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Dickens' Characters → Characters N-Q

Dickens' Characters N-Q

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Nadgett ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Illustration Private investigator hired by Tigg Montigue to provide information on the customers of the fraudulent life assurance company. Nadgett exposes Jonas Chuzzlewit as Montigue's murderer. Nadgett is also landlord of Tom and Ruth Pinch in Islington. (top)

Nancy ( Oliver Twist ) Prostitute and member of Fagin's band of thieves. Befriends Oliver and is eventually murdered by Sikes trying to help Oliver escape Fagin's clutches. (top)

Native, The ( Dombey and Son ) Indian servant of Major Joe Bagstock. (top)

Neckett ( Bleak House ) Sheriff's officer who arrests debtors and delivers them to Coavin's sponging house (temporary debtor's prison) thus Skimpole gives Neckett the nickname "Coavinses". Neckett dies leaving three orphans: Charlotte (Charley), Emma, and Tom. Charley becomes Esther Summerson's maid. (top)

Charlotte (Charley) Neckett ( Bleak House ) Daughter of sheriff's officer Neckett. When her father dies Charley cares for her two younger siblings: Emma and Tom. Charley becomes Esther Summerson's maid, nursing Esther through smallpox. She later marries a miller. (top)

Nell's Grandfather ( The Old Curiosity Shop ) Illustration Owner of the Old Curiosity Shop. He has a secret gambling habit, hoping to make a fortune for his granddaughter. He borrows money to gamble from Quilp, when he cannot pay he takes Nell and escapes London to the country. When Nell dies he is heartbroken and dies soon after. (top)

Nemo ( Bleak House ) Alias of Capt. Hawdon (Nemo is Latin for nobody). Nemo is doing some law copying for Snagsby and is a boarder in Krook's rag and bottle shop when he dies of an opium overdose. He is later found to be the former lover of Lady Dedlock and the father of Esther Summerson. (top)

Newcome, Clemency ( The Battle of Life ) Lovable, awkward, and clumsy servant of Dr. Jeddler. She later marries Benjamin Britain and together they run the comfortable Nutmeg-Grater and Thimble Inn. (top)

Mrs. Nickleby ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Illustration Mother of Nicholas and Kate. Absent-minded and self-absorbed, she continues to "put on airs" even in the reduced situation of her family after the financial ruin and death of her husband. The character is heavily drawn from Dickens' mother. (top)

Nickleby, Kate ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Illustration Sister of Nicholas. She is placed by her uncle, Ralph Nickleby, with Madame Mantalini. Kate becomes the object of the undesirable attentions of some of the evil-minded clients of her uncle, who is using her to his advantage. She is rescued by Nicholas with the help of Newman Noggs. Later she marries Frank Cheeryble. (top)

Nickleby, Nicholas ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Illustration Brother to Kate and nephew of Ralph. Hoping to provide support for his mother and sister after the death of his father, he turns to his uncle Ralph for assistance. Ralph wants nothing to do with his late brother's family and feigns to help Nicholas by securing a position as assistant master at the Dotheboys Hall school, run by unscrupulous Wackford Squeers. Nicholas soon becomes disgusted with Squeer's treatment of his pupils and leaves, giving Squeers a sound thrashing and liberating Smike, whom Squeers has mistreated for years. Nicholas and Smike move in with Newman Noggs in London and then travel to Portsmouth where they take up acting in Crummles stage company. On hearing of the mistreatment of his sister at the hands of his uncle, Nicholas, with Smike, returns to London. Nicholas secures employment with the philanthropic Cheeryble brothers and later marries Madeline Bray whom he has helped rescue from the evil designs of Ralph and Arthur Gride.

Nicholas seems to have a bit more pluck than many of Dickens young heroes and in the preface to the 1848 Cheap Edition of Nicholas Nickleby Dickens writes "If Nicholas be not always found to be blameless or agreeable, he is not always intended to appear so. He is a young man of an impetuous temper and of little or no experience; and I saw no reason why such a hero should be lifted out of nature." (top)

Nickleby, Ralph ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Illustration Uncle to Nicholas and Kate (and later we find, father of Smike). A rich and miserly moneylender who feigns to help his late brother's family but, in reality, tries to humiliate Nicholas and use Kate to his own advantage. His evil plans and schemes prove his ultimate undoing and he eventually hangs himself. (top)





Nipper, Susan ( Dombey and Son ) Illustration Florence Dombey's maid who is discharged when she confronts Paul Dombey about his treatment of Florence. She later marries Toots. Dickens describes Susan as "a short, brown womanly girl, with a little snub nose, and black eyes like jet beads." (top)

