Martin Chuzzlewit

by Charles Dickens

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Chapters 16-17 Summary

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Martin and Mark are surrounded by newsboys selling newspapers as soon as they disembark in New York. Martin is quickly picked up by Colonel Diver, who is the editor of the New York Rowdy Journal. He escorts the two Englishman down Broadway to his office. There Martin meets Jefferson Brick, who is the war correspondent for the Rowdy Journal. Each person Martin meets in New York is introduced as one of the most remarkable men in the country. Jefferson joins Diver and Martin as they go to the boarding house where the journalists live, suggesting that Martin and Mark might also find accommodations there. When the door is answered by the Irish maid, Martin makes the mistake of referring to her employer as her “master.” Colonel Diver points out that in America, no one uses that term, as all are free. Martin suggests that the term owner might be more appropriate.

Martin is overwhelmed by the crude conditions of what is supposedly an established boarding house. The most prominent features in the dining room are the two spittoons. When the bell clangs for dinner, Martin thinks there is a fire as he hears people rushing down the hall. When he reaches the dining room, he finds his host, Major Pawkins, has finished half of his dinner. In fact, all the boarders shovel in their food with very little conversation. Afterward, Martin meets a kind gentleman, Dr. Bevan, who accompanies him back to the office of the Rowdy Journal, where Mark is still waiting for him. They find Mark sitting in the company of a gray-haired black man, who was formerly a slave. His master allowed him to buy his freedom, now that he was too old to work. He is now trying to earn enough money to buy his doctor. Mark makes sarcastic remarks about the Land of Liberty being the home of the slave, but Dr. Bevan warns him that this kind of talk, even in a free state like New York, is not too well tolerated from foreigners.

Dr. Bevan takes them to the home of some relatives, the Norrises, who are abolitionists. When Martin expresses delight at finding someone in America who abhors the treatment of the slaves, they correct him in stating that while they do not approve of slavery, neither do they approve of mixing the races. They also seem to be fascinated by the British aristocracy, despite their conviction that the American republic is far superior. A General Fladdock arrives, who had also been on the same ship as Martin and Mark. When Fladdock says he does not remember seeing Martin aboard ship, Martin reveals that he sailed across in steerage. Immediately, the Norrises become icy, and Martin excuses himself. He is irate at their arrogance, but Dr. Bevan catches up with him and assures him that he knew that Martin had sailed steerage and did not think the less of him. Back at the boarding house, Martin begins to regret coming to America, unsure that he will ever find work as an architect.

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