STRUCTURE IN CHARLES DICKENS'

by

JENNIE RUTH OILLINCHAin, B.A.

A THESIS IN

ENGLISH

Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of Taxaa Technological Collage in Partial Tulfillmant of tha Requirements for the Degree of WASTER OF ARTS

Approved

Accepted

August,^!966 T3

ACKNOWLEOGnCNT

I am indebted to Professor Roger Leon Brooks for the ti«e and helpful crltlcisB he gave in directing this theeie*

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"• STUOCTSIC^^^** or cwtaTiMMii, Bunnc

"^' iiSrSffiS!^ eowctATco WITH m MCRO^S

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iii CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

G. K. Chesterton states that Charles Dickens* writing of Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nicklebv, first published in monthly numbers in 1838«39, **coincided with . . . [Dickena] resolution to be a great novelist and his final belief that he could be one.**''' Chaatarton also as­ sarts that **it would be easy enough for Dickens, inataad of publishing 'Nicholas Nicklaby,* to have published a book of sketches, one of which was called *A Yorkshire School,' another of which was called 'A Provincial Theatre,' and another called *Sir Mulberry Hawk or High Life Re­ vealed,* and another called 'Plrs. Nicklaby or A Lady*8 monologue.' . • • But he did turn away from this, and tha turning-point is 'Nicholas Nicklaby.'** As a "turning- point** from a **book of akatchaa,** it is Dickens' **fir8t romantic novel bacauaa it is his first novel with a proper and dignified romantic hero; which meana, of course, a vary chivalrous young donkey** who **has no psychology,** and **not even any particular character.** On the other hand, Chesterton's defense of the book includes the *'romantic quality** in Dickens' manner of writing as a part of "the

^Charles Dickens, »«Introd.,*' Nicholas Nicklebv. Every­ man's Ed., (New York, 1957), p. viii. Subsequent refer­ ences to this edition will appear in tha text. iffer'-^'.

2

ilUliMiilyt MtUe eetieietly feeeeteh has been done

'^ • ^lihftliii -1^^^^^^*^" 11^^ ^* ^^i^*^ ^^* aeetoely tefleote Mr r«v«ttWLe tiMit fivtm iHe euttierU attietiii Hmndlliig if iiie neirel* IMm pmpmw ia en etteaifit to ehe« a note itiiitie tteetMHit tNifi has feitefvXly been ettributed te tUiilpia* '•iciiiMiii method" (p« ii) in the Mtteir of etttie« titte end eeftttln tallied ooaponente of fora (insofar as tNiy ate atf«M3tuvally da¥iaed)t ^ointa witli ishieh aoat «titi«i pattioiilafly find fault* Thyot atttietute herein $M bfoedened to inelinto othat eleaenta aa aeli aa the baaie

Ratardleaa of the eoaplex and Incidental nature of Iflia early work of Dloleenat there la dearly a atruoture to the plot Mliioh ahowa a definite applieation of crafta* iMliiehip* Tha plot enooapaaaea a two^fold diffieulty feeing the hero^ young Nieholaa Nicklabyt it praaanta and re- aeXvea lioth a major conflict and a problam; the major con- fliet ia the tension between Nicholas and his Uncle Ralph, a conflict in peraonalitiaai in viewpoints, and in ultimate aiaa; Nioholaa* problem is in securing a respoctable and aubatantial meana for supporting himself and members of his household* An inportant statement, axprasaad early in the story by the deriaiva unola who is positive that tha youth­ ful Nioholaa will never proapar favorably, offers a key to the forthooning action and counteractiont **'! say,** 3 repeated flalpNt tartly^ *lat hia get that aituation, and liie fottune ia aade* If he donH like that, let his get one for hiaaalf • ttfithout ftimntint aoney, reeoaaandation, or knowledfa af buaineaa of any kindf let hia find honeat ••filoysent in London which aili keep hia in ahoe leathert iMd 1*11 give hia a thouaarid pounda. At Xaaatt* aaid Mr» flalph Nieklabyt aheeking hiaaalft *I would if I had it*" (p« 2T). Tha min plot followa Nioholaa* adventuroua tfiala and aohleveaenta• Along tha road to hia final auoaeaa^ Nieholaa aoNuitaa experienee and helpful frienda deapita NalphH predietion and daepite Ralph*8 handieappinfi aeta of rapriaal* • HJ CHAPTCR XI

TNC APPLICATION or CQNVCNTIONAL ONANATIC STRUCTURC

* / '••'' .' ' TiMi plat of fip^ol^a Nioklafav ean be dividad into tHe oafieral aleaanta wliieh rapraaent eonvantianal draaatie attaotura* Thia aafmat af analyxing«M»ihat ia# dateraiaing '¥•" tlia aatarial wliiali aariraa aa iattadaatlaAi rlalng aatlang aliaaa, faXlino aatiant and daaouaaant^-answara aaveral parpoaeat it effete a auaaatien of tha prinaipal thread of tha atoryi it fataiahaa aoat of the aajet eheraetariia* tiona and aotivationa aaaantial to tha ploti it indieatea tha awapaaaaful aapaet of tha atoryi it apaaifiaally awb« ataatiataa tha atruoture in tha novel* Tlia introduatien, elaborated upon eonaidarably be«> eauae of oharaater delineatiana and pertinent information pfaliainaty to an underatanding of tha atory» givaa the baaia far tha finaneial plight of the hero and tha eonflict between the hero end hie antagoniat* Tha beginning chapter, which Oiokena taraa "Introduoaa All tha Rest,** ia a brief deacriptiva aooount of tha iaaadiate forebaara of the praa- ant Niekleby atook and tha riaa and fall in their fortunes. Thia background furniahaa the euthor the means of illuai- neting Ralph*a aalf-interest and practice of profiteble uaury and of indioating the contrasting inefficiency of hie younger brother in money matters. In so doing, Dickens explaina the reaaon for tha removal of tha hero, his aother, and his sister from Devonshire to London and Ralph's area of influence.

At one time the parents of Ralph and Nicholas, Sr. were poor, but an opulent uncle willed them his property. From the mother's recitals of trials during tha father's impoverishment, Ralph had "deduced from tha often-repeated tela the two great morals that riches ara tha only true source of happinasa and power, and that it ia lawful and Just to compaas their acquisition by all maans short of felony•** Ralph'a early soliloquies included tha idea that tha rich uncle had enjoyed the money **'for ha had tha pleaaure of thinking of it all hia life long, and of being envied and courted by all his family baaidas.'** Tha modal of the uncle who enjoyed money and the idea that privation should be avoided premise Ralph'a future actions. In fur­ thering the explanation of Ralph'a adult habits, Dickens tells that Ralph practiced usury aa a schoolboy, parceling out marbles and slate-pencila '*at good intaraat ... and gradually extending his operations until they aspired to the coppar coinage of hia realm, ... hia simple rule of interest being all comprised in tha one golden sentence, 'two-pence for every half-penny'*' (p. 3). The accumulation of wealth and power becomes the ruling force in Ralph's life, and tha populace of London becomes tha pray for his extensive operations.

A brief acena in the aacond chapter enlarges the characterization of Ralph dramatically as ha leaves 6 instructions with his dark Noggs and makes revealing comments to a business friend. Ralph is now a man of sub­ stance and influence and an astute obaervar of humanity who connives to advance his hold on people through their slighteat waakneaaea. Noggs, who will baoome Nicholas' chief ministering angel and the author's vahicla for tha tranafar of information between tha uncla and nephew, had once lived aa a gentleman of meana, but ha now suffers tha ignominy of serving Ralph. Ralph's description of Noggs to the other ^man of business** discloaaa that Noggs ia a pro­ duct and an example of Ralph'a crafty practicest *" . . . not many years ago aithar; ... ha squandered his money, invested it anyhow, borrowed at interest, and in short made first a thorough fool of himaelf, and then a beggar. Ha took to drinking and had a touch of paralysis, and then came hare to borrow a pound'**; and after Ralph acknowledges that ha would not than make a loan to Noggs aa he had in former days, ha oontinuaa, **'But as I wanted a clerk Just then, to open tha door and so forth, I took him out of charity, and he has remainad with ma aver since. He is a little mad, I think, . • • but he ia useful enough, poor creature—useful enough'**} and Dickens states ironically that tha '*kind-heartad gentleman omitted to add that Newman Noggs, being utterly destitute, served him for rather less than tha uaual wages of a boy of thirteen; and likeuiisa failed to mention in his hasty chronicle, that hia acoan- tric taciturnity rendered him an especially valuable person 7 in a place where much business was dona of which it was deairabla no mention should be made out of doors*' (pp. 11-

12). The father of Nicholas Niekleby, **who was of a timid and retiring disposition,** presents an opposite per­ sonality to Ralph's. From his mothar^s stories, he decided that "their father's sufferings in his days of poverty, and of their dacaased uncle's importance in his days of afflu­ ence ... ware forawarnings to shun the great world and attach himself to the quiet routine of country life** (p. 3).

Thia trustful, unambitious man, prevailed upon by his wife to speculate unwisely, is ruined financially. In melodra­ matic fashion, Dickens presents the defeated man, succumb­ ing to pride and a broken heart, babbling on hia deathbed

"for a long time, about tha goodnesa and ganeroaity** of his older brother, and commanding his family **to One who never deserted the widow or her fatherless children** (p. 6).

Tha black-bordered letter, announcing tha death of

Nicholas, Sr. and tha arrival of his wife, son, and daugh­ ter in London, evokes angry remonstrances from Ralph which further reveal his personality: **'Reasonable, certainly I

