He becomes a drunkard and a writer of begging letters to his prosperous relatives.

Charity Pecksniff

Charity Pecksniff, called Cherry, his older daughter. Deserted by Augustus Moddle, her betrothed, she becomes her father’s ill-tempered companion in his later years.

Mercy Pecksniff

Mercy Pecksniff, called Merry, a vain, selfish woman who marries her cousin, Jonas Chuzzlewit, partly to spite her sister. The cruel treatment she receives at his hands transforms her into “a model of uncomplaining endurance and self-denying affection.” Old Martin Chuzzlewit provides for her after her husband’s death.

John Westlock

John Westlock, an apprentice to Seth Pecksniff, who sees through his master, quarrels with him, and leaves him. His departure leaves room for Martin Chuzzlewit in the Pecksniff household. Always a good friend of Tom Pinch, he falls in love with and marries Tom’s sister Ruth. His suspicions of Jonas Chuzzlewit’s behavior lead also to the discovery of Tigg’s murder and the attempted murder of old Anthony Chuzzlewit.

Tom Pinch

Tom Pinch, Pecksniff’s meek, overworked assistant. Left by his grandmother in Pecksniff’s care, he is too trusting and too much burdened by a needless sense of obligation to see his master in his true light. Friendship with John Westlock and Martin Chuzzlewit teach him confidence, however, and when Pecksniff forces his attentions on Mary Graham, Tom sees Pecksniff for the hypocrite he is. When Pecksniff discharges him, he is hired by an unknown patron, old Martin Chuzzlewit, to catalog a library; with the money thus earned he is able to support his sister Ruth.

Ruth Pinch

Ruth Pinch, a governess, Tom Pinch’s loyal sister. She marries John Westlock.

Mark Tapley

Mark Tapley, the merry, self-reliant hostler at the Blue Dragon Inn in Wiltshire. Eager to see more of the world, he goes with Martin Chuzzlewit to America, where they are swindled by land speculators and disillusioned by all that they see and hear. After his return, he marries Mrs. Lupin, the landlady of the Blue Dragon, and renames the inn the Jolly Tapley, a name that he considers “wery new, conwivial, and expressive.”

Mrs. Lupin

Mrs. Lupin, landlady of the Blue Dragon Inn, a buxom, beaming widow, later Mrs. Mark Tapley. When they meet after Mark’s return to England, he kisses her often and heartily, but insists that he is really kissing his country after having lived “among the patriots.”

Montague Tigg

Montague Tigg, also known as Tigg Montague, Esq., director of the Anglo-Bengalee Disinterested Loan and Life Insurance Company and a swindler. Having learned of Jonas Chuzzlewit’s attempt to poison his father, he blackmails Jonas into buying his worthless stock and persuading Pecksniff to invest his funds as well. Jonas kills him. When news of his death reaches London, another partner, David Crimple, makes off with all the funds.

David Crimple

David Crimple, a former pawnbroker and tapster and secretary of the Anglo-Bengalee Disinterested Loan and Life Insurance Company. His theft of the company funds ruins Pecksniff, who had invested in the enterprise on the advice of Jonas Chuzzlewit.

Dr. John Jobling

Dr. John Jobling, a physician employed by Montague Tigg as medical inspector for the insurance company.

Nadgett

Nadgett, Tom Pinch’s landlord in London, employed by Montague Tigg as an investigator. He follows his employer and Jonas Chuzzlewit into the country and sees only Jonas returning. Acting on this knowledge, he unmasks Jonas as Tigg’s murderer.

Chuffey

Chuffey, Anthony Chuzzlewit’s devoted clerk. Old, deaf, and almost blind, he is also shrewd, and he helps to save his employer from Jonas Chuzzlewit’s attempt to poison his father.

Sairey Gamp

Sairey Gamp, a Cockney midwife and nurse who displays the same zest at a lying-in or a laying-out. She is fat, husky-voiced, moist-eyed, red-nosed, and over-fond of drink, so that she is always surrounded by the odor of spirits. Her fabrications she credits to her completely imaginary friend, Mrs. Harris. She is one of Dickens’ great comic characters.

Chevy Slyme

Chevy Slyme, a distant relative of old Martin Chuzzlewit, a dubious character who is “always waiting around the corner.” He is a friend of Jonas Chuzzlewit and Montague Tigg.

