Behind the doors of a humble abode, where there is a dusty room full of antiques of all kinds, in said room, hidden in the darkness of the night, the silhouette of a tiny creature wanders among those relics. The girl, since that creature is a little girl named Nell Trent, eagerly awaits the arrival of her grandfather. However, the old man does not return until midday. When the aforementioned enters the house, he barely notices the presence of the child who looks at him sadly. The oldster, ruminating bitterly painful thoughts, goes to his room while his granddaughter takes care of the housework.
After getting into debt with Daniel Quilp, a horrible dwarf involved in shady dealings, the elderly man ends up losing his fortune in a few weeks. All of his belongings, including the old curiosity shop, pass into the hands of the pawnbroker who immediately takes possession of the house. Thus, the old man and his granddaughter are left without a roof over their head.
The orphan, and her legal guardian disappear overnight, with no one having a clue as to their whereabouts. Meanwhile, a very different plot unfolds. Frederick Trent, the girl’s brother, asks his friend Dick to marry her when she reaches the age of majority. After celebrating said wedding, the two would squander the money that, according to their conjectures, Nell would inherit from her grandfather. At the same time, Kit, the faithful servant of the old man, tries to find his master and little Nell without obtaining any results with his inquires. However, a stranger unexpectedly offers to help him find the owners of the old curiosity shop. Finally, Daniel Quilp, having sworn vengeance against the old man and his granddaughter, would spy on Kit and his mysterious collaborator to find the fugitives and carry out his plans.
Characters:
Daniel Quilp; the malevolent Lilliputian.
His appearance, mannerisms, and facial expressions border on the ridiculous, almost being grotesque.
With a cruel and sadistic personality, everyone around him becomes his victim. His wife suffers his mistreatment on a daily basis, being psychologically tortured day and night in his presence and, paradoxically, in his absence, since her husband acts at his whim, frequently leaving the marital home without even telling her. Mr. Brass, his legal advisor, suffers his threats, being forced to bend to his will to keep the wealthiest client of the Bevis Mark firm. Richard Swiviller, also known as Dick, after being abandoned to his fate by whom he considered his most faithful friend, finds himself in the need to establish a bond with this terrifying character to cope with the dire economic situation in which he finds himself. Nell and her grandfather, for their part, while still miles away, are stalked by Mr. Quilp who does not stop chasing them in his eagerness to plunge one and the other into even greater misery. Lastly, Kit falls prey of a conspiracy against him by refusing to give Daniel information about the fugitives.
‘You are there, are you, my friend?’ he repeated, greedily biting his nails. ‘I am suspected and thrown aside, and Kit’s the confidential agent, is he? I shall have to dispose of him, I fear. If we had come up with them this morning,’ he continued, after a thoughtful pause, ‘I was ready to prove a pretty good claim. I could have made my profit. But for these canting hypocrites, the lad and his mother, I could get this fiery gentleman as comfortably into my net as our old friend—our mutual friend, ha! ha!—and chubby, rosy Nell. At the worst, it’s a golden opportunity, not to be lost. Let us find them first, and I’ll find means of draining you of some of your superfluous cash, sir, while there are prison bars, and bolts, and locks, to keep your friend or kinsman safely. I hate your virtuous people!’ said the dwarf, throwing off a bumper of brandy, and smacking his lips, ‘ah! I hate ’em every one!’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 313)
Elizabeth Quilp; the submissive wife.
In her years as a single woman, she gave in to the wishes of her mother who longed to see her marry a wealthy man like Daniel Quilp. Being a beautiful, kind and sensitive young lady, Elizabeth began to be despised by her husband shortly after the religious ceremony was held. Despite this fact, Elizabeth has always professed a certain affection for her spouse, it could even be said that she loves him deeply. The mere thought that some misfortune might befall her beloved husband causes her great sorrow. In the same way, she suffers from being abandoned by him on numerous occasions, as we have already mentioned. Thus, Elizabeth is described in the novel as a devoted and loving wife, leaving aside the hostile treatment she receives from her husband.
Being left along with his wife, who sat trembling in a corner with her eyes fixed upon the ground, the little man planted himself before her, and folding his arms looked steadily at her for a long time without speaking. ‘Mrs Quilp,’ he said at last. ‘Yes, Quilp,’ she replead meekly. Instead of pursing the theme he had in his mind, Quilp folded his arms again, and looked at her more sternly than before, while she averted her eyes and kept them on the ground. ‘Mrs Quilp.’ ‘Yes, Quilp.’ ‘If ever you listen to these beldames again, I’ll bite you.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 31).
Mrs. Jiniwin; Elizabeth’s mother.
A defender of women’s rights, she witnesses how her daughter submits to the will of Daniel Quilp, an attitude that she seriously disapproves. However, she herself must bend on certain occasions to the whims of the man, since he usually resorts to physical violence to achieve his purposes. The constant absences of her son-in-law from the marital home are taken advantage of by Mrs. Jinivier to receive guests and criticize such a despicable individual.