. . . very reasonable I Wy brother never did anything for me, and I never expected it; the breath is no sooner out of hia body than I am to be looked to, as tha support of a great hearty woman, and a grown boy and girl, olhat ara thay to mal I never saw theml'** (p. 19) His comment gives the firat element of the complication and picks out tha 8 laaa af iaMttbility ia tlia faaiiy taiatiaaaiiip. TINI aorda alaa aam tiia laadat %m baaata» ialpti aa^a Ma taiatiaaa at tlia raaidaaaa of a aiaa La Ctaaay* fNia kiadly iitUa paiatat 9f aialatara payitaltat alia taapatatiiy ia Haaataf tlia aiaklaby faaily^ aili fotat alaag aith Nafoa* tba aabtyaaia liaa of alliaa ataaad Nialiaiaa* Tiia acawsraatian ahiab takaa plaaa ba« tmmtm Niaa IA Ctaaay and tiiph iaataaaaa tba aaaaa mt %aa^ aiaa aad tiaiat iatarwit ia ike eoaias aaatinf of tha faaiiy aith Nalpli« Tha firat avalaativa eoaaaata on tlai karat kia aotkatt and kia aiatar ara aiaa La Cvaavy^a ia raapaaaa ta Nalpk^a raitaratad rafaaal ta "'auppert |[hie brother*a faaiiy] in thait axtraaagaaaaa**" Ska raaarka ikat aka haa "'aatking ta aay agaiaat tka lady^ aka ia ax* treaaly piaaaimi and affabia» tkaugk^ poor ikiag^ Nka aeeae tarrikly lea in apiritai nor againat tka yowng paapla ai« tkart for aiaart or better^behavad young paapla eannet be*" (p. 22). Nioholaa» known to tha reader through tha title of the book and aentionad aa the eon of Nieholaa, Sr., ia not preeented in aation until Ralph ooaea to oall. That Oiak* ana raaognixad hia prefatory aaphaaia upon Ralph*a charac­ ter ia evident for he aaaarta on page four that Ralph ia not tka hero of hia atory. Howevert thia witkhelding of infovaatioa and introduotion of the hero until the author haa carefully delineated the antagoniat atiaulataa curioai- ty aa to ahat aort of appearance thia young nan will make 9 iatf^^Mat NilNialia* taaatiaa aiil be taaard tkauaeXa^a taaH '1^ iaaaaaiafit fmlinqm^ It i« aa if tka author kae iHidt *Hkitl lat tkia be a aarpriaat" im%mt ia Niahaiaa^ WBBi^femm^ Ralph*a unayapatkai* iaattitada ^aad oantaapt few hia bretkar^a aant of buaineaa aMaaa aad taialHiit daalk^ fiia irtitatiafly faailiat ra« fataaaa ta Niakalaa aa Hh9 bayt" and hia aaaarinf* aannar it^'tka yoiHiQ paopia^a naad of praatiaal knoaladga in buai« aiaa affaire pravi^a Niakalaa. ' In tavat thia akoa of indapandanea f roa an iapav<* iimit\m4 and inaxpariaaaad youth a^paara aa iapudaaaa and pataaffaenaea to tka auaeaaaful unola* Theugh Ralph^e na« tata indiaataa that ha aould have acornad a aupplioating relatival a faaning naphaa would have anhanoad hia fael«* iag af iaportanoai and the latter type of reaotian froa Niakelaa aould not have inatillad the hatred Relph iaaadi* ataiy davalopa. Ralph*a attitude ia ebvioue in hie ex* ehaaga of words with inra. Nicklaby t "Nioholaa haa not long completed aueh aduoation aa hia poor father could give him," rejoined (Vira. Niekleby, •and ha was thinking of—" "Of making something of him some day,** said Ralph. "Tha old atoryi alwaya thinking, and never doing. If ay brother had been a man of activity and prudence, he eight have left you a rich woman, ma'ami and if he had turned hia eon into tha world, as my father turned aa. when I waan't aa old as that boy by a year and a half, ha would have been in a situation to help you, inataad of being a burden upon you, and incraaaing your diatraaa. my brother was a thoughtless, inconsiderate aani (nra. Nioklaby, and nobody, I am sura, can have batter reason to feel that, than you.** (p. 26) Ralph has no ooncarn whatever for Plrs. Nicklaby*a 10 i&a%iaia# aad it ia avidaat Ikat h9 minta only to rid kiaaalf af tkaaa piwaibia daaaada upon hia tiaa and aonay. iia tafataaaa ia tka aidoa^a iapliad aartyrdea ia kia aiiy aaaaa 9f iafartiag tkat t^iB kae kar beat intareata at heart t Nia* Niakiakyta aaakaaaaaa Iia in kar vanity and in letting kat iaagininga take tka^plaaa of faeta9 thuay "although aha kad daarly iavad her kuakand* aad atill doted on her ohil*- draA« ka had atruak ao auaeaaafully on one of thoee little r Jatviag akatda ia tha huaan heart (Ralph waa wall aaauaint* 94 aith ita aorat aaaknaaaaoi thaugk ha knaa nothing of ita kaat)f that aha kad already begun aarioualy to oonaidar karaalf tha aaiabXe and auffaring viatia of her lata hue* kaiid*a imf^m49t^99* (p« 29). Xatat taOf euffera aowe of tha indignity of Ralph'a diadain. in reaponaa to tha aother'a aitleaa raquaat to Kates "^Tall your unola, ay dear,^ how far you want in frenah and axtraa*"'««a reaark that points up tha unauita- bility of Kata*a aohooling in an induatrialirad sooiaty— Ralph talka of apprenticing Kate to a boarding school, but "a little aoftaned, either by hia niaoa's beauty or her diatraaa (atratch a point, and say the latter)," he adds that "'parhapa draaa-naking or tambour-work will come lighter'" (pp. 25-26). Ralph next begina to allay Nicholas' faelinga of aniaoaity with tha propoaal that Nicholas reply to an ad- vartiaaaent for an aasiatant at a boy's school. His pro- poaition, howavert carriaa an underlying threat to Nicholas aa aaU aa kapa far tka future* It ia here that Nalpk ai^aa tka Maattiant already aitad aa a kay atataaaatt PNt* iaiaiat ta tka aaadarful oppattunity tka eituatian affara aM tka fraitiaaenaaa Bf Niakalaa* aaaroh far a paaitian in MMdaa baeauaa •f kia iaparfaat aMalifiaatioaa. Hitk tka preaiaa tkat Raifii aiix attend to the aalf ara of Kate aad kia aether* Niakalaa* faaay takaa flifkt ia a "tkouaand viaiaaaty idaaa* that kia good apirita and kia iaaapariaaaa aara aaajuring up before kia^* of gainiaa a "haadeoaa ap« paintaant" aith a noblaaan*e eon akoa ha auppaaaa ka aill aaat at tha eahoal» or* aa Ralph augaaatat of riaiag "*ta ka a partner in tka aatabiiahaant • « • if (the aakooiaae* ter] aara to die*" (p* 28). Thie aaeting ia iapertaat in ita iapliaationai ^^ Ralph*a'attitude teaard Kate ia not ae rougk aa it ia te« aarda Niakalaei he reoagaixaa koa to handle the aether through flattery of "kar better underatanding, and • • • kifh deaarta" (p. 29}f ha finda a aay to eliainata Nioholaa through proaiaea to care for the aether and aiatar only if Nieholaa aaeka aaployaant aaay froa Londoni he aohiavea a hold over Nioholaa on hia own taraa* Although Nioholaa* auapioiona and initial antagoniaa are auppraaaed by Ralph'a pledgee of help, the aenaa of iaainant evil ia heightened by the trap that Ralph apparently has prepared. Thua, thia aoane not only harbingera Ralph'a evil intent and hia meth­ od of handling people» but it introduoea tha laeding char- aotara and ahowa reaotiona whioh evidence their faults and 12 aitlaaa# iaai batata Nldkalaa aad Nilpk aoaa ta iaqoita at

• *^ %lm lafaaaa^ Head far ike aekaalaaatar froa Yarkakira^' OlPkaaa kriafa ia taa aara piraonaiitiaa^ Saaaiay aad iqaaafa« 0aa 9f tka aara iapoiptaat paraeaafaa ia tka aoval

^'' • • - •' •. •, . > • ia akpiaara at akaaa aaadaay**youth ata boatdadf aXotkady >. . • i^ . bookad* futaiakad aitk pdakatHiaaayt pravidad aitk all aa« aaaaariaat and iHatimatad** (ti« 27). "ar, Squaar*a [aia] appaaranaa aaa aat prapoaaaaaiag« m had but one my. • « • Tka biaak aide of hia faea aaa auah ariakiad and puakarad ap^ akiah gave kia a vary eiaiatar appaaranaa* aapaaiaiiy akaa ka aailad* at ahieh tiaaa kia^axpraaeioa bordered aioaaly on tka villaineua" (p. 31}• rurtkaraora* kia traataaat of a young boy aha haa been plaead in kia eharge danotaa a erual naturet "Nr* Squeera looked at tha little bay to aae ahather ha waa doing anything ha oould beat hia for* Aa ha happened not to be doing anything at all* he Barely boxed hia aara» and told hia not to do it again" (p* 32). Snawlay then entera with tha intention of placing two boya in Squeera*8 custody, stating hia reaaona aa fol­ lowa i "*you aae I heve aarriad tha mothari . . . it'a ax- penaive keeping boya at hone, and aa aha haa a little aon- ey in her own right, I am afraid ... that aha night be led to aquander it on them, which would be their ruin, you know. . . • And thia* . . . haa made me anxious to put them to aoaa aehool a good diatanca off, where there ara no 13 M^^^$mmm tf Ikaaa iU^iadgad aaainfa kaaa taiaa a yaai |kat aaaattla akildraa^a min49 aa«»«an| akara tkay aay roMik 11 a Mi<^lp'*'nPi« aaapiahaad?*^ (^» 3&) Canauitatien bata^ia tka iaa aaH akaaa ikaa ia parfaat aeaard ragardiag tka ttaaliaat 9f aaallt imaantad boya* Thaaa aaat tao of a kind* aill^latar baaaii Nalpk^a aoePaf»liaea!| and it ia aith the lAdoubtabia Sqaaara that Ralph koa aonapiraa to offer

:«"• •» Niakalaa Hia "•laldan a^Hiiiiity*" (pt 40).^ j< • ^^ ' The yculk* having parauadad hiaaelf thkt he wae wrong te take eff'aaaa at hia unola *i initial adtiona and aaaaar and noa aaaurad of Ralph*a ganeroaity* laavea for Yorkakira and Dotkabeya Mall aith Squaara and tha naa pu* pile on tka folloaiag aoming. Nieholaa ia aaare aa aaon aa ha raaahaa Dothabeya that hia aild aantal pioturee of tha aahool and hia anviaioaad auooaaa ara arong* Tha raad« ar haa already noted that tha gloaing taraa of tha neaapa* par advartiaaaent and tka unale*a anoourageaent augaanted Nieholaa* own iaagiaative ideaa. In addition* Squeera takaa every opportunity to advartiaa verbally hia aehool while onroute to Yorkshire, and Nioholaa overhears these raaarka made to proapaetiva cuatomara. Nioholaa haa axcuead hinta of Squeera*s eharactar and business, but on hia ar­ rival* ha ia no longer in doubt of tha true situation. When he aaes the wretched squalor of tha school, notes the doainaering neannaaa of mra. Squaers (who summarizes her feeling regarding Nicholas' seeming pride and mannerly be­ havior by giving him tha appellation of "Knuokleboy"), and 14 firat views the pupils enmassa» his thoughts crystallize: But tha pupils—the young noblemen S How the last faint traces of hope, the remotest glimmering of any good to be derived from his efforts in this den, faded from the mind of Nicholas as ha looked in dismay around! Pale and haggard faces, lank and bony figures, children with the countenances of old men, deformities with irons up­ on their limbs, boys of stunted growth, and others whose meagre lega would hardly bear their stooping bodies, all crowded on the view togetheri ... what an incip­ ient Hell was breeding here I (p. 89) Uiith thia mute testimony of the cruelty inflicted by the Squeerses plus the sordidneas of his surroundings, Nicholas recognizes that his uncle has betrayed him. He also realizes that • . « others depended too much on his uncle's favour to admit of hia awakening his wrath Just than. One reflection disturbed him far mora than selfish considerations arising out of hia own position. This waa the probable destination of his sister Kate. His uncle had deceived him, and might he not consign her to some miserable place where her youth and beauty would prove a far greater curse than ugliness and decrepitude? To a gagged man, bound hand and foot, this waa a terri­ ble ideal—but no, he thought, hia mother was byi there was the portrait-painter, too— ... He was willing to believe that Ralph Nicklaby had conceived a personal dislike to himself. Having pretty good reason, by this time to reciprocate, he had no great difficulty in ar­ riving at this conclusion, and triad to persuade him­ self that tha feeling extended no farther than between them, (p. 97)

Even though Nicholas heartily dislikes his position as the "aider and abettor of a system which filled him with honest disgust and indignation" (p. 97), ha refrains from leaving for the time being for the saka of his mother and Kate* Dickens' exposition draws to a close as tha accumu­ lative mistreatments of the boys at the school reach thair peak with tha return and subsequent flogging of tha runaway |ailMi« iitaaaaliii tka baatiaot kiakaiaa atrikaa kaak at Iia viaifiia inuaafat aad tka aaapliaaliaa ^ tka attvy ka«» fiaa ia aaiUfftf Tkia aaaurraaaa ia tka aaaitiat farea akiak aiiaaaaa Niakalaa t ftaaiaQ daaiaian ta laavai and kia ratatiatiaa a0iiial ialpk'a aakatt {a ayabai of aliat Nalpk rapiiaaata) far ika ktutal flayiag af.a.dafanaalaaa# kaif* ait lad bay ailNl tka kagimini of auaaaadinf atagaa of aea<» fiiat. ^' Ouriag tka aauraa of avanta up la tka tiaa of Niah«» olaa* final datarainatian to return ta iondaa» Oiekana aa* pkaaiiaa daalraating pointa of viae aonearning the leading ekaraatara I ^' (1) the oold raaaoning w%6 duplieity of the aai^idly aatarialiat and hia ability to ahape neeeaaitiee ahiah eentributa to tha groath of hia wealth and influaneei Nilph'a iaolation froa aoeial bainge axaept in nattara of buaineaai hia noral and apiritual poverty. (2) the dearth of wealth, influenee, and experienee of the innocent Niek­ leby fanilyi their moral and apiritual wealth and eloaa faaiiy tiaa. Thaaa oontraata build a feeling of suapanaa, for tha reader knowa tha faniliar worda, "You ahall not af­ flict any widow or orphan," "Thou ahalt love thy neighbor aa thyself," and "Thou ahalt not covet." Consequently, Ralph*8 arrogant rapacity and inhumanity demand punishment, and Nioholaa' virtue should be rewarded. Thia suspense is eaaantial if intareat in tha action and special problem the euthor ia praaanting ia to be retained.

An intereating obaarvation, however, ia that the 16 evil uncle and good nephew ara "struck from the same mint." At the climax of the story, Dickens refers to the correspondence in appearance between the relativest As tha brother and sister stood side by side, with a gallant bearing which became them wall, a close like­ ness between them was apparent, which many, had they only seen them apart, might have failed to remark. . . . Nora atriking atill, was soma indefinable resemblance in tha face of Ralph, to both. Ulhile thay had never looked more handsome, nor ha more uglyi while they had never held themselves more proudly, nor he shrunk half 80 low| there never had been a time when the reaemblanca was so perceptible, or whan all tha worse characteris­ tics of a face rendered coarse and harsh by evil thoughts wore half so manifest as now. (p. 725) Both Ralph and Nicholas aspire to put a "nickla by" al­ though for different purposesi both show an enterprising disposition} both show a spirit of self-determination, a certain tenacity and tha metallic atrangth of "nickel" in their makeup not indicated in Nicholas' father. Hence, Nicholas, with this streak of perseverance, is equated with an opponent who has no moral code to guide his actions, not even the common one governing fidelity to family. Nicholas finds that he has to reckon with a man who ia completely oblivious to the usual faelinga of love, gratitude, and recognition of human values. Inasmuch aa Ralph is unaware of any other than material valuaa, he is unaware also of the power of goodness and chivalry which will thwart him. Ha is unaware, moreover, of the presence of a filial kinship which will disclose itself suddenly and disrupt his own ordered existence.

