Nicholas Nickleby: Chapters 37 - 48

[Claudia]

I would like to share a few thoughts on Newman Noggs:

Newman Noggs is, in my opinion, a projection of the omniscient narrator. He is a seemingly insignificant, at times funny, even precarious character who nevertheless enjoys a strategic position as Ralph Nickleby's secretary. The etymology of secretary means at first bearer of secrets.

He has been present from the very beginning of the novel without seeming to be too omnipresent either. The fact that he furtively gave a letter to Nicholas when the latter was heading to Yorkshire hinted that Noggs would be perhaps more invisibly significant than he first seemed to be.

Just like the narrator, he is in possession of information relating first of all to his work with Ralph, some of which is the result of his observations or encounters outside. As readers, we may or may not share some information: the closet episode is a perfect illustration of this (we know as much as Newman does), while the encounter with a beggar - is it the mysterious Brooker? -remains a mystery (Newman knows more than we do). We were left not knowing where the two of them were headed at the end of chapter 44. These episodes illustrated how much the narrator feels free to reveal or to keep yet undisclosed.

In his at times farcical way, Noggs illustrates perhaps also the theatrical and atypical side of Dickens.

[Connie]

Claudia wrote: "I would like to share a few thoughts on Newman Noggs:

Newman Noggs is, in my opinion, a projection of the omniscient narrator. He is a seemingly insignificant, at times funny, even precarious char..."

I like your thoughts about Newman, Claudia. He gives the characters, especially Nicholas, much needed information. Whenever he appears, the reader knows to slow down since something important is happening. I hope Dickens gives this flawed, warm-hearted man some happiness!

[Peter]

Claudia wrote: "I would like to share a few thoughts on Newman Noggs:

Newman Noggs is, in my opinion, a projection of the omniscient narrator. He is a seemingly insignificant, at times funny, even precarious char..."

Claudia

I enjoyed reading your comments on Newman Noggs very much. Of all the characters in the novel he is certainly a central focus of knowledge and insight regarding other characters in the novel.

As Connie mentioned above, I too hope he is rewarded for his honesty, integrity, and friendship within the Nickleby sphere of characters.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Claudia wrote: "Newman Noggs is, in my opinion, a projection of the omniscient narrator ..."

What an interesting and appealing view, Claudia 😊 I like the examples you give - and did not know the etymology of secretary (even though it's still there in the root of the word!)

Newman Noggs is such an intriguing character. As you say, he has been present since very near the beginning, since he was the first to show Nicholas any friendship by handing the message to him on the coach to Dotheboys Hall. He knew what was likely to be in store for any presentable young man sent there, but held his own counsel. We see Noggs doing this quite often. He is rarely in the heat of the action, but has played a big part in enabling it. Where could Nicholas have gone when he escaped from Dotheboys Hall, if not to Noggs?

Another point that supports your view is how often Noggs is "the watcher". Charles Dickens uses this device quite a lot, to move the action on. It might simply be Noggs in the next room or outer office, or it might be Kate on the other side of a screen from the Mantalinis. But the most blatant example of it so far in this novel is when Noggs is stuck in a closet with his pocket pistol, listening in to the crucial conversation between his employer and Arthur Gride (ch 47). A lot of action will result from this knowledge.

Here Nogg's presence serves to tell us the details, so yes, I can see him as an omniscient presence, although actually when Charles Dickens writes a character eavesdropping, I think of this more as the author himself! We are sharing his thoughts.

In Bleak House (which I think you read with us Claudia, though not for the first time) we discussed how one characters linked all the others, or their story arcs, in that they either played a part, or told about one part to another character, or knew of it. This was (view spoiler)[ Jo, the crossing sweeper (hide spoiler)]. In each case it is someone who is always there, but perhaps not a major character in the accepted sense.

(Though having said that, I find it difficult to sort people into the conventional groups of "main" and "secondary" characters when reading Charles Dickens, because so often when I am reading about an individual, it is their story which I am interested in! He even has mini-stories for cameos who appear and disappear in a couple of pages.)

Perhaps Newman Noggs, with his intriguing name, is an early version of a character like this. An individual, so not exactly a Greek chorus, but one who stands apart, judges and in Noggs's case facilitates knowingly, without apparently being involved.

It will be interesting to see if he is indeed present in the final quarter of the novel, to link all our threads, and hopefully have a happy ending for himself. He deserves it after entertaining us with the quips when he "speaks his mind" to Ralph Nickleby, as well as embodying the values we all respect, as Connie and Peter have said.

(Sorry to reply a couple of days late, but I wanted to do so fully, so needed the end of an installment!)

[Claudia]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Claudia wrote: "Newman Noggs is, in my opinion, a projection of the omniscient narrator ..."

What an interesting and appealing view, Claudia 😊 I like the examples you give - and did not know the e..."

You added great details, Jean!