Noggs, Newman ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Illustration Once a well-to-do gentleman but he squanders his money and is reduced to serving Ralph Nickleby as clerk. He befriends Nicholas and eventually helps him defeat the designs of Ralph. (top)

Norris family ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) New York friends of Mr Bevan whom he introduces to Martin. Their initial warm welcome cools when they discover he made the trip to America in steerage. (top)

Nubbles, Kit ( The Old Curiosity Shop ) Kit is shop boy at the Curiosity Shop owned by Nell's grandfather and is devoted to Nell. Kit lives at home with his widowed mother, his brother Jacob, and baby brother. Kit is later hired by the Garlands and is wrongly charged with theft by Brass. At the end of the novel we find Kit has married Barbara. (top)

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Omer, Mr ( David Copperfield ) Undertaker in Yarmouth who arranges the funeral of Clara Copperfield. "a fat, short-winded, merry-looking, little old man in black, with rusty little bunches of ribbons at the knees of his breeches, black stockings, and a broad-brimmer hat" His daughter Minnie marries the shop foreman, Joram, who later inherits the business. Emily and Martha Endell work for Mr. Omer. (top)

Orlick, Dolge ( Great Expectations ) Joe Gargary's journeyman blacksmith, he quarrels with Mrs. Joe and later attacks her, leaving her with injuries of which she later dies. He falls in with Compeyson and tries to murder Pip. (top)

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Pancks ( Little Dorrit ) Clerk and rent collector for Mr. Casby. He assists in finding William Dorrit's fortune. Dickens employs the metaphor of Pancks as a tugboat guiding Casby's "ship." Pancks moves tugboat style "with a puff and a snort." (top)

Parkes, Phil ( Barnaby Rudge ) Friend of John Willet at the Maypole Inn. (top)

Pawkins, Major and Mrs ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Proprietors of a New York boarding house where Martin and Mark stay. The Major is typical of the scoundrels they meet in America. (top)

Pecksniff, Charity (Cherry) ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Illustration Seth Pecksniff's older daughter and sister of Mercy. Haughty and ill-tempered, without her younger sister's playful nature. She is infuriated when passed over for marriage by Jonas Chuzzlewith who chooses her sister. She later promises herself to Mr Moddle, who leaves her at the alter. Charity has a disposition "which was then observed to be of a sharp and acid quality, as though an extra lemon (figuratively speaking) had been squeezed into the nectar of her disposition, and had rather damaged its flavour." (top)

Pecksniff, Mercy (Merry) ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Illustration Seth Pecksniff's younger daughter and sister of Charity. Seth gives her in marriage to Jonas Chuzzlewit, who breaks her spirit, and her heart. (top)

Pecksniff, Seth ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Illustration Sanctimonious surveyor and architect "who has never designed or built anything", and one of the biggest hypocrites in fiction. Father of daughters Mercy and Charity. In an effort to gain old Martin's money he embraces then throws out young Martin at old Martin's wish. When long time servant Tom Pinch learns of Pecksniff's treachery he is also thrown out. Pecksniff's self-serving designs are eventually exposed by Old Martin who reconciles with his grandson, young Martin. Dickens' description of Pecksniff's hypocrisy is telling: "Some people likened him to a direction-post, which is always telling the way to a place, and never goes there." (top)

Peecher, Emma ( Our Mutual Friend ) Teacher of the girl's class at the school where Bradley Headstone is master. Emma is in love with Headstone but he does not return her affection. (top)

Peerybingle, John ( Cricket on the Hearth ) Carrier, deliverer of goods, who is much older than his wife, Mary. (top)

Peerybingle, Mary (Dot) ( Cricket on the Hearth ) Mary is the much younger wife of John. She is called Dot due to her small size and dumpling shape. Her parents are Old Dot and Mrs Dot, both also small. Mary works to reunite old lovers May Fielding and Edward Plummer. (top)

Mrs. Pegler ( Hard Times ) Revealed at the end of the story to be Bounderby's loving mother, exposing his claim as "self-made man", who raised himself in the streets, to be a sham. (top)





Peggotty, Clara ( David Copperfield ) Illustration David's devoted nurse and sister to Daniel Peggotty. After the death of David's mother she is discharged and marries Barkis. When Barkis dies she goes to live with David and Betsy Trotwood. David comically describes getting a hug from Peggotty: "She laid aside her work (which was a stocking of her own), and opening her arms wide, took my curly head within them, and gave it a good squeeze. I know it was a good squeeze, because, being very plump, whenever she made any little exertion after she was dressed, some of the buttons on the back of her gown flew off. And I recollect two bursting to the opposite side of the parlour, while she was hugging me." (top)