The start of the rising action follows the scene 17 akaaaia Niakalaa kaata S^parara and raturna to Londaa and iiipk* Na attivaa in Landoa along aitk Saika ako kae fol- laaad kia^ fraa aafga he finda that naaa of hia aationa, ariltaa Nalpk by faMiy Squeera, praaadea hia. Niakelaa dafaada kiaaelf againat the aaaggaratad aoeuaation of tka iquaaraaa ta kia aother and Kate in Nalpk^a praaanaa. aiakaiaa* return aad explanatione only anger Ralph. Te ap* paaaa Nalpk in order to retain hia help for the aother and aiatart tha pauperised youth again oonaanta to leave Lon* daa« ynknaaa ta NiaholaOf Kate hee begun aork at a draaaaakiag aatabiiahaant where tka aarthleaa, extravagant kuakaad of the aanar alyly ahoaa an intareet in tka: lovely girl* 8ke kae abtainad thia poaition, juat aa Nieholaa got kia taaoking paaitian, through RalphU influenee. Pare ia* partaatf hoaavert ie the faet that Kate haa auffered in- eulte froa aan«about«taan at Ralph'a dinner party tka evening before Nieholaa* return. Ralph had invited hia niaea aa an attraetion ta the aen whoa ha hoped would bor­ row hie aoney at high intareat rataa. Nieholaa, activated by love and oonoem for hie faaiiy, therefore, yielde to Ralph'e inaiatenoe, unaware of the threat to Kata*s happi* naaa and aalfara. Nioholaa haa hia aother, aiatar, tha frail Saika, aad kiaaalf to aoneider. Beceuae of hia ooapaeaion for the boy, Saike ia noa hia eoapanion and eharge. Nioholaa* die* aauraging axparienae in trying to find a Job in tha crowded. 18 impersonal London area makes him further receptive to the idea of seeking his livelihood elsewhere. So, he con­ tinues hia adventures. This time ha and Smika go to Portamouth where the two ara employed by Mr. Crummlea, the manager of a provincial thaatrical company. After a time aa a auccassful actor-adaptor of plays, news from Noggs that his sister haa suffered some mishap, bringa Nicholas back to London.

Tha firat evening in London, Nicholas overhears the substance of hia sister's troublea from strange men who de­ ride Kate'a intent and purity. Tha principal malignor ia tha debauches Hawk who had insulted Kate at Ralph's dinner. Hawk has since basely purauad Kate. In a fracas which fol­ lowa Nicholas' attempt to talk to Hawk, Nioholaa atrikes and injurea the man. The next day, Nicholas ia buays aft­ er ascertaining that Hawk's injuries are not extensive, he writea his uncla denouncing him, takes Kate from her neweat employment with tha social-climbing tAlitittarlys where she has bean subjected to Hawk's offensive attentions, movea hia mother and aiatar to iviias La Craavy's home temporarily, and introduces Smike to his faaiiy aa a member of their household. Nicholas' situation changes rapidly, for the second day after his return to London, he finds employmant with the Cheerybla brothers. Eatabliahed uiith tha Cheer- ybles at a decant wage and living in a comfortable cottage with his family, Nioholaa at laat seems to have ssttled his major troubles. He and thoae of his household are happy. 19 Naipkf kaaaaa»t ia iataat upaa ravaaga. Ma abkara Ika yai^k aka r«aiada kia af hia gaatla kratkari ka ia an* fay kaaauaa Niakalaa kaa takaa Kata fraa kia euatady and aaaaaaa Niakalaa kaa daatroyad aay affaatian Kata aay kava kad f99 kiaaalfI ka ia irritated baeauae Haak doaa not ia* aadiataly avaaga kia iajuriaai ka ia iafariatad baaauae Niakalaa kaa defied kia^ kae aark ia Uadaa, and ia eup* paftiaf kia faaiiy*^ faat ahiak Nalpk atatad earlier aa aa ualikaly aaeeapliakaaat* Tka Niokalaa«»aalak aoafliat gatk* ara aeaentua, and the eaapliaatiaa prooaada ae Nalpk eon« apiraa aitk Squaara« Squaara ia aaxiaue far tka return of kia dfudga Saika and aaata to atrika beak at Niakalaa far prataatiaf tka bay# Squaara kidaapa Saika and kidea kia aitk SNiaalay. Jakn aaaadiat a friend Niakelaa aada ia Yorkakira and now in London on hia honayaoon, haara af tha abduetiaa and anablee Saika ta aaaapa# rolloaiag thia da« faat ia hia plana, Nalpk*a next wovof in the eeapany of Squaara and Snaalay, ia to offer forged papare aa proof tkat Saike ia the eon of Snawlay, a eon long«bolieved deed. Niakalaa wmfunm^ to hand tha youth over to the aen and re* porta their olaia to tha Ckeeryblee who preaiaa legal help*

Naantiaa, in Charlae CheeryblaU offioa Nioholea aoaa a beautiful girl ahoa he hed enoountered previoualy ahan eeeking aaplayaant at the Ragieter Office. Her appar­ ent finaneial need again enliata hia ayapathy, end he ie aoon eonvinoed that he haa found hia love. After verioua attaapta to loaata the ayatarioua girl, Charlaa diaoloaaa 20 her naaa and wheraabouta whan ha aalacts Nicholas as his agent to contact tha girl and her father, tha Brays. Be­ cause of his love for the girl's dead mother, Charles plana to aid the Brays, without tha father's knowledge, by buying tha girl's handiwork.

Shortly after Nicholas' first transaction with fifiadaline Bray, her salfiah father promises her in marriage to an old miser named Gride. Bray consents, induced by the expectation of having hia expensive tastes satiafied by tha wealthy Gride. It is Ralph though, with his knack of sub­ tle parsuaaiveness, who intercedes for Gride and accom­ plishes tha proposed contract. These two men expect the marriage to be mutually profitable through Gride's poases- sion of a will, unknown to the Braya, which names Nadalina aa heir. The novel reaches its climax when Nieholaa learns through Noggs of the approaching marriage. With each suc­ cessive conflict Ralph haa with Nicholas, the older man be­ comes more incensed with the defeat he suffers. At thia point, however, Ralph confidently and happily anticipatea making a aubatantial amount of money from the marriage, un­ aware that Nicholas even knows the girl. In the throes of agony, Nieholaa desperately seeks some way to hinder the marriage. Seaming to find no effective means of stopping the event, Nicholas sinks to tha lowest point of despair. His loved ona ia able to escape marriage to the evil Grida whan her father dias, just minutes before tha ceremony. 21 Thia forceful, unexpected happening, related to the climax, ralievea tha aituation for Nicholas and serves to move the falling action toward a happier clime for the hero. Nieho­ laa and hia sister take iTiadeline to their home where aha begina a slow recuperation from the ahock of tha death of her father and tha distasteful idea of marrying old Gride.

The downward action contains other stages of con­ flict and suspense. Tha knowledge that Smike might be clained by Snawley through Ralph's connivances represents a continuing danger. Another source of unhappiness for

Nicholas ia Smike's illness and death. These aventa, along with the theft of the aacret will, delay the denouement and sustain the intereat of the reader.

Peg Sliderskaw, an old crone working for Gride, ia jaaloua because of hia proapaetiva marriage to Pladaline.

She steals documents, tha will among them, which Gride haa kept secreted. Ralph, using Squaara as his tool, hunts for

Pag in order to destroy thia paper. Now, obsessed with re­ venge at his latest vanquishmant, Ralph hopes, by destroy­ ing the will, to keep Nicholas from benefiting from a mar­ riage which he presumed will take place between his nephew and the heiress. Noggs again proves himself the savior whan he notes Ralph's plans and raporta them to tha Chaer- ybles. Squeera locataa Pag. Ha is at the point of aurrap- titioualy taking tha will when Frank Cheeryble and Nogga hit him over the head, and tha law than apprehends the cul­ prits. 22 Otaaalat alaaaa ia rapidly en Nalpk* Na ia aaliad la Ika Ckaaryklaat akat aut af aaroy, adviaa kia ta repent aad' iaava toan aiaaa tka diaaavary of hia fraudulent aohaae ta fat Saika and Ike diaeleaura of the part he played in tka attaapt ta daatray the aill« Nalpk, atill hoping to fiad a aay te entrap Niaholaa, aentaaptuoualy rajaata their ayapathyt aiatakiag oaapaaaiaa far vangeanoa« Within a fea kaara, t»w Ckaaryblaa raaall Nalpk ta thair kaaa to tall kia of tkair naaaat diaoovary* There Nalpk laaraa, fraa a f araar aaployae ahaa km had ruiaad, tkat tha noa«daad Saike aaa hie ean* With tkia revelation, he gropee hie aay hoaa# After eoae tiaa apant aith tha torturing thought that it aaa hia aneay Niaholaa ahoa Saike loved and to ahoa Saika turned in hia laat houra, Ralph ooaaita auieida. Hia fare* aall perforaanea, ahoaing the final degradation of the auo* euabing villain, eonforna logioally to the natural aut* groath of tha action that tha wieked be puniahadi Tha danoueaent aolvea other coaplioationa alao« Folloaing Nadaline'a raaoval to tha Niekleby hone, Nioholaa diaplaya noble aantinenta whan ha daterainea not to die* aloaa hia true feelinga to her. Nioholea, along with Kata, renounce love in the face of duty and regard for the kind* neeaaa of the Cheeryblea. Nadaline, Nioholaa faela, ia actually tha Cheeryblea* wardi and it ia their nephew frank who haa profeeaed love for Kata. Tha kindly broth* era, knowing the true feelinga of all concerned, arrange a aeeting and pairing of the lovera. In addition to the 23 aaiaa mlf Nala aad fraak aad Niakalaa aad aadaliaa, little •iaa ia evaaay aad tia Uakinaatari tka Ckaaryblaa* Ifualad A4 baaiaaaa aaaaeiatat daaida te aarry* witk tka kappy ti»i^mm^ %^ fiaai raaarda fmt tka aakla kara aad alkat 'Miaad'' paapla aatiafy Ska taadarhi aapaetatiea tkat Ikaaa ba aoapaaaalad fmw tkait aaiMilaat ^kaaiar# Tka laat akaptat aaaaiuddaaiakaaa* laa^tky aad aaapliaatad naval aitk nm^mt raatorad*^^ Nil ara kappily aatriad aad aattlad aitk tkait taapaativa faailiaa^ aiaka* laa^ kafpiaaaa ia etaaaad aitk a partnatakip in tka Gkaatyfolaa^ aaoatia^keaaa* CHAPTER III

THE SEASONS CORRELATED UIITH THE HERO'S ADVENTURES

Other than the first chapter wherein the author gives tha family background and the laat chapter wherein he rounda off the characters some years after the atory prop­ er, Dickana usaa tha time span of a year, traditionally used for the epic, for Nicholas' adventurea. According to tha author, it is January whan Nicholas seta off for Dothe- boya, early spring when he and Smika leave for Portamouth, summer when they ara back in London and happily settled in the cottage with i^lra. Nicklaby and Kate, autumn when Smike dies, Ralph comaa to hia end, and tha lovers paired, and winter again whan Nicholas uiakas his visit with tha Brow- dies, in Yorkshire to share the newa of hia good fortune and coming marriage and when Squeera's school is dissolved.

Dickens does not blatantly call attention to a meaning given to each time of the year. There is, however, a symbolic correlation between the seasons, the atmosphere, and Nicholas' moods which gives unity to his rise to suc­ cess •

Nicholas starts for Dotheboys at the beginning of tha new year, a time for new resolutions and for renewed hope. After the death of Nicholas, Sr., the loss of their fortunes, and with no prospect of a job or idea of what tha future would hold for the family until after Ralph made hia

24 25 arranganenta, Nieholaa looks forward expectantly to what ha balievea ia a promising opportunity. The trip haa hardly begun whan Dickena calla attention to tha extreme cold, tha wind and snow and a growing darkness, which pra- aage danger. After the uncomfortable **ride of two hundred and odd miles in severe weather" (p. 66), the group arrives at Dotheboys. Nieholaa, before entering the houaa with Squears, "had time to observe that the school was a long, cold-looking houaa, one story high, with a few atraggling outbuildinga behind, and a barn and stable adjoining** (p. 78). Shortly, a host of unpleaaant misgivings, which had been crowding upon Nicholas during the whole Journey, thronged into hia mind with redoubled force when he was left alone. His great diatance from home and tha impoasibility of reaching it, except, on foot, ahould he feel ever so anxious to return, presented itself to him in most alarming coloursi and as he looked up at the dreary house and dark windows, and upon the wild country round, covered with anew, ha felt a depraaaion of heart and spirit which he had never experienced before, (p. 79) Other discouraging conditions soon present themselves which the winter weather intensifies! tha ice which forma over the water well, tha insufficient ragged clothing on tha boya and tha sparsity of bedclothes, the unheatad sleeping quarters in a garret, and the lack of vegetation in tha fielda for food for the boya at the school. The atmosphere and Nicholas' mood change when he ambarka upon his next journey. It is spring when he de- parta with Smike for Portsmouth. *'He hailed tha morning on which ha had reaolvad to quit London, with a light heart. 26 and aprang from hia bed with an elasticity of spirit" (p. 274) and with a achama for tha future. As they walk along, the "broad, fine, honest aun lighted up the green pastures and dimpled water, with the semblance of summer, while it left the travellara all tha invigorating freshness of that early time of yaar. Tha ground seemed elastic under thair faetI the sheep-balla ware music to their ears; and exhilarated by exercise, and stimulatad by hope, they pushed onward with the strength of lions** (p. 279). The upward surge of spring and the fair weather match feelings Nicholas haa that the future again holds a promise; and ha does find work and aohiave success on the Portsmouth stage.

