The Charles Dickens Page

Charles Dickens'
Martin Chuzzlewit

The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit

Martin Chuzzlewit - Published in monthly parts Jan 1843 - July 1844

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The Chuzzlewits-by Phiz

Charles Dickens' sixth novel, written after taking a year off during which he visited America for the first time, was less than enthusiastically received (Patten, 1978, p. 133). The novel deals with the greed of Old Martin's relatives, chiefly Mr Pecksniff, hoping to inherit his wealth.

In the sixth installment, hoping to fend off lagging sales, Dickens has young Martin Chuzzlewit, the old man's grandson, go off to America (Slater, 2009, p. 214). Dickens goes on to vent some of his ill feelings for the former colony he recently visited, American audiences were outraged (Kaplan, 1988, p. 157).

In preparing installments of Martin Chuzzlewit Dickens began developing a design for the entire novel in advance of the monthly numbers. This represents a change from his early novels and is further developed in his next novel, Dombey and Son (Davis, 1999, p. 233-234).

During the writing of Martin Chuzzlewit, and sales of the monthly parts disappointingly low, Dickens was experiencing financial difficulty. He had borrowed from his publishers for his American trip in 1842 and his wife Catherine was expecting their fifth child (Patten, 1978, p. 147). He responded by planning a small book for the Christmas season of 1843 which followed the theme of greed he was writing in Martin Chuzzlewit. The result was the classic A Christmas Carol, published in December 1843.

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Complete List of Characters:

Character descriptions contain spoilers

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American Characters

During Charles Dickens' trip to America in 1842 he is amazed at the American practice of bestowing honorary military titles. Thus many of the characters Mark Tapley and Martin Chuzzlewit meet in America sport these bogus titles (Martin Chuzzlewit, p. 272).

Dickens paints most of the American characters as tobacco chewing buffoons who place gain above honor.

Martin Chuzzlewit Links:

Bartleby.com
Wikipedia
Dickens Possibly Influenced Sweeney Todd - by Herb Moskovitz

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Sherry Cobbler

Charles Dickens had sampled Sherry Cobblers during his 1842 trip to America and had mentioned the drink in American Notes but in Martin Chuzzlewit Dickens is credited with introducing this American phenomenon to the world as Martin Chuzzlewit and Mark Tapley go to America to seek their fortunes. With Martin feeling discouraged at their prospects Mark attempts to revive his spirits:

He produced a very large tumbler, piled up to the brim with little blocks of clear transparent ice, through which one or two thin slices of lemon, and a golden liquid of delicious appearance, appealed from the still depths below, to the loving eye of the spectator.

'This wonderful invention, sir,' said Mark, tenderly patting the empty glass, 'is called a cobbler. Sherry cobbler when you name it long; cobbler, when you name it short. Now you're equal to having your boots took off, and are, in every particular worth mentioning, another man' (Martin Chuzzlewit, p. 295-296).

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The Victorian Funeral

At the death of Anthony Chuzzlewit, Mr Mould, the undertaker, provides the customary 19th century funeral that Charles Dickens mocks in many of his novels. Paid mourners and mutes, usually drunk (Martin Chuzzlewit, p. 320), follow the hearse feigning grief for the departed. Those in attendance were provided black ribbons, gloves, and scarves. Black feathers adorned the horses and hearse.

At Anthony's funeral the only person to feel honest emotion for the departed, Mr Chuffey, is rebuked by Mr Mould for not mourning correctly (Martin Chuzzlewit, p. 323-324).
Dickens' will directed that 'those attending my funeral wear no scarf, cloak, black bow, long hat-band, or other such revolting absurdity' (Forster, 1899, v. 2, p. 524).

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