Peggotty, Daniel ( David Copperfield ) Illustration Crotchety fisherman and dealer in lobsters, crabs, and crawfish. Brother of Clare. He lives in a converted boat on the beach at Yarmouth with Emily, Ham, and Mrs. Gummidge. When Emily abandons them to elope with Steerforth, Daniel vows to find her. Steerforth later leaves Emily and she is re-united with Daniel. At the end of the novel Daniel, Emily, and Mrs Gummidge resettle in Australia. (top)

Peggotty, Ham ( David Copperfield ) Illustration Fisherman and boatbuilder. Orphaned nephew of Daniel Peggotty and fiance of Emily. He drowns trying to rescue Steerforth. "He was a huge, strong fellow of six feet high, broad in proportion, and round-shouldered; but with a simpering boy's face and curly light hair that gave him quite a sheepish look. He was dressed in a canvas jacket, and a pair of such very stiff trousers that they would have stood quite as well alone, without any legs in them. And you couldn't so properly have said he wore a hat, as that he was covered in a-top, like an old building, with something pitchy." (top)

Pell, Solomon ( Pickwick Papers ) Shady lawyer whom Tony Weller engages to arrange Samuel Weller's imprisonment in the Fleet in order to be with his master, Samuel Pickwick. (top)

Perch ( Dombey and Son ) Messenger at the firm of Dombey and Son. He and his Wife live at Ball's Pond, a suburb on the northern edge of London. (top)

Perker ( Pickwick Papers ) Solicitor of Mr. Wardle, later represents Samuel Pickwick in the Bardell vs Pickwick breach of promise suit. (top)

Petowker, Henrietta ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Minor actress at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and neighbor of Kenwigs and Noggs. She marries Mrs Kenwigs' uncle, Mr Lillyvick, but later runs off with a half-pay (retired) captain. (top)

Pickwick, Samuel ( Pickwick Papers ) Illustration Retired businessman and founder and chairman of the Pickwick Club. Pickwick, along with his friends Tupman, Snodgrass, Winkle, and his servant Sam Weller, travel around England in search of adventure. Pickwick is one Dickens most loved characters and his story propelled Dickens to literary stardom. (top)

Pinch, Tom ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Illustration Devoted admirer and assistant to Pecksniff. A kindly, sweet-tempered fellow, completely blind to Pecksniff's hypocrisy despite a multitude of evidence to the contrary. He finally becomes aware of Pecksniff's true character and is dismissed. He goes to London to live with his sister and is employed by a mysterious gentleman which turns out to be old Martin Chuzzlewit. (top)

Pinch, Ruth ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Sister of Tom Pinch. She is governess to a wealthy brass and copper founder's family in Camberwell. When Tom goes to visit her he finds she is unhappy in her work and is accused by the family of being unable to command the respect of her employer's spoiled daughter. She leaves to live with Tom in Islington and later marries Tom's friend John Westlock. (top)

Pip (Pirrip, Phillip) ( Great Expectations ) Illustration Principal character of the book. Brought up "by hand" by his sister, Mrs. Joe Gargery, twenty years his senior, who mistreats him along with her husband, Joe Gargery. Pip meets Magwitch on the marshes after his escape from the prison ship and brings him food. Magwitch is recaptured and sent away to Australia where he prospers. Pip is introduced to Miss Havisham, an eccentric old woman, and her charge, Estella, who Pip falls in love with. Estella has been taught by Miss Havisham to break men's hearts as restitution for Miss Havisham's having been left at the altar years before. Pip begins to receive money through an unknown source. He becomes a gentleman, goes to London, and drifts away from early friends. Pip eventually learns that his benefactor is not Miss Havisham, as he believes, but the convict, Magwitch. (top)

Pipchin, Mrs ( Dombey and Son ) Cantankerous operator of a boarding house in Brighton when Paul jr and Florence are sent there for Paul's health. Later becomes Mr Dombey's housekeeper. Considers herself ill-used because her husband was killed, 40 years earlier, in the Peruvian Mines. Dickens modeled Pipchin on Mrs Roylance, Dickens' landlady in London when his father was imprisoned for debt. (top)

Plornish ( Little Dorrit ) Thomas Plornish, a plasterer previously imprisoned at the Marshalsea with the Dorrits, lives with his wife and two children at Bleeding Heart Yard. (top)

Plummer, Bertha ( Cricket on the Hearth ) Illustration Blind daughter of poor toymaker, Caleb Plummer. To help ease Bertha's way Caleb has made her believe that the unfeeling Tackleton is their kind friend and the unknowing Bertha falls in love with him. (top)