His good fortune continues when, upon his return to London, he obtains tha Job as clerk at the Chaeryblas' countinghousa. It is summertime, nature's period of activ­ ity and growth; and Nicholas, moreover, shows the develop­ ment of his abilitisa in tha sunnier atmosphere at tha Cheeryblea'. The future is brighter for all the Nicklebys than it was at the beginning of the year as the now reunited family settle into their new home. Dickens describes the happy mood of the lively family in their environment of love and congeniality! There surely never was such a week of discoveries and surpriaes as the first week of that cottage. Every night when Nicholas came home, something new had been added. One day it was a grape vine, and another day it was a boiler, ... and ao on through a hundred itema. • . . Then there was • . . Kate, who busied herself noiselessly everywhere, and was pleased with every­ thing—Smika, who made the garden a perfect wonder to look upon—and Nicholas, who helped and encouraged 27 them every one—all tha peace and cheerfulness of home restored, with such new zest imparted to every frugal pleaaure, and such delight to every hour of meeting, as ffliafortune and separation alone could give I In abort, the poor Nicklebys ware social and happy, while the rich Nicklaby was alone and miserable. (p. 465) In addition, Nicholas ia very pleased with his employers and hia earnings. Yet thia season producaa its storms. Ralph induces stormy aituations with his increased attempts at reprisal. There ia tha turmoil which Fanny Squaara and her father create at tha Saracen'a Head after Smike's abduction and release; Dickons figuratively refera to the acene and the tine following as a **storm [which] had long given place to a calm tha most profound*' (p. 561). Uiorriss upset Nieholaa: IKhila Nicholas, abaorbed in the one engroasing subject of interest which had recently opened upon him, occupied his leisure hours with thoughts of madaline Bray, and in execution of tha commiasions which the anxiety of brother Charlea in her behalf imposed upon him, aaw her again and again, and each time with greater danger to his peace of mind and a more weakening effect upon the lofty resolutions he had formed, Pirs. Niekleby and Kata continued to live in peace and quiet, agitated by no other cares than those which were connected with certain harassing proceedings taken by Hr. Snawley for the re­ covery of hia son, and their anxiety for Smike himself, whose health, long upon the wane, began to be so much affected by apprehenaion and uncertainty aa somatimas to occasion both them and Nicholas considerable uneasi­ ness, and even alarm, (p. 647)

Tha long, involved sentence with its compressed misgivings shows the complexity of Nicholas' many concerns. The greatest storm of all which he experiences is after he learns from Noggs of the betrothal of hia beloved to the old miser. Tutilely, he angrily and desperately tries to 28 prevent the marriage. Uiith (Tiadelino safe after her father dias, Nicholas ia happier; but then comes the redoubling of anxiaty over Smike's health.

There is an association of ideaa in cutting off Smike's life during autumn with tha time of harvest. Though his death ia sentimentally aad, his last words con­ cerning life in heaven offer happier thoughts. Speaking to Nicholas, he aays, *»'I am not afraid to die, ... I am quite contented. . . « You have so often told me we shall meet again, . . . and now I feel the truth of that so strongly—that I can even bear to part from you.'** Smika soon **fell into a light slumber, and waking smiled as be­ fore; then, spoke of beautiful gardens, which he said stretched out baforo him, and were filled with figurea of men, woman, and many children, all with light upon thair faces; then, whispered that it was Eden—and so died** (p. 775). Thus, there is the analogy between life in heav­ en where all loved onea ara reunited in **beautiful gardana" and the transplanting of this flower to a batter place. fiora important is tha relationship between reaping and Nicholas' cumulative benefits. As the seasons draw to a close, the story of human life slowly ripening to manhood approaches its ending. Although Nicholas has suffered, he issues out of his suffering, refined and triumphant.

Nicholas' adventures parallel the completion of the planet's journey. The yaar which measures out seasonal atagee, has assigned stagea in his existenca with a final 29 perfecting of rewarding, fruitful changes. As Nieholaa makea his way back to Yorkshire in January, a yaar after his first trip, the return to the beginning saaaon seems to wipe out the yaar of wandering and suffering. Dickens signifies a cancellation of time in another manner: the Nioklaby family, newly bereaved and newly bankrupt, had left Devonshire for London at tha start of the story; at the close, they return with wealth and poaition to tha much-loved countryside with renewed life in marriage, chil' dren, and a new business venture. Dickena' pattern of superimposing the beginning with the and bacomes an af­ fective method of emphasizing the yaar of trying circum- stances; but, at the same time, the happy return to the starting point seems to obliterate tha year of changes and anxiety. CHAPTER IV

STRUCTURAL PATTERNS IN CHARACTERIZATIONS OF THE HERO AND THE ANTAGONIST

Thara are patterns other than the circular time movement and the overlapping parts which raprasent dramatic atructura into which tha main plot falls. Patterns in the characterizations of Nicholas and Ralph, underlying the plot, are structured to indicate theme, sustain tha mean­ ing of thair actions, and thus advance tha plot. Nicholas eventually overcomes obstacles to bacome successful; many obstacles ara of Ralph's making. * Ralph ia undone gradually through Nicholas' expansion of influence and moral forti­ tude, for Nicholas, this expanaion compriaes a learning process and a growth toward maturity which pointa to the end of the story. There is the pattern of causa and effect in the conflict between Ralph and Nicholas as indicated in the earlier part of thia thesis. Nicholas' raaponse to Ralph's pattern of aggressive attacks is defensive raaistanca. There is the pattern of Nicholas' successive in­ creases in earning power which is an outward sign of hia advance toward one meaning of *'8uoc88s**i at Dotheboya, he earns five pounda a yaar; for personal moral reasons, Nich­ olas refuses a secretarial position with a member of Par­ liament who offera him fifteen ahillings a week and "find"; 30 31 ha gata five shillings a week from ir!rs. Kenwigs for tutoring her daughters; K^r. Crummies assures him of a pound a week, and if they **'had a run of good houses, nearly dou­ ble the money'" (p. 269); at tha Chaeryblas' countinghousa, hia beginning salary is one hundred twenty pounds a yaar; and last, he becomes a partner in the Cheeryblea* business. Accompanying hia rise in wages is the implied rise in status in the type of employment he obtains, and Nicho­ las reacts according to his various jobs: ha detests the part he plays as a teacher at Dotheboys, and as such, a seening contributor to the cruelties inflicted on the boys; and even though he ia in earnest in his endeavor to employ himself honestly, there is a hint of embarraaament at his lowered standard of living, employment, and associations, for ha gives assumed names for himself and Smike to the Kanwigses and tha thaatrical group and keeps his acting venture a secret from his family by corresponding only with Noggs; he hesitates to accompany (iriiss Snavellici on a round of calls to solicit customers for the theatre, but he fi­ nally agrees after persuading himself that no one will rec­ ognize him; at tha Cheerybles', however, he is most happy with his work. Aaide from Nicholas' personal feelings toward his situations, there is the movement upward in the quality of employers; beginning with the cruel, avaricious Squeera, theae gradually become lass self-centered, mean, or patty, until kindness and consideration for others are integral 32 parte of Nioholas' laat aaployers, the Chearyblas. There is the pattern of rising emphasia on the valuaa of good breeding and of formal education which cor- responda to the personal sense of values of tha individual aaployara. These employers, in turn, make different uaages of Nicholas' qualifications as an **aducated" gentlemanly youth.

The reader is never told tha exact nature of Nieho­ laa' educational degree, or if he haa one. Dickena tails that Nicholas, Sr. was seeking *'for the means of repairing hia capital, now sadly reduced by • • . the increase in family and the expenses of their education" (p. 5) which lad to his disastrous speculation. Nicholas is a "gentle­ man's son" which implies some advancement in education, but, according to Mrs. Nioklaby, he ia not a Plaatar of Arts. There is further implication of the kind of Nieholaa• scho­ lastic training in tha fact that he knows French suffi­ ciently wall to teach tha Kenwigaea' children and to translate French plays for IY)r. Crummies. At the first meeting of tha mambera of the Niekleby family, Ralph shows scorn for his brother's management in buainess and contempt for Nicholas* ignorance of practical affairs. Ralph, for personal advantage, suggeats the assistantship to the schoolmaster Squaers; and through Ralph'a encouragement, Nicholas' feeling that he is "im­ perfectly qualified" (p. 28) alters quickly.

Ulhile hypocritically inapiring Nicholas to tha 33 aaay raaana of rising to auocass, Ralph introduces hia nephew to Squeera with a tone of underlying ridicule t "'Diiy nephew Nieholaa, hot froa aehool, with everything he learnt there farmanting in hia head, and nothing fermenting in hia pocket, ia Juat tha nan you want.*" Ralph continues his introduction with a compliment for the Squeera's school as walls "*Hi3 father ia dead, ha is wholly ignorant of tha world, haa no raaourcas whatever, and wanta aoraathing to do< ... I recommend him to thia aplendid establiahmant of youra aa an opening which will lead him to fortune if he turns it to proper account'*' (p. 39).

After Ralph'a worda, which mean, in affect, "Here ia a defenseless youth. Do with him what you will," Squeera praaumes to take advantage of Nieholaa. Ha ex­ plaina the use he has for Nicholas, and he and his wife in­ dicate tha treatment Nicholas will receive at thair hands: "OhJ that Knuokleboy," said Wra. Squaers impatient­ ly. "I hate him. "... Because he's a proud, haughty, conaaquen- tial, turned-up-nosed peacock." "HepI" said Squears. • . . "He ia cheap, ray dear; tha young man is vary cheap." "I don't aee that you want him any more than the dead," said rirs. Squears. "Don't tell ma. You can put on tha carda and in tha advertisements, 'Education by nr. Wackford Squaers and abla assistanta,' without any assistants, can't you? lan't it done every day by all masters about? I've no patience with you." "Haven't youl" aaid Squaers, sternly. "Now I'll tell you what, Hra. Squaers. In this matter of having a teacher, I'll take my own way, if you plaase. A slava-drivar in the Ulast Indies is allowed a man under him to see that his blacks don't run away, or get up a 34 rebellion; and I'll have a man under me to do the same with our blaeka, till such time as little Utaekford ia abla to take charge of the school."

"He's a naaty atuck-up monkey, that's what I con- aider him," aaid nrs. Squaers. "Supposing he is," said Squeers, "he is as well stuck up in our school-roon as anywhere else, ian't he?—es- pecielly as ha don't like it." "Wall," observed irirs. Squeers, "there's something in that, I hope it'll bring his pride down, and it shall ba no fault of mine if it don't." (pp. 100-101) mithin tha conversation, Dickens' play on the words "stuck- up" carries a double meaning: the ideas of isolation and of a false pride which the Squeerses attribute to Nicholas.

The fact that tha school is "stuck up" in the out-of-the- way countryaide of Yorkshire emphasizes Nicholas' aliena­ tion from his family and intimates that the appalling cir­ cumstances at Dotheboys and the degradation of Nicholas' vocation exist because the school is located where few can observe what is happening.

Dickens continues to show the varying responses people give according to their own backgrounda and person­ alities whan Nicholas is back in London at the Kanuigaas'.

On the firat evening, Nicholas impresses the company—and especially the ladies—at the Kenwigaas' party by his "aris­ tocratic" air and by saving the baby from the fire. Then,

"excusing himself, • • . Nicholas took a most winning fare­ well of V\TS. Kenwigs and the other ladies, and retired, after making a very extraordinary imprasaion upon tha com­ pany. ' 'hat a delightful young man I' cried Wrs. Kenwigs.

'Uncommonly gentlemanly, raally,' said Wr. Kanwigs. 'Don't 35 you think so, Mr. Ullyvick?'" The self-esteeming collector of water taxes, who obviously covets the favor­ able attention hiaaelf, replies, "'Yea,' . . . with a dubioua ahrug of hia shoulders. 'Ha is. gentlemanly, very gentlemanly—in appearance'" (p. 185).