‘Owe indeed, ma’am!’ replied Mrs Jiniwin. ‘When my poor husband, her dear father, was alive, if he had ever ventured a cross word to me, I’d have—’ The good old lady did not finish the sentence, but she twisted off the head of a shrimp with a vindictiveness which seemed to imply that the action was in some degree a substitute for words. In this light it was clearly understood by the other party, who immediately replied with great approbation, ‘You quite enter into my feelings, ma’am, and it’s jist what I’d do myself.’ ‘But you have no call to do it,’ said Mrs Jiniwin. ‘Luckily for you, you have no more occasion to do it than I had.’ ‘No woman need have, if she was true to herself,’ rejoined the stout lady. ‘Do you hear that, Betsy?’ said Mrs Jiniwin, in a warning voice. ‘How often have I said the same words to you, and almost gone down my knees when I spoke ’em!’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 26).
Frederick Trent; the grandson of the old man, and brother of the orphan.
His father, a selfish and vicious man, ruined his wife’s life. Said woman, after becoming a widow, and due to the misfortunes she suffered during her marriage, died a few months after her husband. Given the circumstances, Frederick and Nell were left in charge of their maternal grandfather.
Over time, much to the regret of his sister and legal guardian, the boy began to show signs of having inherited certain personality traits from his father. Being barely a youngster, he left home to live a life of dissipation. His tutor, after vain attempts to guide him on the path of good, ended up accepting Frederick doing whatever he wanted as long as he handled his affairs without involving him or little Nell in them. Frederick, however, never respected these conditions imposed by his grandfather.
‘You interrupted us at a critical moment,’ said he, pointing to the man whom I had found in company with him; ‘this fellow will murder me one of these days. He would have done so, long ago, if he had dared.’ ‘Bah! You would swear away my life if you could,’ returned the other, after bestowing a stare and a frown on me; ‘we all know that!’ ‘I almost think I could,’ cried the old man, turning feebly upon him. ‘If oaths, or prayers, or words, could rid me of you, they should. I would be quit of you, and would be relieved if you were dead.’ ‘I know it,’ returned the other. ‘I said so, didn’t I? But neither oaths, or prayers, nor words, WILL kill me, and therefore I live, and mean to live.’ ‘And his mother died!’ cried the old man, passionately clasping his hands and looking upward; ‘and this is Heaven’s justice!’ —(…) ‘Justice or no justice,’ said the young fellow, ‘here I am and here I shall stop till such time as I think fit to go, unless you send for assistance to put me out— which you won’t do, I know. I tell you again that I want to see my sister.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 13).
In the first chapters of the novel we can notice how the young man shamelessly insists on having a fraternal bond with his sister in view of his own personal interests, since he suspects the girl will inherit everything the old man possesses. Blinded by greed, he has believed all the rumors he has heard about his grandfather since the neighbors are convinced that the owner of the Old Curiosity Shop has a huge fortune that he hides God knows where. However, appearances indicate otherwise. Still, Frederick decides to impose his presence on his relatives to be aware of their plans. Finding out overnight that both, his sister and his grandfather, have disappeared without a trace, he ends up making a pact with Daniel Quilp to find their whereabouts.
Richard Swiviller; fond of beer, and card games.
In chapter n⁰2 this character is presented to the readers in all its splendor; with disheveled clothes, and sleepy eyes since he has spent the whole night indulging in the pleasure of drinking. This young man turns out to be Frederick’s closest friend. In love with Sofia Wackles, Richard chooses to cut off any kind of relationship with the lady after having promised to marry Nell within a period of no more than two years. However, much to his regret, it is Sofia herself who ends up leaving him after accepting Mr. Cheggs’ marriage proposal. It must be said that Miss Wackles longed to become Richard Swiviller’s wife, but the latter’s indecision regarding herself left her no choice but to accept Mr. Cheggs as her future husband.
‘Are you going?’ said Miss Sophy, whose heart sank within her at the result of her stratagem, but who affected a light indifference notwithstanding. ‘Am I going!’ echoed Dick bitterly. ‘Yes, I am. What then?’ ‘Nothing, except that it’s very early,’ said Miss Sophy; ‘but you are your own master, of course.’ ‘I would that I had been my own mistress too,’ said Dick, ‘before I had ever entertained a thought of you. Miss Wackles, I believed you true, and I was blest in so believing, but now I mourn that e’er I knew, a girl so fair yet so deceiving.’ Miss Sophy bit her lip and affected to look with great interest after Mr Cheggs, who was quaffing lemonade in the distance. ‘I came here,’ said Dick, rather oblivious of the purpose with which he had really come, ‘with my bosom expanded, my heart dilated, and my sentiments of a corresponding description. I go away with feelings that may be conceived but cannot be described, feeling within myself that desolating truth that my best affections have experienced this night a stifler!’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 58).