Plummer, Caleb ( Cricket on the Hearth ) Illustration Poor toymaker who works for the hard-hearted Tackleton. Acting as the eyes of his blind daughter, Bertha, he tenderly embellishes their humble home and ragged clothes and makes her believe that the unfeeling Tackleton is their friend. (top)





Plummer, Edward ( Cricket on the Hearth ) Son of Caleb and sister to Bertha. Edward was the former lover of May Fielding, went away to sea, and was supposed dead. With the help of Mary Peerybingle, he is reunited with May on the day she is supposed to marry Tackleton. (top)

Pocket, Herbert ( Great Expectations ) Pip goes to London to begin his education and meets Herbert, whom he discovers is the "pale young gentleman" with whom he fought with at Miss Havisham's as a child. Pip and Herbert become best friends and share chambers at Barnard's Inn and at the Temple. Herbert helps teach Pip "city manners." Pip helps Herbert become a partner in the firm of Clarriker and Co. which enables Pocket to marry Clara Barley. "What a hopeful disposition you have!" said I, gratefully admiring his cheery ways. "I ought to have," said Herbert, "for I have not much else." (top)

Pocket, Matthew ( Great Expectations ) Father of Herbert and cousin of Miss Havisham. He is the only one of Miss Havisham's relatives who speaks honestly of her and has been banished from her presence. Matthew is Pip's tutor in London. He has no control over his large family and has a habit of pulling himself up by his hair in frustration. Pip tells Miss Havisham of Matthew's good character and she leaves him 4000 pounds in her will. Matthew's wife, Belinda, is obsessed with social position, having been the daughter of a knight, and pays no attention to housekeeping or her young children who are left to "tumble up" by themselves. Many believe Dickens modeled the Pocket household after his own large family. (top)

Podsnap, John ( Our Mutual Friend ) Model for "Podsnappery" or Victorian middle-class pomp and complacency, along with his wife, and daughter Georgiana. Dickens modeled John Podsnap on his friend and first biographer John Forster. (top)

Pogram, Elijah ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Member of Congress Martin meets on the steamboat when leaving Eden. Pogram has inherited the congressional talent for speechifying much, and saying little. (top)

Potatoes, Mealy ( David Copperfield ) Co-worker of David Copperfield at Murdstone and Grimby's warehouse. (top)

Pott, Mr ( Pickwick Papers ) Editor of the Eatenswill Gazette and sworn enemy of Mr Slurk, editor of the Eatenswill Independent. (top)

Potterson, Abbey ( Our Mutual Friend ) Proprietor of the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters pub in Limehouse Hole. (top)

Price, Matilda ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Illustration A miller's daughter, Fanny Squeers friend. She marries John Browdie. (top)

Prig, Betsy ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Illustration Day nurse and friend of Mrs Gamp. "Mrs Prig was of the Gamp build, but not so fat; and her voice was deeper and more like a man's. She had also a beard." Betsy and Mrs Gamp later have a falling out, Betsy questioning the existence of Gamp's imaginary friend Mrs Harris. (top)

Miss Pross ( A Tale of Two Cities ) Lucie Manette's loyal maid. In Paris Miss Pross is surprised to find her brother, Soloman, is the spy John Barsad. In the end of the novel she struggles with Madame Defarge, who is killed in the scuffle. (top)

Pumblechook ( Great Expectations ) Joe Gargary's uncle ("but Mrs. Joe appropriated him"), hypocritical and well-to-do corn-chandler in the nearest town, and drove his own chaise-cart. He takes Pip to meet Miss Havisham and takes credit for arranging Pips "great expectations."

"A large hard-breathing middle-aged slow man, with a mouth like a fish, dull staring eyes, and sandy hair standing upright on his head, so that he looked as if he had just been all but choked." (top)

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Quilp, Daniel ( The Old Curiosity Shop ) Illustration An evil dwarf who lends money to Nell's grandfather who gambles it away and flees London with Nell in an attempt to avoid Quilp. Quilp attempts to find the pair as they travel through the country. Later Quilp is pursued by the police and, lost in the fog, drowns in the Thames. (top)

Quilp, Betsy ( The Old Curiosity Shop ) Pretty and timid wife of Daniel Quilp whom he loves to mentally torture. When Quilp dies she inherits his money and happily remarries. Betsy's mother is Mrs Jiniwin. (top)

Quinion ( David Copperfield ) Manager of Grimby and Murdstone's wine-bottling warehouse who employs David Copperfield. (top)