Indeed I have read Bleak House last year, following your wonderful posts and discussions after each chapter! I fully agree that (view spoiler)[Jo (hide spoiler)] belongs to those special characters who have a central position even if they do not look like "main characters". This is actually the genius of Dickens and of other great writers to make us wonder who are really the "main" characters and the "secondary" one!

[Betsie]

I have been lurking throughout this discussion, but I haven't commented because it has been too long since I read this book for me to remember what happens in each chapter, and I can't dedicate time to rereading it right now, but I am impressed by everyone's comments, and the discussions going on. Kudos to everyone for that! I love to see people appreciating the classics enough to discuss them in depth.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Betsie! 😁 It's great to see that you're enjoying the threads, and thank you so much for telling us. Maybe you will feel like adding a bit at the end, or after a daily summary if something strikes a chord in your memory ...

Anyway, I'm so pleased you've posted, as I can see that others are reading a thread, but am never sure who! I do hope you'll be able to join in live when you have some time. Perhaps our end of year read would suit you better? A novella is so much shorter, and we spend a whole month on it 😊

[Bonnie]

Chapter 37, Nicholas finds further Favour in the eyes of the Brothers Cheeryble and Mr Timothy Linkinwater.

1. What does this mean about a fat swan?
To these he [NN] applied himself with such steadiness and perseverance that, although he brought no greater amount of previous knowledge to the subject than certain dim recollections of two or three very long sums entered into a cyphering-book at school, and relieved for parental inspection by the effigy of a fat swan tastefully flourished by the writing-master’s own hand, he found himself, at the end of a fortnight, in a condition to report his proficiency to Mr Linkinwater, and to claim his promise that he, Nicholas Nickleby, should now be allowed to assist him in his graver labours.

2. Apoplectic
At the birthday dinner for Tim Linkinwater, several times it is mentioned that the butler is or appears apoplectic. Nowadays that would mean angry, frustrated. It could also mean, on the verge of having a stroke. Neither of those fits in with the jovial birthday gathering, though. Did Apoplectic have another meaning?

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Hi Bonnie,

1. Nicholas is doodling! Because he finds doing sums boring, he thinks that when his parents come to look at his work, they will too. So he draws a picture of a fat swan to decorate his work.

2. Your meanings of apoplexy are correct. The butler was getting a bit agitated, and Charles Dickens uses "apopleptic" to exaggerate his behaviour, for effect.

[Bonnie]

Thanks for the answers. Doodling!
And the butler wasn't upset, maybe he was more very anxious that the dinner goes well.

[Bonnie]

Kelly wrote: "Jean, your ~information posts on 'Victorian Gentlemen' and 'Victorian rules of etiquette' for the previous two days, and the 'Victorian pregnancy' one just before~ were VERY helpful. I enjoyed every word. Thank you so much for the continued information that is making my read of this book much richer than it would have been on my own."

Ditto, Very Helpful!


‘He brought me; oh! he brought me,’ cried Smike.
‘Brout thee!’ replied John. ‘Why didn’t ’ee punch his head, or lay theeself doon and kick, and squeal out for the pollis? I’d ha’ licked a doozen such as him when I was yoong as thee. But thee be’est a poor broken-doon chap,’ said John, sadly,’ and God forgi’ me for bragging ower yan o’ his weakest creeturs.’

Poor Smike, so traumatized.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Bonnie wrote: "Thanks for the answers. Doodling!
And the butler wasn't upset, maybe he was more very anxious that the dinner goes well."

Yes, exactly - agitated. Glad to help, Bonnie!

"Poor Smike, so traumatized."

Smike is indeed a poor soul.

[Bonnie]

Omnibus

This was in earlier chapters, but I've been wondering what an omnibus looked like. Mrs Nickleby rode in one; Nicholas and Mr Cheerybly rode in one; and Mrs LaCreevy rode in one.

They have an entry in Wikipedia, with a drawing (2/3 down the page) of an 1829 London Omnibus by George Shillibear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsebu...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsebus

[Bonnie]

Two minor questions.

Chapter 47 - I always like seeing those other sets of illustrations. Why, in the later years, did the illustrator not show Newman Noggs in the closet, listening to Ralph Nickleby and Gride? That seems so dramatic, why not show it?

Chapter 44 - Why would Ralph not have been in a coach before? OK, maybe he was miserly and tries to walk places, save a few pounds. But what if it was raining, or he had to go somewhere very far?

‘Good,’ rejoined Ralph. ‘Get me a coach.’
‘A coach! What you – going to – Eh?’ stammered Newman. Ralph angrily repeated his orders, and Noggs, who might well have been excused for wondering at such an unusual and extraordinary circumstance – for he had never seen Ralph in a coach in his life – departed on his errand, and presently returned with the conveyance.

[Bonnie]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Smike is indeed a poor soul."