Disappointed, Dick finds solace in the idea of seizing Nell’s money as agreed with Frederick. To his surprise, his hopes fade away when he founds out that the orphan has gone off with her grandfather without revealing their whereabouts to anyone. Richard, distraught by so many mishaps, in a moment of weakness, ends up revealing all of his most intimate secrets to Quilp, who takes advantage of the young man’s ingenuity to manipulate him.
‘You have deceived an orphan, Sir,’ said Mr Swiveller solemnly.’ ‘I! I’m a second father to you,’ replied Quilp. ‘You my father, Sir!’ retorted Dick. ‘Being all right myself, Sir, I request to be left alone—instantly, Sir.’ ‘What a funny fellow you are!’ cried Quilp. ‘Go, Sir,’ returned Dick, leaning against a post and waving his hand. ‘Go, deceiver, go, some day, Sir, p’r’aps you’ll waken, from pleasure’s dream to know, the grief of orphans forsaken. Will you go, Sir?’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 148 and 149).
Eventually, finding himself financially strapped, and on the recommendation of Daniel Quilp, Dick ends up accepting a position as an intern at the Bevis Mark office. In his daily dealings with the Brass brothers, sole partners and founders of the law firm, Swiviller befriends the housemaid. Richard will refer to her as “The Marchioness”. As the story progresses, Dick also strikes up a friendship with Kit, caring for his family’s well-being and coming to his aid when the boy needs it most.
The Marchioness; a shy nosy maid.
She is in charge of housekeeping in the two-story building that houses the Brass brothers’ law firm. Hired under slave-like conditions, she is forced to spend the idle hours of the day locked in the basement. She barely gets out of said confinement to do the chores that are assigned to her, mainly in the bedrooms or in the kitchen. Furthermore, she is prohibited from entering the office at all while she is cleaning on the upper floors. Nevertheless, the girl has a key that allows her to leave her bedroom when no one can notice it, and to go idly inside the house.
On more than one occasion, the maid spies on Richard through the lock of the office’s door while he is working. Eventually, Dicks finds out about this peculiar behavior. However, when he does, instead of scolding the girl, he offers her a glass of beer, a plate of meat, and teaches her how to play cards. Other meetings between the two are repeated in the same way. Weeks later, the Marchioness, grateful for Dick’s affection, selflessly gives herself to his care while he is ill. During his convalescence, she reveals to him a conversation between Samson and Sally regarding Kit’s legal situation.
‘Marchioness,’ said Mr Swiveller, thoughtfully, ‘be pleased to draw nearer. First of all, will you have the goodness to inform me where I shall find my voice; and secondly, what has become of my flesh?’ The Marchioness only shook her head mournfully, and cried again; whereupon Mr Swiveller (being very weak) felt his own eyes affected likewise. ‘I begin to infer, from your manner, and these appearances, Marchioness,’ said Richard after a pause, and smiling with a trembling lip, ‘that I have been ill.’ ‘You just have!’ replied the small servant, wiping her eyes. ‘And haven’t you been a talking nonsense!’ ‘Oh!’ said Dick. ‘Very ill, Marchioness, have I been?’ ‘Dead, all but,’ replied the small servant. ‘I never thought you’d get better. Thank Heaven you have!’ (…)’Marchioness,’ said Mr Swiveller, ‘how’s Sally?’ The small servant screwed her face into an expression of the very uttermost entanglement of slyness, and shook her head. ‘What, haven’t you seen her lately?’ said Dick. ‘Seen her!’ cried the small servant. ‘Bless you, I’ve run away!’ Mr Swiveller immediately laid himself down again quite flat, and so remained for about five minutes. By slow degrees he resumed his sitting posture after that lapse of time, and inquired: ‘And where do you live, Marchioness?’ ‘Live!’ cried the small servant. ‘Here!’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 414 and 415)
Kit (Christopher Nubbles); the antiques’ store employee.
The young man is not exactly handsome, although he is definitely charismatic.
The child laughed again more heartily than before, and I could not help smiling from pure sympathy. The little old man took up a candle and went to open the door. When he came back, Kit was at his heels. Kit was a shock-headed, shambling, awkward lad with an uncommonly wide mouth, very red cheeks, a turned-up nose, and certainly the most comical expression of face I ever saw. He stopped short at the door on seeing a stranger, twirled in his hand a perfectly round old hat without any vestige of a brim, and resting himself now on one leg and now on the other and changing them constantly, stood in the doorway, looking into the parlour with the most extraordinary leer I ever beheld.
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 7).
Since he works every day as the old man’s assistant, he suddenly notices the strange behavior that his master begins to show. Oddly enough, at midnight, the old man gets in a hurry to get out of the antiques shop. Little Nell must then lock the door of the store by herself, and stay alone all night. Given the circumstances, Kit decides to ensure the girl’s safety by hanging around the humble abode for a few hours after the old man leaves the house.
