Nicholas Nickleby (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Charles Dickens
- First Published: 1838
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Social realism
- Time of Work: Early nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Genres: Long fiction, Sensation novel
- Subjects: Love or romance, Nineteenth century, Social issues, Brothers and sisters, England or English people, Wills, Greed, Money, Private schools, Philanthropy or philanthropists
- Locales: London, England, Portsmouth, England
Characters Discussed
Nicholas Nickleby, the handsome, warm- hearted, enterprising son of a widow whose husband’s death left her and her two children impoverished as the result of unwise speculations. Through the grudging influence of his uncle, a shrewd, miserly London businessman, he secures a post as an assistant master at Dotheboys Hall, a wretched school for boys, at a salary of five pounds a year. Finding conditions at the school impossible to tolerate, he thrashes Wackford Squeers, his employer, quits the place in disgust, and returns to London in the company of Smike,...
[The entire page is 2181 words long]
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