On the following day, Nogga portraya Nicholas to fire. Kenwigs as an able teacher of French; as a result, Nicholas' next job ia tutoring tha Kenwigaas' children. Tha firat lesson takes place in (Tr. Lillyviek's presence, and hia condescending manner towards Nieholaa indicates his idea of teachera and thair profession in general: "'How do you do, sir?' aaid Wr. Lillyvick—rather sharply; for ha had not known what Nicholas waa, on the previous night, and it waa rather an aggravating circumstance if a tax collec­ tor had been too polite to a teacher" (p. 206). In the en- auing conversation between the collector, Nieholaa, and prirs. Kanwiga, the reader draws tha comparison between Nicholas and the other two who display a pretentiousness and a de­ ficiency in breeding, mrs. Kenwigs' following remarka to her daughter give her true purpose for employing Nicholas:

"But I hope," said mrs. Kenwigs, drawing haraelf up, "that that will not make them proud; but that they will blaas their own good fortune, which has born them supe­ rior to common people's children. Do you hear, Wor- laena?" "Yes, ma," replied fiss Kenwigs. "And whan you go out in the streets, or elsewhere, I desire that you don't boast of it to the othar chil­ dren," said Plrs. Kenwigs; "and that if you muat say anything about it, you don't say no mora than » Je've got a private maater comas to teach us at home, but we ain't proud, because ma aaya it'a sinful.' Do you hear, Mor- laana?" (p. 206) • ^ 3i •^^-^^—it»m«iilMi iiMiveti ••M ilalielM' qtiaXifiMllana ii « #ilt0iii#flitlit*^^ 1^ %«ils him tUst Na ptr» pmm %f fIN • MftH an • sliipt OriMMaM mrarM Urn tlwt H-ii Mliliay •f)^•tllM tMfiita ilwt m mkipprnt mt mtm mm% muuM iteMi jnNi wettii your Mitt wikm Iia eawltf fat a lliNi«tiSMi Nmii « « ^ aiifl tliay na ulentifiil thmwmi aa tha «9«Ut« in iNi iittwU*««' iioliolea ta«in4a hia tlwit aaa^^ Pin tttitt ft t^rtwili a iMmin^ ptMiaaa te ktnm aaaaant mm t^rnmlm mmm99$ ^^Th&f mmti Imt not at-your •§•« or frM yawnf 9«ii%iMaii iiica yw^^" Inetaail of the aaa 9 tfWMilM au^foala the atn9« aa a prafaaaioii for Hialioiaai •^fll99«*a fMlMi mmim^f in your naiic and aamiary Jmraniia trpfedy in yowr ay«t and teuoti«and«fo fnrea in yawt iawili**'' Nielialit* •duoatian end fantiiity dand danbtlaaa hia Qiimn^ dttty}'Niwa not anaapad CrwMilaa, for the aamigar raanaaa Ilia arfiMUHitf "*yoy ean ba uaaful ta ua in a hwndrad waya* t •'# Tliink what aapital billa a aan of your eduoation eawid write for tha ahop^windava**'' Cruanlaa ahowa a oon* fidanoa in Nieholaa aa wall aa a daaira to exploit the young •an*a ability whan he oontinuaat "^Piaoea too; why, you oowld write ue a piaaa to bring out the whole atrangth of tha aoMpanyt whenever we wanted one'" (pp. 287-268). following the Portaaouth thaatrioal adventure, Nieholaa raturna ta London. Jobloaa, he goea to the Regie* tar Offiaa» hoping to fiad a paaitian, Tha kind*haerted appaaranoa mf • atrangar lingering before the offiae elia« ita Nioholaa* hiatory, Tha atrangar natea Nioholaa* 37 well-bred behaviors "'You're a scholar too, I dare say?' said tha old nan, looking wiatfully into the face of the young one. 'I have been tolerably well educated,' aaid Nicholas. 'Fine thing,' said the old gentleman: 'edu­ cation a great thing: a very great thing J I never had any. I adaire it the more in others. A very fine thing. Yes, yes'" (p. 457). Later when Charles Cheeryble intro­ duces Nicholas to hia brother, he commends; "'The young gentleman is modeat, and is a scholar'" (p. 461). Charles's sincere and guileless statements of approbation are the most eonplimentary in tha sequence of contrasts regarding Nicholas' education and manners. Nieholaa' gallantry and educated bearing have com­ bined to impreas numerous people in dissimilar ways, fol­ lowing the derisive viewpoint and deplorable uaaga Ralph evidenced toward Nicholas, came the ironical attitudes and employ by the Squearses, Kenwigaas, and Crummlases; these groups infer, however, an increasing appreciation for Nich­ olas' capabilities. Charles Cheeryble's praise and offer of a responsible position in his firm climaxas and com­ pletes the rising emphasis on Nicholas' gentlemanly mien and actions. After the compaasionata Cheeryblea hire the young man, tha day of Joy comas when Nicholas, having applied hi - aalf assiduously to the task of learning the trade, first took possession of the vacant stool. . • . All his apare hours, lata at night and early in tha morning were incessantly devoted to acquiring tha mystarias of 38 book-keeping and aoma other forms of mercantile account. To these ha applied hiaaelf with such readiness and perseverance that ... ha found himself, at the end of a fortnight, in a condition to report hia proficiency to Wr. Linkinwatar, and to claim his promise that he, Nicholas Nicklaby, ahould now be allowed to aasist him in his graver labours, (pp. 477-478) Not only do the Cheeryble brothers give their smiling ap­ proval, but the expressions from tha meticulous and cautioua Tin Linkinwatar are of especial laudatory value: "'He has done its* said Tim, looking round at hia employara and shaking hia head triumphantly. 'His capital B's and D'a are exactly like mine; he dota all hia small i's and crosses every t as ha writes it. There an't such a young man as this in all London,* said Tin, clapping Nieholaa on the back; 'not one. Don't tall me I The City can't pro­ duce hia equal. I challenge tha City to do itS'" (p. 479) So Nicholas haa gained a goal, a auitabla livelihood in a respectable buainess firm and a good income, after having passed through tha months of inexperience and learning to- warde this time when he would be entruatad with the par- factioniat Tim's accounts and be blaased with the faith of the brothers and Tim in his ability to handle their busi- nesa affairst but these ara external aspects in Nicholas' eharactar and circumstances which have been brought about and affected through hia having an "educated" manner. Tha many references to the word "gentleman" in the story compel the reader to consider the shadaa of meaning in the word. Tha alluaion to Nicholas as a gentleman'a son connotes the social status of a man of "gentle birth," 39 a parson of rank, or of tha moneyed class, thus manifesting that ha ia not a common tradesman or laborer. The ques­ tionable quality of belonging to a leiaure claas, presum­ ably well-brad, underliea aueh commenta as those issuing from the Squeerses. The fact that Nicholas is a gentle­ man's son contributes to thair feeling of prestige in hav­ ing aueh a man in their employ; at the aams time, it grati- fiaa a cruel desire, born of envy, to torture their victim and make him "knuckle" under their commands. Tha Cheery­ blea realize the social aignification in being a "gentle­ man's aon," but intermixed with thia is their complimentary inference that hia appearance and actions denote fine fael­ inga and chivalric behavior in tha adairablo connotation of tha word. Tha Chaeryblas, themselves, deserve the en- ooniun of "gentlaaen" in view of their exenplary actions. There ia tha underlying moral in Dickens' presentation of a aituation where man are merely termed "gentlemen" because of birth, money, or distinction in society as opposed to such as tha Cheeryblea who deserve the eulogistic maaning of the term even though they "'eat with their knivea, and never went to school}*" (p. 483) This ia the concluaion that Nieholaa draws with apparent surprise. The courtesy and generosity of the two brothara ranks them far above such aa Squeers, Hawk, and Ralph. It is in this province of merit that Nicholas, too, proves himself, and this blends and leads to a deeper and more indicative pattern as ha movea toward auceeas. 4t •^:^flm9m'HMMMm9 paitdtM In tha fMt that tM i

-J! tmnna hit ney ta UMon fran JNithaboya* Narat tha aut« laok nfftidad by llilpii«a aonnant that Jab^^nahing im tha bio ^%y «««iid ptnva untnnnrding aanne true* lim ctnna^ra banli in tondon eentributaa to Nioh<« olan* fnnlinf mf ina»pnri«Mia and ananynity* Niehalaat loahini fmw work^ "betook hiaaelf to tha atraata and nin« glad with tha nrond whioh thronged thaa* Althowfh a nan nay lean n aanea of hia ann inportnnaa nhnn ha ia a nara unit nnang a buny throng, all uttatiy rattrdlaaa of hin^ it by no aaana followa that ha oan diapoaaaaa hiaaelf, with aquni faniiity, of a vary atrang aenaa of tha iapartanea and noNnitwda of hia oarae" (p. 188). Nioholaa ohanoea up* on tha Nngiatar Offioa and inquirea about oaplayaant* An ineidant hare ahowa that ha ia new acre cognizant of hia inaxparienaa and that Joba ara not plentiful. To the wonan in oharga, ha aaya • • , that ha wanted to know whether there waa any auah peat to be had, aa aaeratary or aaanuanaia to a gantlanan* "Any auohl" rejoined the niatreas; "a dozen auoh, An*t thara, Ton?" Upon*rafaranea*to tha book it appeared that tha 43 dozen aecretaryshipa had dwindled down to one. ... "I don't know what tha terms are, as he said he'd aattle them himaelf with the party," obaerved the fat lady; but they must ba pretty good ones, because he's a aeaber of Parliament." Inexperienced aa ha was, Nicholas did not feel quite assured of the force of this reasoning, or the Justice of this conclusion, (pp. 191-192)

Nieholaa refuses tha position the member of Parlia­ ment offare for reasons he gives in despairing words in a talk with Noggat

... The oecurrencea of the morning had not improved Nioholaa's appetite, and, by him, the dinner remainad untested. He was sitting in a thoughtful attitude . . . whan Nawman Noggs looked into the room. "Coma back?" asked Newman. "Yes," replied Nicholas, "tired to death; and, what is worse, might have remained at home for all the good I have dona." "Couldn't expect to do much in ona morning," said Newman. "May be so, but I am sanguine, and did expect," aaid Nicholas, "and am proportionately disappointed." Saying which ha gave Nawman an account of hia procaadinga. "If I could do anything," aaid Nicholas, "anything however slight, ... I should feel happier. I should think it no diagrace to work, Heaven knows. Lying in­ dolently hare, like a half-tamed sullen beast, distracts me." "I don't know," said Nawman; "small things offer— they would pay the rent, and more—but you wouldn't like them; no, you could hardly ba expected to undergo it- no, no." " Ihat could I hardly be expected to undergo?" replied Nicholas. . • . "Show me, in this wide waste of London, any honest means by which I could even defray the weekly hire of this poor room, and sea if I shrink from resorting to themS Undergo! I have undergone too much, my friand, to feel pride or squeamiahnaas now. Except — " added Nicholas hastily, after a short silence, "except such squeamishnass as is common honesty, and so much pride as constitutes self-respect. I see little to choose, between aasistant to a brutal pedagogue, and toad-eater to a mean and ignorant upstart, ba he member or no member." (pp. 203-204)

Noggs hesitantly explains the prospect of a job as tutor to tha Kanwigses' children, adding, "'It's beneath you, I 44 know,'" but Nicholas declares his aceeptanca "with great alacrity" (p. 205) in words which signify his willingness to work and a new fora of humblanass.

Soon after, he meets his sister and repeats his feelings of Inadequacy. Nicholas has agreed to Ralph^a de­ mand that he leave London again, and in eonaoling Kata, he reiterates, "'I am no help to you; no protector; I should bring you nothing but sorrow, and want, and suffering'" (p. 258); he vacillates again between hope and deapair as he leaves his mother and Kata behind, but he strives to con­ quer his doubts:

• • • To have committed no fault, and yet to be so entirely alone in tha world; to ba separated from tha only parsons he loved, and to be proscribed like a crim­ inal, when six months ago he had been surrounded by every comfort, and looked up to, aa the chief hope of his family—this was hard to bear. He had not deserved it either. Ulell, there waa comfort in that; and poor Nieholaa would brighten again, to be again dapreaaed, aa his quickly shifting thoughts presented every variety of light and shade before him. Undergoing these alternationa of hope and misgiving, whioh no one, placed in a aituation of ordinary trial, can fail to have experienced, Nicholas at length reached his poor room, where, no longer borne up by the excite­ ment which had hitherto sustained him, but depressed by the revulsion of feeling it left behind, he threw him­ aelf on the bed, and turning his face to the wall, gave free vent to the emotions he had so long stifled, (p. 259)

To Smike, he refers to himself as being "'ataaped in pover­ ty'" (p. 260), but yet, he willingly leaves London "with a light heart" (p. 274) and sets out for Portsmouth. There, after Joining IVir. Crummies' theatrical company, his succesa as actor-playwright overrides the feelings of inability to employ himaelf gainfully. 45 Before long he ia back in London to help Kate out of her difficulty. The atmosphere of grim reality in tha busy, crowded city seama to encourage a sanae of failure which overcomes any raw, poor youth wanting an honest Job. Nicholas repeats hia past actions in casting about for maans of supporting himself, his family, and Smike "with no greater experience of the world than ha had acquired for himself in his abort trials; with a aufficiant share of headlong rashness and precipitation (qualities not alto- gather unnatural at his time of life; with a vary alander stock of money, and a still more scanty atock of frienda, what could ha do?" (p. 454) Tha worda reemphasize Ralph's attitude in his summary of the youth'a resources.

yilith renewed hope, Nicholas again determines to go to the Register Offices "Ha smiled at himself aa he walked away, with a quick step; for, an instant before, he had been internally blaming his own precipitation. Ha did not laugh himself out of the intention, however, for on he went: picturing to himself, aa ha approached tha place, all kinda of splendid possibilitiea, and impossibilitioa too, for that matter, and thinking himself, perhaps with good reason, very fortunate to ba endowed with so buoyant and sanguine a temperament" (p. 454). Here it is that Nicholas meets Charles Cheeryble and has the courage finally to speak to the pleasant-looking gentleman. Charles endoraas Nicholas* opinion that London is a friendless city for tha uninitiated when Nicholas 46 explains why ha addresses hint "'PTierely that your kind fece and manner'^^both unlike any I have ever seen—tempted aa into an avowal, which to any other stranger in this wil- derneaa of London, I should not have dreamt of making.'" Tha old man rapliaa animatedly, "'Uiildarness. Yes, it is, it ia. Goodl It ia. a wilderness. ... It was a wilder­ ness to ma once. I came here barefoot. I have never for­ gotten it. Thank Cod I' and ha raiaad his hat from his head, and looked very grave" (p. 457); and Charles repeats tha comparison to Nicholas' plight when ha later recalls to his brother "*the time when we were two friendless lada and earned our first shilling in this great city'" (p. 461). Coexistent with the change in Nicholas' situation and his building of a practical knowledge in business goes still another kind of pattern. Nicholas alters from the impetuous youth at the beginning of the story to a person with a more stable personality. Here again, tha author shows the effect of maturity and experience on Nicholas; but Dickens has the problem of keeping the idea before the reader that Nicholas is sometimes rash and high spirited, and, at the aame time, is thoughtful, modest, unselfish, and works for good. Added to the many descriptions of Nicholas' mannerly comportment and his acts of aympathy and liberality, are examples of his "coolness and alacrity." Two suoh times are when he quickly and bravely holda tha horses of the overturned coach on the way to Dotheboys and when he aaves tha Kanwigses' baby from tha fire. 47 Nevertheless, the author often notes Nicholas' recklessness.