‘I wonder what she’d say,’ cried his mother, stopping in her work and looking round, ‘if she knew that every night, when she—poor thing—is sitting alone at that window, you are watching in the open street for fear any harm should come to her, and that you never leave the place or come home to your bed though you’re ever so tired, till such time as you think she’s safe in hers.’ ‘Never mind what she’d say,’ replied Kit, with something like a blush on his uncouth face; ‘she’ll never know nothing, and consequently, she’ll never say nothing.’ (…) ‘I know what some people would say, Kit—’ ‘Nonsense,’ interposed Kit with a perfect apprehension of what was to follow. ‘No, but they would indeed. Some people would say that you’d fallen in love with her, I know they would.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 70).
Sadly, the old man ends up firing the young man due to a misunderstanding. Furthermore, Christopher is forbidden from speaking to him or his granddaughter ever again. Despite these facts, Christopher insists on his desire to provide Nell lodging in his house as he finds out that both, she and her grandfather, are in a hurry to find a new place to live. Meanwhile, the young man finds himself in the dire situation of getting another job. A particular occasion changes Christopher’s luck in this regard. The Garlands, a wealthy family, gather in Mr. Witherden’s office to celebrate the success of Abel, the couple’s only son, get suddenly interested in the young man well-being. Delighted with Cristóbal’s manners, and after several interviews with the aforementioned to verify his honesty and other qualities, Mr. and Mrs. Garland hire him to take care of certain minor tasks in the mansion, the stable, and the garden they own.
Mrs. Nubbles; Kit’s mother
Leaving Christopher aside, she is also mother of two other boys; one of them being a newly born child, and the other being a toddler. Recently widowed, having no choice but to raise her children alone, she finds herself carrying out small errands to cover household expenses. As a close acquaintance of Nell and her grandfather, she is greatly upset when she finds out that both have left the neighborhood. However, she tries to hide her grief in order to comfort her eldest son, who is devastated by his masters’ departure.
‘Hush, mother!’ whispered Kit. ‘Come along with me, I’ve got something to tell you.’ ‘Where am I?’ said Mrs Nubbles. ‘In this blessed Little Bethel,’ returned her son, peevishly. ‘Blessed indeed!’ cried Mrs Nubbles, catching at the word. ‘Oh, Christopher, how have I been edified this night!’ ‘Yes, yes, I know,’ said Kit hastily; ‘but come along, mother, everybody’s looking at us. Don’t make a noise—bring Jacob—that’s right!’ ‘Stay, Satan, stay!’ cried the preacher, as Kit was moving off. ‘This gentleman says you’re to stay, Christopher,’ whispered his mother. ‘Stay, Satan, stay!’ roared the preacher again. ‘Tempt not the woman that doth incline her ear to thee, but harken to the voice of him that calleth. He hath a lamb from the fold!’ cried the preacher, raising his voice still higher and pointing to the baby.
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 267).
The Garland family; Christopher’s new employers
Mr. and Mrs. Garland, being an elderly couple, were lucky enough to conceive their only son, Abel, while they were still able to do so. At the time the events of the novel are narrated, the heir to the Garland’s fortune is already a grown man.
Mr. and Mrs. Garland meet Christopher the day they attend a party at Mr. Witherden’s house. Christopher is left in charge of their carriage while the couple toast with friends. Mr. and Mrs. Garland, on this occasion, are so pleased with the young man’s manners that they decide to hire him as a servant. As the weeks go by, all family members, being humble and generous, become quite fond of Christopher. Thus, the Garlands end up becoming an adoptive family for the young fellow.
‘You see, Christopher,’ said Mr Garland, ‘this is a point of much importance to you, and you should understand and consider it in that light. This gentleman is able to give you more money than I—not, I hope, to carry through the various relations of master and servant, more kindness and confidence, but certainly, Christopher, to give you more money.’ ‘Well,’ said Kit, ‘after that, Sir—’ ‘Wait a moment,’ interposed Mr Garland. ‘That is not all. You were a very faithful servant to your old employers, as I understand, and should this gentleman recover them, as it is his purpose to attempt doing by every means in his power, I have no doubt that you, being in his service, would meet with your reward. Besides,’ added the old gentleman with stronger emphasis, ‘besides having the pleasure of being again brought into communication with those to whom you seem to be very strongly and disinterestedly attached. You must think of all this, Christopher, and not be rash or hasty in your choice.’ (…) ‘He has no right to think that I’d be led away to go to him, sir,’ said Kit, turning round again after half a minute’s hammering. ‘Does he think I’m a fool?’ ‘He may, perhaps, Christopher, if you refuse his offer,’ said Mr Garland gravely
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 259 and 260).
