocate and does his best to settle the estate without placing too much of a financial burden on the Wellers. The worlds of finance and law are still largely foreign to the Wellers, who get swept up in the whirlwind of settling Mrs. Weller’s accounts.
Themes
At Flasher’s office, Pell and Flasher fill out the necessary forms. After some delays and interruptions, the transaction is completed, and Mr. Weller receives a cheque for £530, the proceeds of Mrs. Weller’s investments. Sam’s £200 is also securely transferred to his name. Mr. Weller initially insists on receiving the cheque in gold sovereigns, but he relents after Pell and Flasher persuade him that carrying such a large sum in coins would be impractical. Instead, he accepts five-pound notes. With their business settled, Mr. Weller and Sam part ways with Pell and the others. Then, the father and son decide to head back to the George and Vulture Inn, as they look forward to a celebratory drink.
Although Sam and Mr. Weller are far from rich, Mrs. Weller’s investments give them more money than they have ever had in their lives. Mr. Weller’s request for gold sovereigns demonstrates that he does not know how to handle such a sum of money. Instead of focusing too much on the details, the son and father duo return to the George and Vulture Inn, where drinking once again serves as a valuable ritual, strengthening the men’s bond.
Themes