After the uncle's betrayal of Nieholaa' confidence by the

Dotheboya episode, Nieholaa angrily confronts Ralph, ffira.

Nicklaby, when asked to believe her aon, who ia denying any guilt, observes, "'Nicholas is ao violent, and you uncle has so much compoaura, that I can only hear what he aays, and not what Nicholas does'" (p. 257). The reader noticas that Nicholas does not stop to think long enough to inquire in private from Kate what the trua conditiona are concerning heraalf and her mother. This facet of Nieholaa' person­ ality ia mentioned by other characters in the story, miss

La Craevy's constarnation shows her impression of Nicholas' impulsiveness when she discusses hia return to London to save Kata:

"Heart alival" cried miss La Creevy. "He will do something desperate, nr. Noggs, if you tall him all at once." Nawman left off rubbing hia handa, and aaaumad a thoughtful look. "Depend upon it," said miss La Creevy, earnaatly, "if you ara not very careful in breaking out tha truth to him, he will do some violence upon his uncle or one of these men that will bring some terrible calamity up­ on hia head, and grief and aorrow to us all." (iliss La Creevy ... set about exhorting a solemn pledge from Newman that he would use his utmost en- deavora to pacify tha wrath of Nioholaa; ... "Ha must have time to cool before he can possibly do anything," said (niss La Creevy. "That is of the greatest consequence." (pp. 411-412) Pliss La Creevy is justified in her fears, for several times

Nicholas commits some violent action. Nieholaa' outward behavior, after he meets the model Chearyblas, begins to show a developing maturity, 48 however. He never again makea a physical assault upon anyone. Even so, the brothers and Tim sometimes notice his impetuosity. When Nicholas takes over the books as clerk at tha Cheeryblea' following Tim's forty-four years of faithful, perfect, and affectionate work, he proclaims, "Come, come, ... I am all impatience to begin." Tim Linkinwatar shook hia head with an air of mild reproof, fflr. Nicklaby was not sufficiently impressed with the deep and awful nature of his undertaking. Sup­ pose thera ahould ba any mistake—any scratching out.' — Young men are adventurous. It is extraordinary what thay will ruah upon somatimea. Ulithout even taking the precaution of sitting himself down upon his stool, but standing leisurely at the desk, and with a smile upon his face—actually a smile—there waa no miataka about it| Wr. Linkinwatar often mentioned it afterward— Nicholas dipped his pan into the inkstand before him, and plunged into the books of Cheeryble Brothers I Tim Linkinwatar turned pale, and tilting up his stool on tha two lags neareat Nicholas, looked over his shoulder in breathless anxiety. Brother Charles and brother Ned entered the counting-house together; but Tim Linkinwatar, without looking round, impatiently waved his hand as a caution that profound alienee must be ob­ served, and followed the nib of the inexperienced pan with strained and eager eyes. (pp. 478-479) On another occasion, Nicholas rashly tries to find the ad­ dress and name of the beautiful girl he first saw at the Register Office and now glimpses in Charles Cheeryble's office. lAlhen Tim firmly but politely repulses Nicholas' questions concerning the girl, Nicholas solicits Noggs to follow her servant. Tha girl Noggs presents turns out to be the wrong one, and it is only after Nicholas lets mat­ ters take thair course that he meets the right girl. Hav­ ing given up hope of finding out about the girl through the Cheerybles' office, it ia ironically from Charles that Nicholas learna the history of the mysterious beauty. This 49 ia indirect reproof of his precipitous curiosity. Charles entrusts Nieholaa with tha miasion of contacting tha girl and her father, choosing Nicholas in preference to his own nephew and Tim. Charlea tells him: "... Frank is a vary good fellow—a fine fellow— but we are afraid that ha might be a little flighty and thoughtless in such a delicate matter, and that ho might, perhaps—that he might, in short, be too susceptible (for she ia a beautiful creature, sir. Just what her poor mother was), and, falling in love with her before ha wall knew hia own mind, carry pain and sorrow into that innocent braaat, which we would be the humbler in­ struments of gradually asking happy. "lAiall; then you see," continued brother Charles, "that hg, wouldn't do. Tim Linkinwatar ia out of the qusation; for Tim, sir, is such a tremendous fellow, that ha could never contain hiaaelf, but would go to loggerheads with the father before ho had been in the place five ninutea. You don't know what Tim is, sir, whan ha is reused by anything that appeals to his feelings very strongly; then ha is terrific, sir, ia Tim Linkinwatar, absolutely terrific. Now, in you we can repose tha strictest confidence; in you we have seen—or at least I have seen, and that's the same thing, ... in you we have aeen domestic virtues and affections, and delicacy of feeling, which exactly qualify you for such an office. And you are the man, sir." (p. 611)

Charles's description of Frank and Tim ironically fits Nich­ olas even though Nicholas doaa have "domestio virtues and affections, and delicacy of feeling." Furthermore, Nicholas shows a certain prasumptuousness and rashness in undertaking the commission for Charles. Although Nicholas haa come a long way from the orig­ inal youth who flogged Squears to have created this feeling of confidance in the Cheeryblea, Dickens makea it clear that Nicholas suffers from dual feelings concerning his aaaignmant • TELXAS TECHNOLOGICAL COUL^UL LUBBOCK. TEXAS LIBRARY 50 All thie time, . . . there hovered upon the tip of his tongue a confession that the very same objections which fvir. Cheeryble had stated to the employment of his nephew in this commission applied with at least equal force and validity to himself, and a hundred times had he been upon the point of avowing the real state of his feelings, and entreating to be released from it. But as often, treading upon tha heels of thia impulse, came another which urgad him to refrain, and to keep hia secret to his own breast. "UJhy should I," thought Nicholas, "why should I throw difficulties in the way of this benevolent and high-minded design? What if I do leva and reverence this good lovely creature. Should I not appear a moat arrogant and shallow coxcomb if I gravely represented that there was any danger of her falling in love with me. Besides, have I no confidence in myself? Am 2 not now bound in honour to repress these thoughts? Haa not this excellent man a right to my best and heartiest services, and should any considar- ations of self deter me from rendering them?" Aaking himself such questions aa these, Nicholas mentally answered with great emphaais "Noi" and per­ suading himself that ha waa a most conscientious and glorious martyr, nobly resolved to do what, if he had examined his own heart a little more carefully, he would have found he oould not resist. Suoh is the sleight of hand by which wa Juggle with ourselves, and change our very weaknesses Into most magnanimoua virtues! (p. 612) Nicholas does have trouble restraining himself whan faced with the selfishnass of the girl's demanding father and the evidence of the girl's martyrdom. Dickens is always reminding the reader that Nicholas' impetuosity is attributable to his youthfulneas. Ha ob­ serves "that Nicholas was not, in tha ordinary senaa of tha ordinary sanae of the word, a young man of high apirit. Ha would resent an affront to himself, or interpose to redress a wrong offered to another, as boldly and freely as any knight that aver set lance in rest; but ha lacked that pe­ culiar excess of coolness and great-minded aalfiahnaas, which invariably distinguished gentlemen of high spirit" (p. 205). In many waya, Dickens, from the first, shows Nicholas aa spirited in one sense—to redreaa wrongs like the chivalroua young "knight" that ha ia—but not for tha selfish furtherance of hia own ends.

Basidea Nicholas' change froa the more physical diaplay of his ire at tha miafortunas and oppression of others, there is other evidence of his laerning to exerciae hia reason. Ulhen defending Smike from Snewley'a claim that Smika is his rightful son, Nioholas stands his ground and verbally repudiates the olaia because of the "unnatural- ness" of the situation. Ha even goes ao far aa to report the incident to tha Cheeryblea who eventually disprove the claim through a confession gained from a former eaployee of Ralph's. Nicholas' next tampered act of defense is when he is attempting to prevent the marriage between ffadsline and Gride. Disturbed and overwrought as ha is, ha triaa to dissuade Gride without doing bodily harm to the loath- acme old uaurer; when thia fails, ha vainly tries to per­ suade iviadalina not to marry Grida. On tha morning aet for the ceremony, he and Kate arrive at the Brays' rasidance. Nicholas offers no physical raaistanca to Ralph and tha groom-to-be but still hopes to offer arguments against the event and to prevail upon (Madeline to forego the marriage. Nicholas' movement toward manhood ia not over. Smike presents a crowning aymbol which bringa Nicholas to hia critical decision. On his deathbed, Smike admits a secret love for Kate. Smike's self-denial and fortitude 52 accentuate Nieholaa' need, in the face of duty, to follow his example. Nicholas returns from tha scene of Smike's death in Devonshire, having worked out the eonflict within himself between duty to the Cheerybles and his own selfish desire to declare his love for iviadeline. Back in London, both Nicholas' mother and miss La Craavy note a difference in Nicholas. The little portrait painter remarks on his composure: "'It hurts me so,' cried the poor body, 'to see him come back alone. I can't help thinking what he must have suffered himself. I wouldn't mind so much if he gave way a little more; but he boara it 80 manfully'" (p. 804). Nicholas reminds her that Smika'a last "peaceful and happy" days, made possible by tha gener­ osity of the Cheerybles, are his reward. Shortly after­ ward, Nicholas confides his secret love for Madeline to hia aister and reiterates his feeling of obligation to the Cheerybless "I feel how visionary all such hopes must be, and try to crush them rudely, myself, and have tha pain over, rather than suffer time to wither them, and keep the disappointment in store. No, Katal Since I have been absent, I have had, in that poor fellow who is gone, perpetually before my eyes, another instance of the muni­ ficent liberality of these noble brothers. As far as in ma lies, I will deserve it, and if I have wavered in my bounden duty to them before, I am now determined to dia- eharge it rigidly, and to put further delays and tempta­ tions beyond my reach." (p. 805) Kate also admits that she has refused the proffer of marriage from Frank, knowing that her rafuaal waa "right and honourable." Nieholaa notes the similarity of their positions and summarizes the history of his connection with 53 Kadaline, addingt "... inadaline ia not tha near relation of our benafactora, but she is closely bound to them by ties aa dear; ... thay reposed unbounded confidence in me, and believed that I was as true as steel. How base it would ba of na to take advantage of the circumstances which placed her here, or of the slight service I was happily able to render her, and to seek to engage her affectiona when the result must be, if I succeeded, that tha brothers would be disappointed in their darling wish of establishing her as their own child, and that I must saem to hope to build ay fortunes on their compaasion for the young creature whom I had so meanly and un­ worthily entrapped: turning her very gratitude and warmth of heart to my own purpose and account, and trading in her miafortunasl I, too, whose duty, and pride, and pleasure, Kate, it is, to have othor claims upon me which I will never forgett and who have the means of a comfortable and happy life already, and have no right to look beyond it! I doubt whether I have not done wrong, even now; and to-day, I will, without re­ serve or equivocation, disclose my real reasons to B^r. Cheeryble, and implore him to take immediate measures for removing thia young lady to the shelter of some other roof. "I have thought of this, for weeks, and why should I postpone it? If the scene through which I have Just passed, haa taught me to reflect, and has awakened me to a more anxious and careful sense of duty, why should I wait until the impression has cooled?" (pp. 806-807) "Reflect," "duty," and "othor claims upon me" are key words which expose his deepening awareness of responsibility. The impulsive Nicholas, a fanciful dreamer at the beginning of the story, now exhibits a mora thoughtful personality and claims to an "awakening" which is the greatest psychological change the young man undergoes. Smike's self-effacement, generosity, and martyred spirit assist Nicholas to realize his duty. At tha Cheery­ bles' he sees and remarks upon a success which is not baaed on fantasy but on hard work. That he is affected by their axaapla of generosity and humbleness is very evident on a 54 particular evening when he returns home to recount to his mother what had taken place at Tim's birthday party. There, he had obaerved the Cheerybles' repeated acts of conpassion and kindnaas to employees and their continuing and profound love for their dead parenta. It is their humility and con­ sideration for others, even though they are wealthy (while others of wealth, it is implied, often forget their poor beginnings and bacome self-centered), which show Nicholas a depersonalization of auccess. Only after Nicholas solves inwardly his problem and accepta tha faet that he muat give up what ha most cherishes is he rewarded, Nicholas' final conviction that duty comes before satisfaction of selfish interests is straased by tha contrast to Ralph'a actions and the resulting consequences.