Barbara; the Garland’s maid
She falls in love with Christopher shortly after seeing him for the first time. As a shy and reserved woman, she keeps her love for the servant a secret. However, she still manages to establish a close friendship with the young man. Such turns out to be the case that their respective mothers become close acquaintances; thus they begin to gather to attend different public events. Christopher, for his part, still longing to find the Old Curiosity Shop’s mistress, is not even close to realizing Barbara’s feelings for him.
In the midst of all these fascinations, Barbara’s thoughts seemed to have been still running on what Kit had said at tea-time; for, when they were coming out of the play, she asked him, with an hysterical simper, if Miss Nell was as handsome as the lady who jumped over the ribbons. ‘As handsome as her?’ said Kit. ‘Double as handsome.’ ‘Oh Christopher! I’m sure she was the beautifullest creature ever was,’ said Barbara. ‘Nonsense!’ returned Kit. ‘She was well enough, I don’t deny that; but think how she was dressed and painted, and what a difference that made. Why YOU are a good deal better looking than her, Barbara.’ ‘Oh Christopher!’ said Barbara, looking down. ‘You are, any day,’ said Kit, ‘—and so’s your mother.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 256).
Samson Brass and Sally Brass; the owners of Bevis Mark
While Samson Brass is well known for bending to the will of anyone with political influence and wealth, his sister Sally, on the other hand, is an inflexible woman, much more skilled and intuitive than her brother when it comes to business.
‘Have you nearly done, Sammy?’ said Miss Brass; for in her mild and feminine lips, Sampson became Sammy, and all things were softened down. ‘No,’ returned her brother. ‘It would have been all done though, if you had helped at the right time.’ ‘Oh yes, indeed,’ cried Miss Sally; ‘you want my help, don’t you?—YOU, too, that are going to keep a clerk!’ ‘Am I going to keep a clerk for my own pleasure, or because of my own wish, you provoking rascal!’ said Mr Brass, putting his pen in his mouth, and grinning spitefully at his sister. ‘What do you taunt me about going to keep a clerk for?’ (…) ‘What do you taunt me, after three hours’ talk last night, with going to keep a clerk for?’ repeated Mr Brass, grinning again with the pen in his mouth, like some nobleman’s or gentleman’s crest. Is it my fault?’ ‘All I know is,’ said Miss Sally, smiling drily, for she delighted in nothing so much as irritating her brother, ‘that if every one of your clients is to force us to keep a clerk, whether we want to or not, you had better leave off business, strike yourself off the roll, and get taken in execution, as soon as you can.’ ‘Have we got any other client like him?’ said Brass. ‘Have we got another client like him now—will you answer me that?’ ‘Do you mean in the face!’ said his sister. ‘Do I mean in the face!’ sneered Sampson Brass, reaching over to take up the bill-book, and fluttering its leaves rapidly. ‘Look here—Daniel Quilp, Esquire —Daniel Quilp, Esquire—Daniel Quilp, Esquire—all through. Whether should I take a clerk that he recommends, and says, “this is the man for you,” or lose all this, eh?’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 213 and 214).
Charles Dickens gives a detailed description of her physical appearance, in which the writer’s sarcasm stands out. Since Miss Brass is not blessed with a beautiful face or a feminine silhouette, the reader can already imagine the number of suitors she would have. It must not be thought, however, that this is a cause of distress to Miss Brass, who, for her part, has never been interested in arousing the admiration of gentlemen. Interestingly, upon being introduced to Richard Swiviller, Sally begins to feel a somewhat romantic inclination for the young man, or so readers can deduce.
Let Sally enjoy Richard’s company, and once again turn our attention to Samson Brass, who is constantly abused by Daniel Quilp. Haunted by the thought of losing this esteemed client, Mr. Brass engages in somewhat awkward affairs to satisfy Quilp’s whims. Some of them involve physical pain. Thus, Samson must tolerate that his client smokes in front of him during his meetings, and even forces him to smoke himself, despite knowing full well that tobacco smoke causes him nausea; or he must attend a lunch in a restaurant whose humid environment aggravates his flu condition; or he finds himself in the predicament of drinking a boiling liquor that burns his lips and tongue; or he has to cross a yard of uneven ground in the dead of night, repeatedly tripping over stones and falling to the floor.
‘Won’t you stop all night?’ said the dwarf, peeping out. ‘Do stop all night!’ ‘I couldn’t indeed, Sir,’ replied Brass, who was almost dead from nausea and the closeness of the room. ‘If you’d have the goodness to show me a light, so that I may see my way across the yard, sir—’ Quilp was out in an instant; not with his legs first, or his head first, or his arms first, but bodily—altogether. ‘To be sure,’ he said, taking up a lantern, which was now the only light in the place. ‘Be careful how you go, my dear friend. Be sure to pick your way among the timber, for all the rusty nails are upwards. There’s a dog in the lane. He bit a man last night, and a woman the night before, and last Tuesday he killed a child—but that was in play. Don’t go too near him.’ ‘Which side of the road is he, sir?’ asked Brass, in great dismay. ‘He lives on the right hand,’ said Quilp, ‘but sometimes he hides on the left, ready for a spring. He’s uncertain in that respect. Mind you take care of yourself. I’ll never forgive you if you don’t. There’s the light out—never mind—you know the way—straight on!’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 407).