Mr. Spottletoe

Mr. Spottletoe, another relative of old Martin Chuzzlewit, also eager for a share of his relative’s fortune.

Mrs. Spottletoe

Mrs. Spottletoe, his wife, a woman of a “poetical constitution.”

Lewsome

Lewsome, a young surgeon. Under obligations to Jonas Chuzzlewit, he sells Jonas the drugs with which the son makes an attempt on his father’s life. After Anthony Chuzzlewit’s death, he confesses to John Westlock his part in the affair and thus helps bring Jonas to justice.

Paul Sweedlepipe

Paul Sweedlepipe, a hairdresser and bird fancier, Sairey Gamp’s landlord.

Mrs. Betsey Prig

Mrs. Betsey Prig, a Cockney day nurse and Sairey Gamp’s bosom friend, with whom she often nurses “turn and turn about.” They finally quarrel because Betsey dares to doubt the existence of Mrs. Harris.

Mrs. M. Todgers

Mrs. M. Todgers, landlady of the Commercial Boarding House, at which the Pecksniffs stay while in London.

Mr. Jinkins

Mr. Jinkins, the oldest resident at Mrs. Todgers’ boardinghouse. His recreation is identifying carriages driving in the parks on Sundays.

Augustus Moddle

Augustus Moddle, a young gentleman living at Mrs. Todgers’ boardinghouse. He is at first smitten by Mercy Pecksniff, but after her marriage to Jonas Chuzzlewit, he becomes, rather helplessly, engaged to her sister Charity. On the eve of the wedding, he runs away, leaving behind a letter in which he announces his departure for Van Dieman’s Land and his determination never to be taken alive if Charity pursues him.

Bailey

Bailey, the “boots” at Mrs. Todgers’ boardinghouse. He eventually becomes Mr. Sweedlepipe’s assistant.

Mr. Fips

Mr. Fips, the lawyer through whom old Martin Chuzzlewit engages Tom Pinch to catalog a library.

Mr. Mould

Mr. Mould, an undertaker whose countenance always seems caught between a look of melancholy and a satisfied smirk.

Mrs. Mould

Mrs. Mould, his wife.

The Misses Mould

The Misses Mould, their daughters, two plump sisters with cheeks like ripe peaches.

Tacker

Tacker, Mr. Mould’s chief mourner.

Sophia

Sophia, a girl taught by Ruth Pinch. Mrs. Todgers calls her “a syrup.”

Wolf

Wolf and

Pip

Pip, friends and confederates of Montague Tigg.

The Hon. Elijah Pogram

The Hon. Elijah Pogram, a bombastic congressman whom Martin Chuzzlewit meets in New York.

Zephaniah Scadder

Zephaniah Scadder, a land speculator who, representing the Eden Land Corporation, sells Martin Chuzzlewit fifty acres of land in the backwoods community named Eden.

Major Pawkins

Major Pawkins, a New York politician who boasts that he is a man of the people.

Mrs. Pawkins

Mrs. Pawkins, his wife and keeper of a boardinghouse.

Mr. Bevan

Mr. Bevan, a kindhearted citizen of Massachusetts who lends Martin Chuzzlewit the money for his return passage to England.

General Fladdock

General Fladdock, an American militia officer and a snob.

Lafayette Kettle

Lafayette Kettle, a loud-voiced American, secretary of the Watertoast Association of United Sympathizers.

General Cyrus Choke

General Cyrus Choke, an officer of the militia, a member of the Eden Land Corporation and the Watertoast Association of United Sympathizers.

Colonel Diver

Colonel Diver, editor of the New York Rowdy Journal.

Jefferson Brick

Jefferson Brick, war correspondent of the Rowdy Journal.

Mrs. Brick

Mrs. Brick, his wife, an American “matron.”

Cicero

Cicero, a New York truckman, formerly a slave.

Captain Kedgick

Captain Kedgick, landlord of the National Hotel in New York, in whose hostelry Martin Chuzzlewit stays during his visit to the United States.

Professor Mullit

Professor Mullit, an American educator, the author of many pamphlets written under the name of Suturb.

Mr. Norris

Mr. Norris, a wealthy, sentimental abolitionist.

Mrs. Norris

Mrs. Norris, his faded wife.

Miss Toppit

Miss Toppit, an American woman of literary pretensions.

Mrs. Hominy

Mrs. Hominy, another American literary light.