The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Group

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bookvacuum
Student
High School - 9th Grade

What is Smike's past in "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby?"

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Posted by bookvacuum on Tuesday January 27, 2009 at 3:40 AM and tagged with characters, david edgar, details, the life and adventures of nicholas nickleby.

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  1. ladyvols1 Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Nicholas finds out about Smike. Poor Smike is a forgotten son of Ralph Nickleby from an earlier marriage.  He was left in the charge of Brooker, who almost immediately sent him to Dotheboys Hall.  He is treated poorly and suffers both physically and emotionally from lack of proper nourishment, clothing, and education.  As Nick is sent to work at Dotheboys Hall he eventually works out a way to get Smike out of that terrible living condition, but Smike is briefly returned to the Hall.  Finally Smike does, with Nicolas' help, escape from the terrible life he has lived, but he is never well and never completely recovers.  He dies of heartbreak and is buried under a tree.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/life-adventures/other-characters
    http://www.enotes.com/life-adventures/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/life-adventures/themes

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    Posted by ladyvols1 on Sunday February 8, 2009 at 9:50 PM