The mysterious gentleman; the tenant of the brass brothers
One afternoon, while Mr. Swiviller is alone in the office, an unknown man breaks into the house and goes up to the second floor where a room is available for rent. Urged on by the maid’s dramatic pleas, Richard shows the gentleman the room, and tells him pertinent details about the accommodation, such as the services included in the rental payment. Richard also tricks the stranger by raising the rent to one pound a week instead of the eighteen shillings stipulated by Mr. Brass. The gentleman accepts this and each one of the conditions imposed by Dick, after which he settles in, and lies down on the bed, but not before ordering his interlocutor that no one disturb his rest until he requests the presence of the maid.
Twenty-four hours after this gentleman’s arrival, Sally, Samson, and Dick are stunned to find out that their guest is still sleeping. Concerned about the gentleman’s health, the three characters go up to the second floor and stand behind the door of the tenant’s room, paying special attention to any sounds that may come from inside. However, not hearing anything, they begin to knock on the walls to wake up the gentleman. The aforementioned, enraged by this uproar, suddenly opens the door and lashes out at Richard who tries to appease his spirits.
The gentleman, realizing the concern that his behavior has aroused in everyone, asks Richard to come into his bedroom. Then, he offers Dick an aperitif and has a brief dialogue with him. After clearing up some issues, the mysterious guest abruptly escorts the young man out of his room.
‘The man of the house is a lawyer, is he not?’ said the lodger. Dick nodded. The rum was amazing. ‘The woman of the house—what’s she?’ ‘A dragon,’ said Dick. The single gentleman, perhaps because he had met with such things in his travels, or perhaps because he WAS a single gentleman, evinced no surprise, but merely inquired ‘Wife or Sister?’—’Sister,’ said Dick.—’So much the better,’ said the single gentleman, ‘he can get rid of her when he likes.’ ‘I want to do as I like, young man,’ he added after a short silence; ‘to go to bed when I like, get up when I like, come in when I like, go out when I like—to be asked no questions and be surrounded by no spies. In this last respect, servants are the devil. There’s only one here.’ ‘And a very little one,’ said Dick. ‘And a very little one,’ repeated the lodger. ‘Well, the place will suit me, will it?’ ‘Yes,’ said Dick. ‘Sharks, I suppose?’ said the lodger. Dick nodded assent, and drained his glass. ‘Let them know my humour,’ said the single gentleman, rising. ‘If they disturb me, they lose a good tenant. If they know me to be that, they know enough. If they try to know more, it’s a notice to quit. It’s better to understand these things at once. Good day.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 231 and 232).
A peculiar event reveals to readers this man’s interest in finding the whereabouts of the orphan and her grandfather. After a puppet performance in front the Brass brothers’ law firm, the man invites the street performers upstairs for drinks. The conversation between the three men leads to a series of reproaches that the puppeteers direct at each other. The gentleman, suddenly interested in this unexpected twist in the talk, ask a few questions to the two individuals. However, at first, he doesn’t get much information about the affair that brings him to London.
Shortly after these inconveniences, Bevis Mark’s guest visits Mr. Witherden, a close friend of the Garlands. Having duly presenting himself, he remains in Witherden’s study a few minutes until he sees Abel entering the house. The gentleman, cordially asks the Garland’s heir to request Kit presence on his behalf, as he wishes to speak with him. When Christopher is introduced to the mysterious man, whom he has never seen in his life, he finds out that the aforementioned is on the trail of Nell and her grandfather.
‘Christopher,’ said the gentleman, turning to him directly he entered the room, ‘I have found your old master and young mistress.’ ‘No, Sir! Have you, though?’ returned Kit, his eyes sparkling with delight. ‘Where are they, Sir? How are they, Sir? Are they—are they near here?’ ‘A long way from here,’ returned the gentleman, shaking his head. ‘But I am going away to-night to bring them back, and I want you to go with me.’ ‘Me, Sir?’ cried Kit, full of joy and surprise. ‘The place,’ said the strange gentleman, turning thoughtfully to the Notary, ‘indicated by this man of the dogs, is—how far from here—sixty miles?’ ‘From sixty to seventy.’ ‘Humph! If we travel post all night, we shall reach there in good time to- morrow morning. Now, the only question is, as they will not know me, and the child, God bless her, would think that any stranger pursuing them had a design upon her grandfather’s liberty—can I do better than take this lad, whom they both know and will readily remember, as an assurance to them of my friendly intentions?’ ‘Certainly not,’ replied the Notary. ‘Take Christopher by all means.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 262).
