The Pickwick Papers

by

Charles Dickens

Nathaniel Winkle Character Analysis

Nathaniel Winkle is one of the original members of the Pickwick Club. He is known for his enthusiasm for sports and outdoor activities, despite his lack of skill or experience. Winkle often presents himself as an accomplished sportsman, but his attempts at activities like hunting and ice skating typically end in disaster. His clumsiness and tendency to overestimate his abilities has a certain charm, even if he does end up looking like a bumbling fool much of the time. Toward the end of the novel, Winkle becomes romantically involved with Arabella Allen, whom he initially pursues in secret because he does not want to anger Benjamin Allen, Arabella’s brother, or his father, Winkle Sr. However, with the help of Pickwick, Winkle’s marriage is ultimately a success, and everyone involved ends up happy.

Nathaniel Winkle Quotes in The Pickwick Papers

The The Pickwick Papers quotes below are all either spoken by Nathaniel Winkle or refer to Nathaniel Winkle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Male Friendship Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

Mr Pickwick observed (says the Secretary) that fame was dear to the heart of every man. Poetic fame was dear to the heart of his friend Snodgrass, the fame of conquest was equally dear to his friend Tupman; and the desire of earning fame, in the sports of the field, the air, and the water, was uppermost in the breast of his friend Winkle. He (Mr Pickwick) would not deny, that he was influenced by human passions, and human feelings, (cheers) – possibly by human weaknesses – (loud cries of “No”); but this he would say, that if ever the fire of self-importance broke out in his bosom the desire to benefit the human race in preference, effectually quenched it. The praise of mankind was his Swing; philanthropy was his insurance office. (Vehement cheering.)

Related Characters: Samuel Pickwick (speaker), Nathaniel Winkle, Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass
Related Symbols: The Pickwick Club
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 47 Quotes

‘She’s a very charming and delightful creature,’ quoth Mr Robert Sawyer, in reply; ‘and has only one fault that I know of, Ben. It happens unfortunately, that that single blemish is a want of taste. She don’t like me.’

‘It’s my opinion that she don’t know what she does like,’ said Mr Ben Allen, contemptuously.

‘Perhaps not,’ remarked Mr Bob Sawyer. ‘But it’s my opinion that she does know what she doesn’t like, and that’s of even more importance.’

‘I wish,’ said Mr Ben Allen, setting his teeth together, and speaking more like a savage warrior who fed upon raw wolf’s flesh which he carved with his fingers, than a peaceable young gentleman who eat minced veal with a knife and fork – ‘I wish I knew whether any rascal really has been tampering with her, and attempting to engage her affections. I think I should assassinate him, Bob.’

Related Characters: Bob Sawyer (speaker), Benjamin Allen (speaker), Nathaniel Winkle, Arabella Allen
Page Number: 633
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 49 Quotes

‘The fact is, Mr Pickwick, that when I gave my son a roving license for a year or so to see something of men and manners (which he has done under your auspices), so that he might not enter into life a mere boarding-school milksop to be gulled by every body, I never bargained for this. He knows that very well, so if I withdraw my countenance from him on this account, he has no call to be surprised. He shall hear from me, Mr Pickwick. Good night, Sir. Margaret, open the door.’

Related Characters: Winkle Sr. (speaker), Samuel Pickwick, Nathaniel Winkle, Bob Sawyer, Benjamin Allen, Arabella Allen
Page Number: 673
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Pickwick Papers LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Pickwick Papers PDF

Nathaniel Winkle Quotes in The Pickwick Papers

The The Pickwick Papers quotes below are all either spoken by Nathaniel Winkle or refer to Nathaniel Winkle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Male Friendship Theme Icon
).
Chapter 1 Quotes

Mr Pickwick observed (says the Secretary) that fame was dear to the heart of every man. Poetic fame was dear to the heart of his friend Snodgrass, the fame of conquest was equally dear to his friend Tupman; and the desire of earning fame, in the sports of the field, the air, and the water, was uppermost in the breast of his friend Winkle. He (Mr Pickwick) would not deny, that he was influenced by human passions, and human feelings, (cheers) – possibly by human weaknesses – (loud cries of “No”); but this he would say, that if ever the fire of self-importance broke out in his bosom the desire to benefit the human race in preference, effectually quenched it. The praise of mankind was his Swing; philanthropy was his insurance office. (Vehement cheering.)

Related Characters: Samuel Pickwick (speaker), Nathaniel Winkle, Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass
Related Symbols: The Pickwick Club
Page Number: 17
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 47 Quotes

‘She’s a very charming and delightful creature,’ quoth Mr Robert Sawyer, in reply; ‘and has only one fault that I know of, Ben. It happens unfortunately, that that single blemish is a want of taste. She don’t like me.’

‘It’s my opinion that she don’t know what she does like,’ said Mr Ben Allen, contemptuously.

‘Perhaps not,’ remarked Mr Bob Sawyer. ‘But it’s my opinion that she does know what she doesn’t like, and that’s of even more importance.’

‘I wish,’ said Mr Ben Allen, setting his teeth together, and speaking more like a savage warrior who fed upon raw wolf’s flesh which he carved with his fingers, than a peaceable young gentleman who eat minced veal with a knife and fork – ‘I wish I knew whether any rascal really has been tampering with her, and attempting to engage her affections. I think I should assassinate him, Bob.’

Related Characters: Bob Sawyer (speaker), Benjamin Allen (speaker), Nathaniel Winkle, Arabella Allen
Page Number: 633
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 49 Quotes

‘The fact is, Mr Pickwick, that when I gave my son a roving license for a year or so to see something of men and manners (which he has done under your auspices), so that he might not enter into life a mere boarding-school milksop to be gulled by every body, I never bargained for this. He knows that very well, so if I withdraw my countenance from him on this account, he has no call to be surprised. He shall hear from me, Mr Pickwick. Good night, Sir. Margaret, open the door.’

Related Characters: Winkle Sr. (speaker), Samuel Pickwick, Nathaniel Winkle, Bob Sawyer, Benjamin Allen, Arabella Allen
Page Number: 673
Explanation and Analysis: