Any proofreader of Charles Dickens will notice something unique about his work : Many of the fictitious character in his novels and short news report have rather colourful sobriquet . public figure like Mr. Sloppy , Wopsle , Sweedlepipe , Bumble and Scrooge , likely were not names Dickens ran across in a London neighborhood , market or church service – or anywhere , for that matter . No , these names were purely the product of Dickens ' unequalled imagery , and the names often befit the character . For lesson , take Toodle ; the word sounds friendly and tolerant , and the character is exactly that . And take Pumblechook – a puffed up , important - go tidings for a man full of ego - grandness .
Click ahead for more Dickens'-quality quality public figure you ’re not probable to observe in a fresh or brusque story write by anyone else .
20: Harold Skimpole, “Bleak House”
Harold Skimpole fancies himself a naïve man with simple innocence , sugariness and appealingness . He ’s forever in awe of the mantrap in nature andartand profess to have few worldly motive beyond the desire to live his simple , carefree existence . His naiveté is such that he ca n’t seem to comprehend the society ’s Sir Thomas More . meter , for one , has small substance to Skimpole . Money is simply an illusory notion of others ' creations .
But his happy - go - lucky glide slope to animation has not - so - happy consequences for those around him . His dismissal of time imply keeping others waiting . His want of fiscal responsibility ends up invest his financial burdens on others .
In time , readers of " Bleak House " come to view Skimpole not as an innocent dupe of his vernal view but as an entitled and manipulative exploiter of other characters to support his cushy life , earned not from true work , but from parasitic maneuvering .
19: Sloppy, “Our Mutual Friend”
Sloppy , or Mr. Sloppy , is one of Dickens ’s many orphan characters . Sloppy and other nestling are taken in by Betty Higden , for whom waterlogged does task , such as help her watch out the other children and learn to her from thenewspaper . While thought to have a learning disablement , his recitation so delights Hidgen that she exclaims , " You might n’t remember it , but Sloppy is a beautiful lector of a newspaper . He do the Police in dissimilar voices . "
When soggy is given the chance to be adopt by a family line named Boffin , he refuses out of loyalty to Hidgen . Hidgen is so devoted to Sloppy ’s future that she actually run away so that Sloppy will have no choice but to link the Boffins . Sloppy winds up give back the favor to the Boffins by baffle the plot of a military personnel who was essay to blackmail the phratry . In fact , he ends up stick the evildoer into atrash bin . Sloppy eventually becomes a carpenter and falls in love with a disabled young lady who makes doll clothes .
18: Mr. Wopsle, “Great Expectations”
Mr. Wopsle is a church clerk who delivers mealtime thanksgiving and his own backchat with magnified play . He lie with the sound of his own voice , alovenot shared by everyone , and no matter what his persuasion , his delivery of it is such that few mass take him seriously . In truth , his over - emoting stanch from his aspirations to be an thespian . He does , in fact , take on the stage name of Waldengarver before moving to London to prosecute his dream . He solve as a stage performing artist and has great self-assurance in his endowment . But while the other character from his humble townspeople praise his performance to his face , they acknowledge among themselves that he ’s not much of a actor .
17: Polly Toodle, “Dombey and Son”
Polly Toodle is a kind and jolly character whom Dickens advert to as " plump rosy - cheek wholesome apple - face untested woman . " Toodle is hired as a wet nursemaid by Mr. Dombey to take upkeep of his two children after his wife die yield nascency to their youngest , a son name Paul . Mr. Dombey is delighted to have a Word ; Paul will be heritor to his male parent ’s byplay , Dombey and Son , a trading troupe . Toodle takes upkeep of Paul and his babe , Florence , concord to Mr. Dombey ’s pattern , but after she takes the children to her nursing home in the poor section of London , a clear encroachment of Mr. Dombey ’s bent of restrictions , she ’s fired .
16: The Squeers, “Nicholas Nickleby”
The Squeers category , including master Wackford Squeers , his married woman , son Wackford Junior and daughter Fanny , are in commission of Dotheboys Hall , an orphanage for undesirable boys . At this schooling , the orphan boys are treat horribly – they ’re beaten , taught nothing and much starve . Mr. and Mrs. Squeers keep the youthful Squeers male child fat to make it appear to the outside populace that everyone at the school day has plenty to eat . Wackford and his married woman also spoil their Word with gifts intend for their wards . Nicholas Nickleby , an orphan , reaches his breaking point finally , give notice Mr. Squeers and lead away from the orphanage , take with him a handicapped boy .
15: Luke Honeythunder, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”
Luke Honeythunder isphilanthropistand guardian to orphans Neville and Helena Landless , whom he coiffe to be civilise in Cloisterham . Neville is to live with Honeythunder ’s sister and her boy , Septimus , a reverend , who will be his instructor . Neville ’s baby , Helena , is to live at the Nun ’s House .
Honeythunder is as loud and overbearing as his name would advise . Upon learn Honeythunder ’s letter of request that they take in the son , the reverend consults his mother about Honeythunder :
" Well , Ma , " said Septimus , after a little more friction of his ear , " we must attempt it . There can be no doubt that we have room for an yard bird , and that I have time to confer upon him , and inclination of an orbit too . I must confess to feeling rather glad that he is not Mr. Honeythunder himself . Though that seems wretchedly discriminatory – does it not ? – for I never saw him . Is he a large man , Ma ? "
" I should call him a bombastic man , my dear , " the old lady answer after some hesitation , " but that his voice is so much large . "
14: Tulkinghorn, “Bleak House”
Tulkinghorn is the unscrupulouslawyerto the Dedlock menage , Sir Leicester Dedlock and his wife , Lady Dedlock . Tulkinghorn uncovers a scandalous secret – Lady Dedlock had a lover , Captain Hawdon , before shemarriedher hubby , and the illicit lovers had an illegitimate girl . Tulkinghorn decides to use this information for financial gain by pressure Lady Dedlock . He engage Lady Dedlock ’s maid , Hortense , to help him keep an optic out on her employer . Because the maid despise her boss , she agrees to serve Tulkinghorn . When Tulkinghorn betrays and abandon her , however , Hortense off him , and then try , unsuccessfully , to frame up Lady Dedlock for the offence .
13: Bumble, “Oliver Twist”
Mr. Bumble is a townbeadle , a pocket-size church functionary , and his responsibilities admit run all of the parish ’s sympathetic institutions . These include the baby farm , where Oliver Twist is raised as an baby , and the workhouse , where Bumble assigns Oliver to mold when the boy become 9 years sometime . Bumble is proud of the special cock lid he wears to show off his condition as beadle . He loves the magnate he holds , and does n’t waver to use it as he beats and abases the children .
Oliver and the other boy who work out in the workhouse are bring out three not - so - hearty repast a Clarence Day . When Oliver require for more , it is Bumble who sky-high rats out the boy to the members of the board , who are appalled at Oliver ’s audaciousness and threaten dire consequences for him .
12: Silas Wegg, “Our Mutual Friend”
Silas Wegg is a one - legged shyster of a street vendor who makes claim of neat literary talent . When the poor Boffin family inherit some money , they lease Wegg to teach Mr. Boffin to read . As he is charging the Boffins a sizable fee for his services ( even though he ’s not quite as well - read as he profess ) , he tries to buy back his leg from a localtaxidermistwho buy it from the hospital . His true nature shew itself when he come across some information that threatens the Boffins ' new fate and he tries to blackjack them for receive a portion of theestate . His plot is finally thwart .
11: Dick Swiveller, “The Old Curiosity Shop”
Though the name sounds a little on the sinister side , this character is n’t a villain . In fact , he ’s nearly the victim of handling by his friend , Fred . Fred believe his sister , Nelly , will receive a substantial inheritance and tries to sway Swiveller to hook up with Nelly so that Fred can get his men on the money . Swiveller , however , think the 14 - year - quondam Nelly is too young tomarry . Fred ask him to waitress a few years and then marry her , but Swiveller alternatively falls for a servant daughter . Swiveller winds up with good fortune after all , when he ’s the beneficiary of an inheritance , assist the servant girlfriend with her education and later marries her .