Nell Trent; the orphan
Shortly after her mother passed away, the girl had no choice but to start working at the Old Curiosity Shop alongside with her grandfather to earn a living. Thus, she was deprived of experiencing the tender pleasures of childhood. At the same time, without having the opportunity to socialize with other children her age, she soon became used to relating exclusively to adults and, therefore, to acting like one.
After Daniel Quilp takes possession of everything his legal guardian owns, having nowhere to go, the girl leaves the neighborhood where she has always lived. Fate would not bring great happiness to the girl after these unfortunate events. However, some characters would comfort her with gestures of kindness.
One of theme is Mrs. Edwards, a poor and orphaned student. Nell never gets to bond with the girl, not even exchange a few words. Even so, she ends up finding out some details of Mrs. Edwards’s private life. Thus, she begins to spy on both her and her sister during the walks they take through the city.
Their evening walk was by a river’s side. Here, every night, the child was too, unseen by them, unthought of, unregarded; but feeling as if they were her friends, as if they had confidences and trusts together, as if her load were lightened and less hard to bear; as if they mingled their sorrows, and found mutual consolation. It was a weak fancy perhaps, the childish fancy of a young and lonely creature; but night after night, and still the sisters loitered in the same place, and still the child followed with a mild and softened heart.
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 210).
Another character is a schoolteacher, a man who is interested in ensuring her well-being and that of the old man, offering them lodging after a tiring journey. A few days after this event, he finds the girl lost on a winding road and comes to her aid when she is about to faint.
‘If the journey you have before you is a long one,’ he said, ‘and don’t press you for one day, you’re very welcome to pass another night here. I should really be glad if you would, friend.’ He saw that the old man looked at Nell, uncertain whether to accept or decline his offer; and added, ‘I shall be glad to have your young companion with me for one day. If you can do a charity to a lone man, and rest yourself at the same time, do so. If you must proceed upon your journey, I wish you well through it, and will walk a little way with you before school begins.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 161).
Last but not least, the owner of a rustic metal shop invites them into his house to shelter them from the weather after finding them subjected to the elements of a thunderstorm.
‘It has been alive as long as I have,’ the man made answer. ‘We talk and think together all night long.’ (…) ‘It’s like a book to me,’ he said—’the only book I ever learned to read; and many an old story it tells me. It’s music, for I should know its voice among a thousand, and there are other voices in its roar. It has its pictures too. You don’t know how many strange faces and different scenes I trace in the red-hot coals. It’s my memory, that fire, and shows me all my life.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 287)
Grandpa; Nell’s tutor, antique shop’s owner
In his youth, he married a charming and beautiful woman. Not many years after said marriage, his wife passed away. In deep grief, he had to take it upon himself to raise his only daughter who was identical to her mother both in her physical appearance and in her personality traits. When the aforementioned became a woman, she united her life with that of a mean and miserable man with whom she had two children; a boy and a girl. The parents of these creatures died within months of each other. The old man, being the only family member these children had, took care of them just as he did with his daughter at the time. He provided them with everything they needed to the extent that his income allowed him to do so.
His granddaughter ended up bearing the same resemblance that his daughter once had to his wife. His grandson, on the other hand, began to resemble his late father more and more every day. When the boy left the family residence, the old man devoted himself completely to the little girl.
The widower was never a man capable of saving a single penny to leave his granddaughter an inheritance that would guarantee her a better future. Due to this, and faced with the growing fear of leaving the girl on the street, he gave himself up to the habit of gambling to make his fortune. The wretched man never win a single game either.
The story begins in these instances. After losing what little money he has, the old man asks for loans from Mr. Quilp; getting into debt, and mortgaging his house and the antique store. This will not even be the worst of the evils that he will have to suffer from then on, since he will be afflicted with a demented state that will gradually worsen. Obsessed with gambling, he will even get violent with his granddaughter, demanding the few coins that she has in a pocket of her dress.
‘Bear witness,’ he muttered, looking upward, ‘that I always said it; that I knew it, dreamed of it, felt it was the truth, and that it must be so! What money have we, Nell? Come! I saw you with money yesterday. What money have we? Give it to me.’ ‘No, no, let me keep it, grandfather,’ said the frightened child. ‘Let us go away from here. Do not mind the rain. Pray let us go.’ ‘Give it to me, I say,’ returned the old man fiercely. ‘Hush, hush, don’t cry, Nell. If I spoke sharply, dear, I didn’t mean it. It’s for thy good. I have wronged thee, Nell, but I will right thee yet, I will indeed. Where is the money?’ ‘Do not take it,’ said the child. ‘Pray do not take it, dear. For both our sakes let me keep it, or let me throw it away—better let me throw it away, than you take it now. Let us go; do let us go.’ ‘Give me the money,’ returned the old man, ‘I must have it. There—there— that’s my dear Nell. I’ll right thee one day, child, I’ll right thee, never fear!’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 191)
His personality will become increasingly paranoid, being tormented by hallucinations. Sadly, his existence will slowly die out in this way, plunged into a state of alienation from which no doctor will be able to save him.