They didn't use the word 'trauma' for that back then, in the psychological sense. But the way Dickens describes it, how John Browdie talks about Smike, is definitely describing the phenomenon.
Trauma + Learned Helplessness.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Thank you for the link to historical omnibus information Bonnie. A book you might enjoy is The Victorian City: Everyday Life in Dickens' London by Judith Flanders, which we have had as a side read. It is packed with details such as this.

I'm pleased you enjoyed the extra illustrations. Re. your question about ch 47:

The original illustrator Hablot Knight Browne had no choice about what to illustrate. Charles Dickens specified both the scene and some of the details, and checked the work before it went to press. He regularly rejected one e.g. once an armchair Phiz drew was not to his liking! However the later illustrators I have included had a free choice as to what they illustrated, so it was a personal choice.

ch 44:
Ralph was not only miserly, but very secretive about his operations. He would not usually want his clerk to know where he had been, so it is quite likely that Noggs would never have seen him in any sort of conveyance.

Yes - good observation that Smike is suffering from trauma when he is captured, even though the condition was not termed this. It is noticeable throughout Charles Dickens's works that he describes behaviour and medical conditions precisely, sometimes even before they were given a name (and a few, e.g. "Pickwickian syndrome" have even been named after his characters.)

[Plateresca]

It's so nice of you, Jean, to give such thorough answers to readers' questions.

These chapters have been such page-turners!

Yes, the way Smike was captured by Squeers very much reminded me of a situation in 'Oliver Twist', so I thought it would develop in the same way... but not quite :)
Poor Smike! Nicholas says just a few words about his state at the end of the last installment in this thread, but these words are so poignant, we understand he's in an extreme stage of suffering, so the way Mrs Crummles is so little affected by it seems a bit callous.

The Cecilia Bobster situation looks very Pickwickian to me.

Mrs Nickleby's admirer reminded me of Mr Dick, too (Kathleen noted the resemblance), but Mr Dick was quiet and gentle, and this gentleman and his vegetables are a bit ostentatious :) I wonder if Christie meant this about Poirot in a similar situation... Probably, he wasn't the most modest of detectives!

Miss Knag was... not nice to Kate, but she seems to have been a good enough friend to Mrs Mantalini. Granted, she likely profits from the Mantalini separation, but I guess she could also just leave them to their little games and go find employment in another place, or open her own establishment, couldn't she? Anyway, I cheered for her alliance with Madame Mantalini.

Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the skin. It could well be a complication of the cut on the face. It would be treated with antibiotics now; I wonder what they did then, probably applied herbal poultices? Anyway, I am not sure that a French doctor would necessarily be better at treating this than an English one (although I might be wrong here), and travelling could hardly be a good idea for such a patient, so my guess is, Lord Frederick decided to take his friend away to make him forget about his revengeful schemes.

I liked it that Noggs, poor as he was, actually found something to share with the mysterious beggar (probably Brooker)! Obviously, he was rewarded with some interesting information.

I'm afraid that Mr Bray is an ass :)

Yikes, Arthur Gride is gross! Really, I think 'NN' might have the worst villains in all of Dickens's novels, especially if judged collectively.

Huh, this does seem to be the last appearance of Mr Crummles, although we also know that a person can have multiple last appearances :)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Plateresca wrote: "The Cecilia Bobster situation looks very Pickwickian to me ..."

Oh yes! It is, isn't it 😆

I'm afraid I don't like Miss Knag at all (as a person, I mean. As a character she's pure gold!)

Great parallel with the neighbour and Poirot's ostentatiousness!

"my guess is, Lord Frederick decided to take his friend away to make him forget about his revengeful schemes." Something like that does sound more likely, doesn't it?

"I think 'NN' might have the worst villains in all of Dickens's novels, especially if judged collectively." You might have something there! The sheer variety of villains is astonishing. And Gride is certainly the most grotesque villain I can think of.

In fact I love all your comments Plateresca, and you are making me want to read this all over again, even though it was so recent.

[Plateresca]

Ha, I know this feeling! :)

Thank you, you're very kind :)

[Plateresca]

Bionic Jean wrote: "I'm afraid I don't like Miss Knag at all (as a person, I mean. As a character she's pure gold!)"
It has occurred to me that she flattered Mrs Mantalini in a way not totally dissimilar to Mr Mantalini's: '“<...> Of all the ready humour,” I say to the young ladies, “I ever heard, Madame Mantalini’s is the most remarkable—hem. It is so gentle, so sarcastic, and yet so good-natured (as I was observing to Miss Simmonds only this morning), that how, or when, or by what means she acquired it, is to me a mystery indeed.”’
But Miss Knag is much less likely to cheat on Mrs Mantalini or to squander the money, so I think they have a good chance of living happily ever after :)

(How one can be sarcastic and good-natured at the same time is another matter! :))

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

LOL Plateresca - and I forgot to say how much I appreciated your observation that Walter Bray is an ass! 😆