In numerous waya, Ralph's progress downward is the reverse of Nicholas' patterns in his rise to success. The contrast of the overall actions and reactions of the hero and the antagonist in itself forms a pattern of good over­ coming evil in a melodramatic solution to a sentimental comedy. As opposed to Nicholas' situation at the start of the novel, Ralph is the self-eatisfiad successful usurer— a selfish materialist at tha start of the laissez-faire ara of industrialism—with experience, influence, and friends—friends bound to him by their own selfish desires, usually for monetary gain. F?alph describes himself, and indirectly Nicholas, in a meditative speech as he schemes 55 to subjugate hia nephewt

"jihen my brother was such as he," said Ralph, "the first comparisons were drawn between us. Always in my disfavour, t^. waa open, liberal, gallant, gay; X a crafty hunk of cold and stagnant blood, with no paa- sion but love of saving, and no spirit beyond a thirst for gain. I recollected it wall when I firat saw this whipatar; but I remember it better now.

"Racolleetions like these," pursued Ralph, with a bitter smile, "flock upon me, when I reaign myself to them, in crowds, and from countloas quarters. As a portion of the world affect to despise the power of money, I must try and show them what it is." (pp. 447- 448)

As Ralph's hatred for Nicholas mounts, ha tries to bring vengeful schemes against the youth to fulfillment. Uiith each encounter, he suffers defeat aa a result of Nicholas' interference. The design of Ralph's acta makes clear a progression from an egocentric success in terms of money and power to a mora demoralizing intention to succeed in oppressing Nicholas regardless of any leas of his much- prized accumulation of wealth. Ulhile Nicholas steadily becomes successful, Ralph ainks to such depths that even the thought of tha power of his money cannot sustain him.

Dickens records that Ralph's first monetary leas is the money he expected to make through Gride's marriage to (Viadaline; during the same episode, Ralph also hears from Nicholas the surprising news that he has loat another sum that day. When the usurer reaches homa and finds the actual proof of the failure of an investment in the amount of ten thousand pounds, he strode violently up and down the room and stopped again. 56 "Ten thousand poundaS . . . How many anxious years, how many pinching days and aleepless nights, before I scraped together that ten thousand pounds I • • • Ulhile I ground, and pinched, and used these naady borrowers for my pleasure and profit, what smooth-tongued speeches, and courteous looks, and civil letters they would have given me! The cant of the lying world is, that men like me compass our riches by dissimulation and treach­ ery by fawning, cringing, and stooping.

"Tha tima has been when nothing could have moved me like the loss of this great aum. Nothing. For births, deaths, marriages, and all the events which are of interest to most men, have (unless they are connected with gain or loss of money) no interest for me. But now I swear, Z mix up with the loss, Nicholas's tri­ umph in telling it. If he had brought it about, —I almost feel as if he had—I couldn't hate hia more. Let me but retaliate upon him, by degrees, however slow—let me but begin to get the better of him, let me but turn the scale—and I can boar it." (pp. 750-751)

A later convsrsation with Squeers calla further attention to Ralph's lessening concern for tha cost in obstructing Nieholaa I "'I spent money to gratify my hatred, and you pocket it, and gratify youra at the aame time. You are, at least, as avaricious as you are revengeful. So am I. Which is best off? You, who win money and ravenga at tha same time and by the same process [in thwarting Nioholaa], and who are, at all events sure of money, if not of re­ venge; or I, who am only sure of spending money in any case, and can but win bare revenge at last?'" (p. 755) Just before Ralph hangs himself, his blasphemous proclama­ tion shows an obsession superseding the former value ha plaead on money when he cries, "'Ohl if men by selling thair own souls could ride rampant for a terra, for how short a term would I barter mine to-night I'" (p. 318) Another deaigned contrast between the uncle and 57 nephew ie the differing accoaplishnanta in their business affairs. As time passes, there is the reduction in Ralph's skill and drive in his occupation whareas Nicholas displays a consciousnaaa of the responsibilities in his employment, a ataady industry, and an astuteness as he applies himself to learn (especially at tha Cheerybles'), which point to hia coming prosperity. Ulhen Ralph's attention is devoted almost wholly to overpowering Nicholas, there are fewer references to his usury transactions and more allusions to erratic business practices. Ralph loses authority in another direction. As ap­ proval of Nicholas' doportmant grows and as he acquires friends and support, there is an ever-widening diaapproval of Relph's demeanor and an incraasa in his alienation from others. First, Nicholas discovers his uncle's treachery and removes himself from further association with the older man; midway through the novel, Ralph loses contact with Kate, the only relative for whom he shows a liking but would use in the interests of money. Ulhan Nicholas learns of Ralph's usage of Kate, he repudiates the uncle's patron­ age, writing: "Your brother's widow and bar orphan child spurn tha shelter of your roof, and shun you with disgust and loathing. Your kindred renounce you, for they know no shame but the ties of blood which bind them in name with you. "You are an old man, and I leave you to the grave. May every recollection of your life cling to your false heart, and caat their darkneas on your death-bad." (pp. 430-431) Ralph's othar associatea, agenta who help hi^i in his 58 dastardly vileneaa and goaded to action againat Nicholas with tha revenge active or tha lure of money, drop away, ona by ona. Hawk dlaappointa Ralph by not avenging the blow he received froa Nicholas; and whan Hawk goea abroad, Ralph gives up thie idea of bringing hern to Nieholaa. Whan information concerning the villain's plots bacoaes known to tha law and to such of Nieholaa' influential friends as tha Cheeryblea, othar accomplices desert Ralph as thay face failure and probable inpriaonmant. "'How ia thia,' said hat 'that thay all fall from me, and ahun me like the plague, these men who have licked the duet from my f^tmti Js. ny day paat, and is thia indeed tha coming on of night?'" (p. 783) After his final talk with tha drunken Squeers who has been remanded by the court for his attempt to steal madaline'a will, Ralph again expresses his abandon­ ment, hia acorn for the cowardly and traitorous actions of hia hirelings, and a defiance for the Chaeryblas who have suggested a naw way of life: "'This fellow, I plainly see through hia tipsy fooling, haa made up hia mind to turn upon me. I am so beset and hammed in, that they are, not only all struck with fear, but like the beasts in the fable, have thair fling at me now, though tine was, and no longer ago than yesterday too, when thay were all civility and eompllanea. But thay shall not move me. 1*11 not give way. I will not budge ona inchP" (pp. 794-795) Dickens uses another means—the increased uae of animal imagery—to show the growing disapprobation of Ralph 59 and hia leas of rational behavior. The picture of Nieholaa as tha caged beeat, entrapped by his uncla and oircum- atancas at the start of tha story, reverses whan Ralph uses acre brute terms, asaumas more of the charaotaristics of an animal, and more of the nomenclature from the lower rank in the chain of being ia applied to Ralph. For instance, Noggs asks Ralph, "'What would you say, if I waa to tell you all that people say of you? What do you call me when I sometimes do? 'Brute, assl' and snap at me like a drag­ on'" (p. 667); and whan Noggs advisee Nicholas of a partic­ ularly mysterious action on Ralph's part which hints of a new scheme, he cautions tha youth that tha raacal is "lynx- eyed." With a nixing of mataphora, Squeers gives an es­ pecially apt description of Ralph's sinister manauvera to regain lYiadeline's will from Pag Sliderskew: "Well, this is a pretty go, ia this here! . • • That^s the worse of ever being in with a owdacious chap like that old Nicklaby. You never know what he's done with you, and if you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound. "I never see," soliloquised Wr. Squeers in continua­ tion, "I never see nor come across such a file as that old Nioklaby. Never! He's out of everybody's depth, he is. He's what you may call a rasper, is Niekleby. To see how sly and cunning he grubbed on, day after day, a-worming and plodding and tracing and turning and twining of hiaaelf about, till he found out where this precious f-rs. Peg was hid, and cleared the ground for me to work upon. Creeping and crawling and gliding, like an ugly old bright-eyed stagnation-blooded adderS" (pp. 759-760) Ralph's dacraaaing mastery over others is but a projection of his loss of inner control, and Dickens couples addition­ al symbolism with tha pattern of progressing loss to make 60 thia truth even acre evident. There ia repeated testimony that Ralph's watch and manner of handling it ara correlated with his changing feelings and customs. The watch, a symbol of his success, operating as an efficient tiaa-measuring device and impor­ tant to such a thriving businessnan'a demand for punctual­ ity, signifies the regularity, tha haartlassness, the in- hunanity of a mechanism—Ralph's eharactariatics. In Dickens' introduction of Ralph is a portentous conversationi "Was that half-past twelve, Noggs?" said Of)r. Nickla­ by, in a sharp and grating voice. "Not wore than five-and-twenty minutes by the ... regular tima." "iVly watch has stopped," said fir. Nicklaby; "I don't know from what cause." "Not wound up," said Noggs. "Yes it ia," said nr. Niekleby. "Ovar-wound than," rejoined Noggs. "That can't very well ba," observed mr. Nicklaby. "must ba," said Noggs. (p. 9) The inclusion of this specific scene, considering the events which follow, surely carries several suggaationa. Tha watch can be useful and is a wonderful invention, but it ia no more infallible than Ralph with all his power. Quitting at a time Just prior to the advent of Ralph's relatives, its stoppage because of overwinding is ominous: it matchea Ralph's own "tightness," his niggardly nature aa wall as his intensity, principally noticeable toward his kin when family ties should make him at least duty-bound to help them in their financial distress; as an "over-wound" character, he pursues a purpoaa too far; and, like the watch, he is soon to stop his life-long uniform habits. As disastrous events 61 close about Ralph, tha watch again indicates his mood which accounts for unmethodical actions arising from his apprehension. As ha awaits the outcome of Squeers's at­ tempt to recover the will, Ralph sat alone, in the solitary room whare ha was accustomad to take hia meals. • . . Before him was an untested breakfast, and near to where his fingers beat restlessly upon tha table, lay his watch. It was long past the time at which, for many years, ha had put it in his pocket and gone with measured steps downstairs to tha business of tha day, but he took as little heed of its monotonous warning, as of the meat and drink before him, and remained with his head resting on one hand, and his ayes fixed moodily on tha ground. This departure from his regular and constant habit, in one so regular and unvarying in all that appertained to the daily pursuit of richas, would almost of itself have told that tha usurer was not wall. That he la­ boured under some mental or bodily indisposition, and that it was sufficiently shown by his haggard face. Jaded air, and hollow languid eyes: which he raised at last with a start and a hasty glance around him, as one who suddenly awakes from sleep, and cannot immediately recognize the place in which he finds himself. "What is this," he said, "that hangs over me, and I cannot shake off? I have never pampered myself, and should not be ill. I have never moped, and pined, and yielded to fancies; but what can a man do, without rest?" He pressed his hand upon his forehead. "Night after night comes and goes. ... If I alaep, what rest is that which is disturbed by constant dreams of the same detested faces crowding round me—of the same detested people, in every variety of action, min­ gling with all I say and do, and always to my defeat? Waking, what rest have I, constantly haunted by this heavy shadow of—I know not what—which is its worst eharactarl" (pp. 775-776) To the very end of Ralph'a existence ara emotive and sym­ bolic references to a gathering darkness, hovering clouds, and allusions to dreams, blindness, death, and tha davil. Jhila Nicholas' days are brighter and happier, Ralph's are gloomier; while Nicholas becomes calmer and claims his 62 "awakening," Ralph ia more restless and moves as if drunk or in a daze. It is with difficulty and at decreasing intervals that he recovers the "hard immovable inflexible manner which was habitual to him" (p. 752) after each dis­ appointment he undergoes in balking Nieholaa. Other than right before his death, nowhere is Ralph's "unnatural" madness so visible than at tha climax. He manifests this extremity of uncontrolled anger when he racognizes the nephew and nieca who have come to hinder, if possible, the marriage of Hadeline and the old roue: If some tremendous apparition from tha world of shadows had suddenly presented itself before him, Ralph Nicklaby oould not have bean more thundarstricken than ha was by this surprise. His hands fell powerless by his side, he reeled beck; and with opan mouth, and a face of ashy paleneas, stood gazing at them in apaechless rage. Hia ayes were so prominent, and his face waa so convulsed and changed by the passions which ragad within him, that it would have been difficult to recognise in him the same stern, composed, hard-faaturad man he had been not a minute ago. (p. 727) During the proceedings which followed Bray's death and the termination of the wadding plans, "ha literally gnaahed his teeth" (p. 727) and became as "furious as a baffled tiger" (p. 729) with "foaming at the mouth" (p. 731). Ralph fluctuates between hope and despair of suc­ cess as Nicholas does. He continues his harassment until tha identities of tha stranger and the now-dead Smike ara revealed. Tha ironic twist comas whan tha stranger tells that Smike was Ralph'a son. Dickens pictures Ralph dramat­ ically as tha old man gropes his way home, unce there, hs salf-pityingly reviews the recent disclosures: 63 His own child, his own childS . . , And dead too. Dying beside Nieholaa, loving him, and looking upon him as something like an angall That was the worst. They had all turned from him and deserted him in hia very first need. Even money could not buy them now; everything must come out, and everybody must know all. Hare was the young lord dead, his companion abroad and beyond his reach, ten thousand pounda gone at ona blow, his plot with Grida overset at tha moment of triumph, his after schemes discovered, himself in danger, the object of his persecution and Nicholas's love, his own wretched boy; everything crumbled and fallen upon hin, and he beaten down beneath tha ruins and grovelling in the dust. (p. 815)

Ralph forms a vague surmise of what might have been in the continuation of hia thoughts which summarize hia part as the villain in the atoryt

If ha had known his child to be alive; if no deceit had been ever practiaad ... I But, one tender thought, or one of natural regret, in his whirlwind of passion and remorse, was as a drop of calm water in a stormy maddened sea. His hatred of Nicholas had been fed upon his own defeat, nourished on his interference with his schemes, fattened upon his old defiance and success. There were reasons for its increase; it had grown and strengthened gradually. Now, it attained a height which was sheer wild lunacy. That his, of all others, should have been the handa to reacua hia miaerabla child; . . . that ha should now know and faal all this ... was gall and madness to the usurer's heart. ... Ha gnaahed his teeth, and smote the air, and looking wildly round, with eyea which gleamed through the darkness, cried aloud: "I am trampled down and ruined. The wretch told me trua. The night has cornel Is there no way to rob them of further triumph, and spurn their mercy and compas­ sion? Is there no Devil to help me?" (p. 816)

Remembering a suicidal victim whose grave ha had passed on the way home and "the victory achieved by that heap of clay, which, with one motion of ita hand, had let out the life and made this stir among them" (p. 816), Ralph goes to the garret where his son had been kept whan a small child.