‘You plot among you to wean my heart from her. You never will do that— never while I have life. I have no relative or friend but her—I never had—I never will have. She is all in all to me. It is too late to part us now.’
(The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens; Feeditorial Books; page 469).
Similarities with other authors:
1) Alice adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll:
a.“A Mad Tea-Party”:
One of the many chapters in Carroll’s story is so titled. In it, Alicia has a snack with the March Hare, the Hatter and the Dormouse, all recurring characters in the story. Interestingly, we have a similar episode in the second part of Old Curiosity Shop. Chapter 16 of Dickens’s novel, entitled “Suspicions”, in which Richard Swiviller and the Marchioness have an aperitif and play cards, bears some resemblance to Alice adventures in Wonderland, although its nature is completely different. If both chapters are compared, the characters are doing the same actions; sharing an afternoon meal and entertaining themselves with a crazy hobby.
b. “Down the Rabbit-Hole”:
In the same chapter in which Richard Swiviller and the Marquise go down to the basement to keep each other company, there are elements reminiscent of the first chapter of Alice adventures in Wonderland. Let us remember that in said chapter Alicia is in an underground room, paradoxically full of doors, from which she cannot leave. At a certain moment, Alicia manages to open one of these doors and thus she discovers a beautiful garden that is a few meters away. However, since Alicia can’t fit through the door, she can’t go to it.
When the Marchioness spies on Richard Swiviller through the keyhole, the author focus his attention precisely on the keys, and on what is beyond the entrances and exits of the rooms. In addition, once again the description is done in such a peculiar way that it somehow evokes the narrative style of Lewis Carroll.
2) The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas (father):
a. “The Island of Tiboulen”:
At the beginning of Dickens’s novel, the protagonists leave the Old Curiosity Shop to lead a life of beggars away from the influence of Daniel Quilp. Then, they escape from a group of mountebanks who want to kidnap the girl. Finally, they give up their position at a variety fair to escape two gamblers who plan to bring about the old man’s ruin. Of these critical situations, only the last one turns out to be the most pressing due to the circumstances that force them to do so, and the difficulties they must overcome to achieve it. This event is detailed in chapters n⁰6 and n⁰7 of the second part of Dickens’s work, under the title “By water” and “By land and by fire”, respectively.
In Alexandre Dumas’s novel, Edmund Dantes experiences a similar situation when he escapes from prison. Although in this case both novels are also, strictly speaking, of a different nature, the numerous pages of the Old Curiosity Shop in which the dramatic episode of the protagonists is narrated recall those passages from The Count of Monte Cristo as if it were a weak echo.
b. “The Suicide”:
Chapter 24 of the Old Curiosity Shop, entitled “Drowned!”, recounts the tragic outcome of one of the novel’s characters with the same narrative style that characterizes Dumas’s pen in the work to which we refer. Likewise, it evokes a similar event that the French writer titles as descriptively as Dickens does regarding the one he writes about.
Criticism:
▪Whatever happened to Frederick Trent?
In chapter n⁰2, this character is introduced to readers as a determining actor for the plot of the novel. However, he is practically erased in the second half of the narrative as he is barely mentioned again in the remaining chapters. This unexpected twist in the story does not respect the scheme initially outlined for its writing.
▪The unusual appearance of Daniel Quilp at the variety fair.
In chapter 24th, the evil little man unexpectedly appears in the entrance of a town, dress as a mountebank. In said place, Nell and her grandfather are in a van with Mrs. Jarley, sheltering from the cold of the night.
Mr. Quilp is not alone. A young man, carrying a trunk, hastily follows him while the pawnbroker quickens his pace to reach the road and catch the last truck heading to London.
Daniel Quilp’s reason for being in that town on said occasion is never revealed to the readers; nor is there any mention of this event in the remaining pages of the book. The author intends to create an atmosphere of mystery, but he does so without any logical reasoning to support this procedure.
▪Two somewhat insubstantial protagonists
Both Nell and her grandfather turn out to be the only characters whose psychology has not been developed deeply. Therefore, the personality of one and the other has no aspects to highlight. The pages dedicated exclusively to describing their strenuous journey through different cities, and towns, until they reached what will be their last resting place, do not encourage to continue reading. However, Dickens has piqued readers’ interest in these individuals in two ways; by referring to the old man as a gambler, and by highlighting the girl’s peculiar obsession with everything related to death. Even so, none of these issues is properly addressed so that these characters can be considered transcendental by themselves.
Conclusion:
The Old Curiosity Shop, by Charles Dickens, is an interesting work to be read. However, this is only due to those passages in which the protagonists are not the central axis of the narrative, or at least not the only characters that take part in the scene. The circumstances and situations that the secondary characters must experience, chapter after chapter, constitute the greatest wealth of the English writer’s novel.
