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Chapter 6
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 following morning, Pickwick wakes up feeling refreshed, and he admires the scenery from his window. Soon, Wardle interrupts him and invites him to join in rook shooting. Pickwick quickly gets ready and joins Wardle, who tells him that Winkle will also be shooting. Though Winkle has claimed to be a good shot, Pickwick is unsure, having never seen him in action.
Once again, the novel’s initial suggestion that Winkle is a great sportsman proves to be untrue. In reality, it seems that Winkle is perhaps the least equipped sportsman in the group, though he likes the idea of calling himself a sportsman, nonetheless.
Themes
When Snodgrass and Tupman are ready, everyone heads to the rookery, where Wardle successfully shoots a bird. However, when it’s Winkle’s turn, he fumbles with the gun, and when he does finally shoot, he accidentally hits Tupman in the arm. Chaos ensues as the group bandages Tupman and help him back to the house. The ladies, waiting at the garden gate, are shocked, especially Rachael, who becomes hysterical at the sight of Tupman’s injury. She fawns over him as they take him inside, where the doctor confirms the injury is minor. Still, Rachael remains overly concerned.
Winkle’s failed shot and Tupman’s injury encapsulate the motif of masculine incompetence borne of pride that recurs throughout the novel, where one misstep throws the entire outing into disarray. Rachael’s exaggerated concern signals the blurring of genuine affection with performative sentiment, complicating her relationship with Tupman. Although this sequence satirizes the pretensions of the Pickwickians, it is ultimately a light critique that ends in farce rather than any sort of serious injury.
Themes
After breakfast, Wardle invites Pickwick, Winkle, and Snodgrass to a cricket match in the nearby town of Muggleton, leaving Tupman in the care of the ladies. They walk to the field, where the match between All-Muggleton and Dingley Dell is about to begin. All-Muggleton dominates the match while Dingley Dell struggles to keep up, ultimately losing by a wide margin. At the match, Pickwick and his friends reunite with the stranger in the green coat, who, when asked his name, introduces himself as Mr. Jingle.
The cricket match offers a structured parallel to the earlier, chaotic rook shooting. However, the reappearance of Mr. Jingle suggests that order will not last for long, as he is sure to cause trouble. However, at least for the moment, this is another instance of unadulterated male bonding, during which time everyone is having an excellent time, regardless of the score of the match.
Themes
After the cricket match, the group heads to the Blue Lion Inn for a celebratory dinner. The atmosphere is jovial as they gather around the table with the members of the Dingley Dell and All-Muggleton teams. Jingle, always the center of attention, keeps everyone entertained with his lively banter, telling exaggerated stories about his past adventures, including a particularly wild tale about playing cricket in the West Indies.
The dinner at the Blue Lion Inn showcases Jingle’s gift for storytelling—his exaggerated narratives blur the lines between truth and fiction. This scene also emphasizes the essential role a cooperative and enthusiastic audience plays, with Jingle’s listeners willingly suspending disbelief in favor of shared amusement.
Themes
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As the evening progresses, toasts are made to the victorious team, to the players, and even to the visitors from London. Pickwick and his friends are warmly welcomed, and the camaraderie between the locals and their guests strengthens over drinks and shared stories. The conversation flows freely, with the group enjoying a hearty meal of cold meats, pies, and ale. Eventually, as the dinner draws to a close, the company bursts into song, singing, “We won’t go home ‘till morning.”
The toasts and songs at the dinner reflect the performative nature of social rituals, where speech and music help to create a shared sense of belonging. The communal enjoyment of food and drink emphasizes attention to the sensory pleasures that shape social experiences. The spontaneous singing at the end of the evening suggests a release of social inhibitions, reinforcing the temporary escape that characterizes the Pickwickians’ travels.
Themes