He haara a bell toll. "'Lie onl' cried the usurer, 'with 64 your iron tongue I ... No ball or book for mal Throw ao on a dunghill, and lot me rot there, to infect the airi' With a wild look around, in which frenzy, hatred, and de­ spair, ware horribly mingled, he shook his clenched hand at the sky above him, which was still dark and threatening, and eloaed the window" (p. 818). Ralph than ends his life. Why doss Ralph commit suicide? Although the psy­ chology of Ralph's motivation is coated in sentimentality, there exists the pattern of developing obsessive hatred. The psychological foundation for Ralph'a vindictiveneas is givan at tha first meeting of Ralph and hia nephew: . • • The face of the old man was stern, hard- featured, and forbidding; that of tha young one, open, handsome, and ingenuous. The old man's eye was keen with the twinklings of avarice and cunning; the young man's, bright with the light of intelligence and spirit. His figure was somewhat slight, but manly and well- formed; and, apart from all the grace of youth and coroalinass, thera was an emanation from tha warm young heart in hia look and bearing which kept the old man down. However striking such a contrast as this may ba to lookers-on, none ever felt it with half tha kaennaas or acutaness of perception with which it strikes to tha very soul of him whose inferiority it marks. It galled Ralph to tha heart's core, and he hated Nicholas from that hour. (pp. 24-25) Dickens designs Ralph's character in preparation for the denouement. From the beginning, Ralph is a bully who en- Joya tha control he haa over others, one who cannot accept a comparison which acconta his own deficiencies. Instead, he triea to make up for his lack of tha qualities Nieholaa possesses by a ahow of power over the youth. Besides this specific preparation through tha actions of the eharactar, 65 thera ia Ralph's ruling greed which sacrifices human beings to his causa, his deprecations of family love or family obligation, his brooding loneliness, and his idea that fata in the form of the devil, Nicholas, ia thwarting him, all prepare the reader for his downfall. Superficially conaidsred, Ralph'a motivation seems to have little complication, {fiany men want riches and power; but tha reader sees, despite the apparent emphasis on action, that tha motivation is mora complicated. Having acquired money and influence already, Ralph'a aimple desire for riches and power begins to change. There ia tha sense of humiliation in not being able to overcome a younger, in- « experienced, penniless youth which grows with each van­ quishmant. There ia the feeling of inferiority when he first meets Nicholas and at tha timea he recalls the com­ parisons, unfavorable to Ralph, which people made between himself and hia younger brother; and there is the insidious fear of defeat. His final "frenzy" develops from his pride and refusal to submit to ordinary pity and compassion when ha mistakes mercy for vindietiveness. Never more than tha heartless materialist, his madness bacomes meaningful; and in his madness, ha commits suicide. The last grim revela­ tion of Ralph comes when he has carried his own values to their ultimate conclusion. The final obaaasiva "hatred and despair" comaa from his failure to thwart Nicholas and from the comparison he makes between his lot and that of his nephew; this amounts to a form of self pity. Ralph'a actions go hand in hand with tha developing hatred in his personality. Thia dooms him, for his siaple wish to best Nicholas and relieve himaelf of his nephew's presence is al­ so a wish to obliterate the menory of hia own shortcomings.

Paychological terms help to account for Ralph's motivation, but the reason for hia obsession does not fully account for tha horrible aspacta of hia final deed as tha anticipated outcome of the evil one receiving his Just de­ serts. If there is no moral significance to Ralph's sui­ cide, it lacka meaning and Justification. Again noting the author's structure of Ralph's character, tha reader aaes a moral theme emerge. From the mainaprings of Ralph's personality comaa his firmness of will. He persists in treating people on hia own terms. In the matter of getting even with Nicholas, crazed aa ha becomas at times, he is never at a total loaa. He summons renewed energy and a semblance of compoaura after each failure. Ha dominatea Gride, Snawlay, and Squeera. To them, he makes no pretenses as to his intentions, and yet he overawes them. Still, thia tremendous iron will and pride do not keep him from being blocked. He never asks for sympathy; he never submits to others' pity; he never accepts the ordinary Judgmanta or values of standard human behavior. This independence of spirit and pride twists him into a sort of monster. Connected with his pride ia his contempt for the opinion of othara. He thought, at tha end, to remain dominant and contamptuous of tha world, (but 67 the idea persists in the reader's mind that Ralph would not have committed auieida had ha not cared what the world thought). There is no tragic hero here even though he has the pride, isolation, and independence of the tragic hero. Thera ia no magnificent indapendenee in the horror of his death.

Ralph's final downfall, coming quickly and sharply, carries with the ironic turn in his affaira tha sarioua idea that hia degeneracy and loss of power ara through his failure to acknowledge an obligation and an accountability toward hia fellow men and through his failure to regard money as mora than a convenience for selfish measures. The story involves tha contrast between the different kinds of success or power. There is the external power over others which Ralph displays from the start. Trua success or power lias in tha exercise of power over the self. This lack of an internal power, a moral force, accounts for Ralph's loss of external power; but internal power ia found developing in Nicholas, and ha is rewarded materially. Dickana strueturas his novel to reflect this underlying moral theme by patterning characterizations. CHAPTER M

CONCLUSION

To verify any artiatic effeetivanaaa in Dickana' atructuralization in tha sanae of building or daaigning tha plot and related components of form has been the point in question in this thesis. Tha conventionality of tha plot or actions of the hero and villain in a sentimental comady ia not in quaation. Instead, tha study has tried to indicate what akill Dickens exhibits in handling these aapecta of hie novel.

The contention that tha work has a definite, ordered plot ia founded on tha main thread of the story to the sxoluaion of any subplots and episodes axtraneous to the main plot. Tha application of tha parts which make up traditional dramatic structure shows that the flow of eventa haa a continuity which unifies the story. As Chesterton atatas, the story oould be broken into sketches, but Nicholas Nioklaby presents a conflict and problem to be resolved. To break the narrative into sketches would mean a loss of the connection of events and ideas and thua a loss of tha substance of tha plot. Dickens has arranged hia material also to create and aatiafy auspanse. In faet, his imaginative ability in proaoting interest encourages the reader, in a superficial reading of the novel, to graap for answara to tha problems 68 69 tha author poaas. The "'abundance of incident, sprightly dialogue, 8trongly«*marked character'" (p. 315) which Nicholas claims give interest to tha play he is adapting for mr. Crummies ia applicable to Nicholas Nicklaby. Ooubt- loaa, Dickens' penchant for surprise and incident is the chief contributor to the reader's appetite for solutions; but the more careful consideration of tha work shows the pattern of suspense. Dickens mechanically arranges ex­ pectation by relaaaing information little by little and by presenting situations which increase in intensity. Within tha year drawn from Nicholas' life, thera ia the gradual un­ raveling of tha problems of subsistence, choice between duty and love, maturative proceasea, and, always in tha back­ ground, tha threatening enigma of Ralph. Atmoaphere, not only affecting the mood of tha character but attributing to the sense of impending danger or further excitement, is an eloquent meana Dickana uaas to build anticipation. The bitterly cold ride to Yorkshire, tha bleak countryside, the sordidneas and aqualor at Dothe­ boys, and tha "noisy, bustling, crowded atraets of London, , . , [where] atreams of people apparently without end poured on and on, Jostling each othor in the crowd and hurrying forward, . . . while vehicles of all shapae and makes, mingled up together in one moving mass like running water, lent their ceaaaless roar to swell tha noise and tumult" (p. 413) ara examples of the wasteland and impareon- ality of environs which underline Nicholas' distress and 70 actuate a aense of foreboding. The aequential gloom, the gathering clouds, and "the coming on of night" which Ralph raporta are synbolic patterns the author appliaa to create tenaion. Thus, Dickens follows tha principle of eliaax both rhetorically and mechanically in producing suspense. In contradiction to Chaaterton's statement that Dickens* treatment of Nicholas shows no psychology in his characterization, the designed changes in the personalities of Nioholaa and Ralph suggeat psychological aignifieance in thair development. It would be an aasunption to believe that tha actiona of these two have been entirely predeter­ mined by their peraonal makeup at tha beginning of the atory. Both characters show organic development to tha ex­ tent that the fantasy-disposed, impulsive Nieholaa at tha beginning shows the effecta of hia "educational" experiences and bacomes more humble in spirit, stable, and realistic at the end; the cold, calculating, controlled demeanor of tha proud usurer changes to crazed, animallatic, irrational be­ havior. While Nicholas emerges from his dream world, Ralph enters. There is nothing at the start of the story which states that either of these will respond in tha manner in which they did othar than tha fact that the "feel" or tone of the novel is that of a sentimental comedy. It could be assumad that the overshadowing of melodrama and sentimental­ ity influences a critic's decision, not only in this matter of paychological reaction, but that this colors an analysis of tha book's merits. I I n ,» tiM" llNI •U^llMto #f tlM MttHHT M •vliNwd in Nia mmimMmB 9%M%immm%m mm IHtetiili tha uraaaaa mf %hm plat Mi «htfmttviittti«iit Is tliat i^ %hm Viotarian with a bm^ liimi tm tlHi aatai wi9tiia« af ^%f$ paraa«aranaa» brottiarly Xmimm$ ani f««ily tiaa* iilin«iaa» km lialda op for fNiblia vit« tlia aatial nvilo wliieii tlia appoaita valuaa in aorality ««w tiia fSnfi«l4MMiy ia aefftia^«iifiatiiata« Tlia final pie* %m9m af tlit mmmmBmfml Niahalaa aa tha ahivalrouof gantla^ •Mly ypntli •§!• Ima overaoaa t««|MMitieRa» raaiatai iapraa« •in«9 •ipNMMiva oofi4itiona» and degrading axparianeaa rather tliaii follow tM line of iaaat roaiatanea ta baaoaa m Hmt4fin%* diaoifle af Saipli and hia ilk, aoaorda with a ayaiiirt fit «irtwi# Additieiially« tha evolution of nieholaa* fiMUiiga fmm tha mmlf diaguat ha aonfaaaaa at Dotheboya thtaugh hia laaaaning diaaottragaaant aixad with hope and huaility to tha final attainaant of apiritual contontaant and aalf*raapaet oaphaaizaa an inportant point that tha ardaring of tha narration auggaata*«that it ia a moral virtue to keep striving. Underlining thia affirmation ara the contrasts which Diekons davelopa with artiatry. Ralph ia a symbol of tha ninateonthMsentury social theory in economic enterpriae, the eyabol of all greedy usurers at a tima whan thera waa little or no governmental control in business, but ha alao ramaina a paraon in hia own right—the roeen, avaricious, proud buainaaanan. Dickena erects the virtues of Nicholas and thoae of hia frienda such aa tha Cheerybles in opposition 72 to the hypocrisy, covetousnass, and trickery of such as tha debaaing Ralph, tha skinflint Gride, tha ignorant, cruel schoolmaster Squeers, the egoistic member of Parlia­ ment Gregabury, and the dissolute aristocrat Hawk. The complex davelopment of Nicholas Nicklaby unites themes of callous indiffarence and social abuses into an extansiva structure in which all individuals whom Nicholas masts are related organically since each contact is an experience in his learning process. Dickens never permits the reader to lose sight of the social significance of his story. Dickens' structuralization throughout the personal drama of impoverishment, degradation, and ill-use shows a unified plot with convincing characterization around the theme of virtue versus evil, solved to a degree much greater than in his previous writings and in a manner artistically greater than has been concadad generally. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dickens, Charles. Mfihgia^ Ni^ki^b^ London, 1957.

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