| Summary of Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens |
Chapters Eighteen to TwentyoneChapter 18It is a cold day and Anthony, Jonas and Chuffey are keeping warm near a fireplace with a very small fire. Anthony reprimands his father for stoking the fire. Jonas makes some tea and `kindly' helps his father take sips of it from his Rule Britannica teaspoon. Jonas appears particularly angry as Chuffey seems to be particularly supportive of his master whom Jonas keeps suggesting is far to old. After a while Jonas retreats to the office area where he unlocks a special drawer and looks with a sneer at a will which outlines the provision of a small annual annuity for Chuffey. He is startled by the suddenly ghostly appearance of Seth Pecksniff who wishes to discus business with him. They return to the parlor room where Jonas leaves Pecksniff and Anthony together. Anthony converses sneeringly about the seeming nuptial desires between Jonas and Charity (Cherry) With very little warning Anthony appears to fall into a very very deep sleep, and just as Jonas returns, Pecksniff is unable to wake him. Jonas and he discuss his daughters when they hear a strange gasping noise and turn to see Anthony has crashed to the floor in a strange fit. A doctor is called and they carry him unconscious to bed, Jonas requests that Pecksniff stay as he feels some people might think he is responsible for his father's death. Next morning a ghastly Anthony appears causing Jonas to shriek in fear. They place him in a chair but it is too late - he is dead! Chapter 19: It is the week before the funeral of Anthony Chuzzlewit, and Pecksniff has taken a family hand to help Jonas with the funeral arrangements and arrange for someone to assist in Night Watching over the late Anthony. The name Pecksniff has been given to employ, is Mrs Gamp, who is a very unusual character indeed always talking about her friend Mrs Harris. Mrs Gamp is not expensive but needs a constant supply of vitals but specially of the liquid kind. In the days before the funeral Jonas seems particularly stressed and anxious to get things over and done with. At last the day arrives and Mr. Mould brings his team of horses and and men to undertake Anthony to his final resting place, the only person who seems to be in genuine mourning is old Chuffey which seems to disconcert Jonas, however to his relief eventually Anthony is six feet under and he can be seen returning to his more normal un palatable self Chapter 20 It is now after the funeral and Jonas is fully his own pleasant self, he takes the opportunity to discus with Seth his plan to marry one of his daughters, he indicates that this will be Charity, between them they agree that Pecksniff will pay a dowry of some £5000. The two men mutually agree that they will return to Salisbury and surprise the girls. Tom Pinch is away apparently in the village, but the four have some supper, afterwards they all retire to the parlor where Pecksniff excuses himself for a short time to attend to some business affairs. This leaves Jonas with the girls, Mercy seizes her opportunity to leave, however Jonas forces her back into the room and sits them both down beside him, he humiliates Charity by announcing that it is Mercy whom he wishes to marry and proposes to her, Charity in tears flees the room, Mercy tries to follow but is violently restrained by Jonas, she slaps his face and refuses his offer, breaks away returning to her Charity. Pecksniff who seems to care more for the Chuzzlewit fortune than his own daughters, aquieses to Jonas' demands, for a further £1,000 dowry above the previous £5,000, Pecksniff hardly has time to recover when Tom Pinch bursts in announcing that Martin Chuzzlewit accompanied by Mary are arriving any second, Pecksniff turns pale with utter dismay. Chapter 21 Martin and Mark are on a train journey seeking the Valley of Eden, they apparently have had good advice from Mr. Bevan that Eden is a new place with prospects of making them some money. As they chat about Eden a few of their fellow passengers join in the conversations about the Old Mother Country where there is some polite disagreement between Martin and the passengers about the residency of the Queen. One of the passengers who seems to be an important man introduces himself as General Choke, Martin is pleased as this is the gentleman recommended by Mr. Bevan as a man of influence and impartiality who will help them find an honest agent should they seek to invest in real estate. The train terminates at the National Hotel where they take a room and have their evening meal. General Choke also invites them to attend, the next day, the Great Meeting of the Water Toaster Sympathizers. They discuss finance, Martin has about £8 plus about £14 he has from pawning Mary's ring ! Marks savings are about £38 so Martin `generously' suggest they share the full pool and he will grant Mark 50% of a business company which they could form. Martin also appoints himself to be the major decision maker. Next morning General Choke introduces them to his friend the estate agent Mr. Scadder. Oddly Mr. Scadder seems to have two faces, the brighter of the faces he usually points towards Martin. He shows Martin a plan of the city of Eden which impresses Martin considerably. Mark appears, much to Martin s annoyance rather skeptical, however as chief decision maker, it is Martin who enthusiastically agrees that they should go ahead and make a cash purchase of a block of land in Eden. Martin's spirits are now on a whole time high as they attend with General Choke the Great Meeting of the Watertoaster Sympathizers. The General reads his letter to the meeting which was addressed to Public Man In Ireland. The letter emphasizes that America is the land of The Free. Just as he concludes reading his letter the general is handed a note that has just arrived from overseas. The note states that The Public Man In Ireland has now turned and become an advocate of black African/American emancipation ! This causes tremendous anger that they should be associated with such a morally reprehensible concept and so they all vote to devolve their Association. 5:45 PM - 8/3/2007 - post comment
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Description Brief Summary of each chapter Home User Profile Archives Friends Recent Entries - Chapters Twenty Six to Twenty Nine - Chapters Twenty Two to Twenty Five - Chapters Eighteen to Twentyone - Chapters Fourteen to Seventeen - Chapters Eleven to Thirteen |