10: Paul Sweedlepipe, “The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit”
Paul ( Poll ) Sweedlepipe is an gonzo Samuel Barber and landlord . The quirkiest of his trait is his obsessional love of dame . Rabbits , too . One of the Holy Writ ’s passages discover his home :
" With the exception of the staircase , and his roomer ’s private flat , Poll Sweedlepipe ’s house was one great bird ’s nest . Gamecocks lodge in in the kitchen ; pheasant wasted the cleverness of their favourable plumage on the garret ; bantams roosted in the cellar;owlshad possession of the bedroom ; and specimens of all the small fry of birds chirrupped and twitter in the shop . The stairway was consecrated to rabbits . There in hutches of all shapes and kinds , made from previous packing material - cases , boxes , drawers , and tea - chests , they increased in a colossal stage , and contributed their share towards that complicated whiff which , quite impartially , and without distinction of person , saluted every nose that was put into Sweedlepipe ’s promiscuous shaving - shop . "
9: Caroline “Caddy” Jellyby, “Bleak House”
Mrs. Jellyby devotes her time to all sort ofcharities , but her eldest daughter , Caroline , is not one of them . Caroline , called " Caddy , " forge as secretary to her mother , taking dictation for her all day , include writings connected to her mother ’s efforts to cultivate African natives . Caddy , however , receives no education herself . She says : " I ’m playpen and ink to ma . " In the Koran , she ’s key out this path :
" But what principally struck us was a jaded , and unhealthful - look , though by no means plain girl , at the writing - board , who sit biting the feathering of her playpen , and staring at us . I suppose nobody ever was in such a state of ink . And , from her tumbled tomentum to her pretty foot , which were disfigured with frayed and crushed satin skidder trodden down at heel , she really seemed to have no article of dress upon her , from a pin tumbler upwards , that was in its proper condition or right position . "
8: Smike, “Nicholas Nickleby”
Smike is one of the yard bird at Dotheboys Hall , the orphanage for unwanted boys . While most boy are beat , not educated as call and starved , Smike , who is handicapped , receives more abuse than most .
When immature Nicholas , another inmate at the orphanhood , give the sack Mr. Squeers and flees , he also rescues Smike and guide him with him to London . Squeers tag Smike down and takes him back , but Smike manages to escape again . Sadly , Smike eventually buy the farm from the treatment he received as a baby at the manus of the Squeers . After hisdeath , Nicholas learns that Smike was in reality his cousin-german .
7: Uriah Heep, “David Copperfield”
Uriah Heep could earn a blot in any top 10 list of the vilest of characters . He ’s the connivinglaw clerkto Mr. Wickfield , who develops adrinking problemafter the cataclysm of his wife’sdeath . Heep , who confess that he ’s " umble " and meek , covertly encourages Wickfield ’s drinking while manipulating Wickfield ’s financial affairs , forge documents and stealing money . Heep eventually manipulates his way into becoming the controlling spouse of the business , and he also has his eye on Wickfield ’s daughter , Agnes , to marry .
Heep is eventually display and goes to prison , where he continues to wager his meek and " umble " act to his benefit .
6: Mr. Sowerberry, “Oliver Twist”
Mr. Sowerberry is an undertaker who gibe to take Oliver off of Bumble ’s hands after Oliver practice the crime of require for morefoodat Bumble ’s workhouse . Oliver becomes Sowerberry ’s prentice , but he ’s regale with despite by Mrs. Sowerberry , who on his first dark there feeds Oliver thedog ’s leftover . Oliver is also tormented by another learner identify Noah . One day , Noah insult Oliver ’s female parent , and when Oliver push back , Noah takes his complaint to Bumble . Mrs. Sowerberry pressures Mr. Sowerberry into beating Oliver . Oliver flees to London .
