# Simon Tappertit — Barnaby Rudge character guide > Simon Tappertit in Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Sim, Mr. Simon Tappertit, Mr. Tappertit, Sim Tappertit **First appearance:** 0002-chapter-1 ## Snapshot A five-foot locksmith's apprentice with an enormous opinion of himself, who drills secret 'prentice armies and dreams of toppling the state. ## Who they are Simon Tappertit is Gabriel Varden's apprentice, a thin-faced, sharp-nosed little fellow who styles himself Mr. Tappertit out of doors and is convinced he is above the middle size. His soul, as he puts it, is forever getting into his head, and it has filled him with majestic notions about the power of his eye and the dignity of his order. He drills a band of fellow apprentices in secret, and his absurd, combustible ambition makes him one of the novel's funniest figures and one of its most dangerous, since men like him are exactly what a riot needs. ## Relationships ### [Miss Miggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/miss_miggs) _psychological_ Miggs is obsessively infatuated with Simon, who treats her with contempt and uses her for his own schemes. ### [Sir John Chester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/sir_john_chester) _professional_ Simon is a servant of Chester's household, but he is also a rebellious apprentice who secretly plots against him. ### [Hugh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/hugh) _friendship_ Hugh and Simon are fellow conspirators in the riot, sharing a rough camaraderie and mutual disdain for authority. ### [Sir John Chester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/sir_john_chester) _professional_ Simon is a servant of Chester's household, but he is also a rebellious apprentice who secretly plots against him. ### [Miss Miggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/miss_miggs) _psychological_ Miggs is obsessively infatuated with Simon, who treats her with contempt and uses her for his own schemes. ### [Hugh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/hugh) _friendship_ Hugh and Simon are fellow conspirators in the riot, sharing a rough camaraderie and mutual disdain for authority. ### [Miss Miggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/miss_miggs) _psychological_ Miggs is obsessively infatuated with Simon, who treats her with contempt and uses her for his own schemes. ### [Sir John Chester](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/sir_john_chester) _professional_ Simon is a servant of Chester's household, but he is also a rebellious apprentice who secretly plots against him. ### [Hugh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/hugh) _friendship_ Hugh and Simon are fellow conspirators in the riot, sharing a rough camaraderie and mutual disdain for authority. ## In the story ### [Chapter 4: The Locksmith's Household](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-4) The apprentice, vain and ambitious, practices his 'eye' and admires his own legs, dreaming of leading the 'prentices. ### [Chapter 7](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-7) Secretly uses a forged key to leave the house at night, revealing his rebellious intentions. ### [Chapter 8](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-8) Assumes a swaggering, authoritative demeanor as the 'captain' of the secret society, leading the meeting with theatrical gravity. ### [Chapter 9](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-9) Sneaks out at night, returns to find the lock jammed, and pleads with Miggs for entry. ### [Chapter 18](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-18) Simon Tappertit is seen leaving the blind man's cellar, addressed as 'noble captain' by Stagg, and displays his usual self-importance. ### [Chapter 19](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-19) Reluctantly opens the door for Edward and later considers poisoning his master. ### [Chapter 22](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-22) Hears of Joe's heroics and vows that Joe's days are numbered. ### [Chapter 24](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-24) Visits Mr. Chester in disguise, revealing his grievances and plotting against Joe Willet. ### [Chapter 27](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-27) Working in the workshop when Mr. Chester arrives; he expresses his scorn for the Lord Mayor and his desire for vengeance. ### [Chapter 31](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-31) Secretly watches Joe and Dolly's parting, rejoicing that Dolly might now be his. ### [Chapter 36](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-36) Mentioned as president of the United Bulldogs, noted for his earnestness and oratory. ### [Chapter 39](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-39) Now a captain of the United Bulldogs, swelled with self-importance; attempts to recognize Hugh. ### [Chapter 50](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-50) Present at the tavern; leaves in a lofty manner after Dennis's complaints. ### [Chapter 51](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-51) Returns home in a battered state, defiant and drunk, having been involved in the riots, and later flees from Varden. ### [Chapter 52](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-52) Lies coiled upon a truss of hay, snoring profoundly, having been drunk the previous night. ### [Chapter 53](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-53) Mentioned as being in the front of the fourth party of rioters. ### [Chapter 54](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-54) Present among the rioters, kicks John Willet in a drunken assertion of authority. ### [Chapter 59](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-59) Commands the group guarding the carriage, challenges Hugh. ### [Chapter 60](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-60) Accompanies Hugh and Dennis, enduring Hugh's mocking laughter as they make their way to Fleet Market. ### [Chapter 63](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-63) Leads the mob with Hugh and Dennis, and is accosted by Miss Miggs. ### [Chapter 71](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/chapters/chapter-71) Found lying in hiding, burnt, bruised, and with a gunshot wound, his legs crushed into shapeless ugliness. He feels a keen pang as Dolly passes out with Joe as her preserver. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters/simon_tappertit - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/barnaby_rudge_se/characters