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Chapter 7
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
Back at the farm, Tupman’s romantic feelings for Rachael continue to grow. Unlike the younger women, Rachael’s dignified manner and air of majesty captivate Tupman, leading him to believe that there is a deeper connection between them. His affection for her deepens after she shows concern for him when he is injured, and Tupman becomes determined to confirm whether her feelings match his own.
Tupman’s attraction to Rachael reflects his tendency to idealize women, mistaking kindness for deeper emotional connection. His fascination with her reveals an element of self-delusion, where he romanticizes her concern over his injury as evidence of affection.
Themes
One evening, with the rest of the household either out or preoccupied, Tupman and Rachael find themselves alone in the garden. Taking this chance, Tupman professes his love for her, calling her an angel and expressing his admiration. Rachael admits that she is in love with Tupman as well. In response, Tupman embraces her and kisses her passionately. A servant boy, Joe, interrupts their moment of passion to announce that dinner is served. Tupman, suspicious that Joe might have seen more than he lets on, questions him, but Rachael reassures Tupman that he did not see or hear anything.
The secluded garden setting aligns with literary conventions of romantic confession, where private spaces allow emotions to surface without social interference. Tupman’s language elevates his romantic experience to an almost fantastical level, suggesting that he is more invested in the idea of love than in Rachael herself. Joe’s interruption disrupts this idyllic moment, grounding the encounter back in reality.
Themes
Later that night, Pickwick, Wardle, and the other men return from their day at the cricket match, clearly drunk. Jingle introduces himself to everyone at the farm, charming the women with his easy conversation and tales of the day’s events. As the men are escorted to bed, Racheal finds herself increasingly attracted to Jingle’s wit and charisma. Tupman, noticing Jingle’s popularity with the women, especially with Rachael, begins to feel jealousy creeping in. Indeed, Tupman is right to worry, as Jingle also has a romantic interest in Rachael.
Jingle’s entrance injects tension into the developing romance between Tupman and Rachael. His charm is a destabilizing force, effortlessly shifting the attention of the women toward him and exposing Tupman’s insecurities. Rachael’s attraction to Jingle contrasts with her earlier intimacy with Tupman, complicating the romantic dynamics at play.
Themes
The next morning, Jingle overhears Joe telling Wardle’s mother about Tupman and Rachael’s romantic encounter in the garden. Seizing the opportunity, Jingle approaches Rachael and warns her that Tupman may not be as sincere as he seems. Jingle insinuates that Tupman’s affections are actually directed towards her niece, Emily. Jingle tells Rachael to keep an eye on how Tupman interacts with Emily. Then, when alone with Tupman, Jingle tells Tupman to focus all of his attention on Emily because Wardle’s mother does not approve of Tupman’s relationship with Rachael. Thinking that he is doing the right thing, Tupman begins ignoring Rachael at dinner and only speaking to Emily instead. Because Jingle has lied to her, Rachael assumes that Tupman really is more interested in Emily, which infuriates her.
Jingle’s manipulation exposes how easily appearances can be twisted to create misunderstanding. His intervention between Rachael and Tupman is in line with his general tendency to exploit others’ vulnerabilities for his own amusement and gain. As a result, both Tupman and Rachael quickly abandon their earlier connection based on circumstantial evidence. Jingle’s betrayal is especially hurtful given the value the Pickwickians put on male friendship. Tupman assumes that, although Jingle might cause trouble from time to time, he would never explicitly undercut his friends. Unfortunately, this proves to be a faulty assumption.
Themes
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