5: Pumblechook, “Great Expectations”
Pumblechook is the antagonist in " Great expectation , " a semen merchandiser who makes it his business to beleaguer Pip from puerility on . The only affair Pumblechook appear to give care about is status and wealth .
At one compass point , Pumblechook commend Pip to a spinster named Miss Havisham , who ’s looking for a playmate for a girl she ’s taking precaution of . When Pip comes into good fortune , Pumblechook begin cover Pip differently . He assumes the money came from the gonzo Miss Havisham , and points out that he ’d introduce the two . It turns out Miss Havisham was n’t the benefactor after all , but that still does n’t barricade Pumblechook from claiming a major role in Pip ’s succeeder .
4: John Podsnap, “Our Mutual Friend”
Mr. Podsnap is call up to be the personification of midway - category pomposity . He ’s depict like this in " Our Mutual Friend " :
" Mr. Podsnap was well to do , and remain firm very high-pitched in Mr. Podsnap ’s impression . Beginning with a goodinheritance , he hadmarrieda good heritage , and had thriven extremely in the Marine Insurance way , and was quite satisfied . He never could make out why everybody was not quite quenched , and he felt witting that he set a brilliant social example in being peculiarly well satisfied with most thing , and , above all other things , with himself . "
He was the inspiration behind the termpodsnappery , which Merriam - Webster report as " an mental attitude toward lifetime marked by complacency and a refusal to recognise unpleasant facts . " Podsnap dismisses unpleasant facts ( which mean anything that did n’t support his self - slaked beingness ) with a sweeping gesture of his weapon to put such affronts behind him .
3: Lucretia Tox, “Dombey and Son”
Described as marvellous , thin and sad , Lucretia is friends with Mrs. Louisa Chick , who has a comrade named Paul . Paul ismarried , and when his wife dies , Lucretia , who is in love with Paul , skip to tie him . woefully for Lucretia , Paul chooses to marry another . This intelligence , delivered to Lucretia by Mrs. Chick , is so devastating that Lucretia syncope from the shock . Rather than comfort her Quaker , Mrs. Chick claims her eyes are now open to who the real Lucretia is , and rag her for loving her crony . Even with her upset heart , Lucretia remains fast to Paul throughout the difficulties that are to arrive his way .
2: Sophia (Sophy) Wackles, “The Old Curiosity Shop”
Sophy Wackles is a 20 - twelvemonth - onetime who exist with her widow mother and two sisters . The Wackles household runs a schooltime for daughter . Dick Swivellerfalls in lovewith Sophy . But Dick ’s champion Fred would like Dick to marry Fred ’s baby – so that both Dick and Fred can gain from Fred ’s sister ’s coming inheritance .
To break in it off with Sophy and open himself up to amarriagewith Fred ’s baby , Dick decides to start a fake argument with Sophy at a social result . At the effect , Sophy tries to make Dick jealous with the mien of another man , Mr. Cheggs , a food market nurseryman . Sophy later marries Cheggs .
1: Ebenezer Scrooge, “A Christmas Carol”
The iconic Scrooge is a miser who says " humbug " to sentimentality , particularly toChristmasjoy . He has no use of goods and services for making love of phratry , and treats his employees poorly . He ’s taught a few life lessons when he live supernatural visit from four type .
First , business partner Jacob Marley returns to Earth to warn Ebenezer that if he does n’t change his ways , his fate in the hereafter will be as frightful as Marley ’s . The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his other , felicitous Christmas Day , and the incident that led him to finally hate the holiday . The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge on a tour to wide-ranging Yule - metre scene , including family festivities at the place of his nephew ( Scrooge had decline the nephew ’s invitation ) and to employee Bob Cratchit ’s home , where Scrooge see that his meager wages make it unsufferable for Cratchit to obtain treatment for his sick son . The Ghost of Christmas Yet to amount show up a lonely , dire future , should Scrooge not exchange his way . The visits do the fast one , and Scrooge overspread joyousness , cheer and his wealth that holiday and during all Christmases the rest of his aliveness .
