Little Dorrit · Character
Mr. Chivery
The turnkey of the Marshalsea, father of Young John.
minor
Also known as the elder Mr. Chivery
First appearance: Little Dorrit's Lover
Mr. Chivery shows up with force in The Child of the Marshalsea. The page is where that presence becomes real.
The turnkey who becomes Little Dorrit's godfather, buys her a little armchair, and helps her try to find work for Tip.
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In The Child of the Marshalsea: The turnkey who becomes Little Dorrit's godfather, buys her a little armchair, and helps her try to find work for Tip. Later, in Little Dorrit's Lover: Young John's father, a turnkey who…
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The fuller portrait of Mr. Chivery sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Mr. Chivery in Little Dorrit's LoverCharacter Web
2 connectionsA slice of how Mr. Chivery sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Minor Characters and Background Figures
- Circumlocution Office and Society
- Inventors, Artists, and Shadows
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Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This excerpt represents the story's dramatic climax because it depicts Arthur Clennam’s psychological nadir an…
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Follow the arc while readingIn the story
Mr. Chivery appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- The Child of the Marshalsea
- Little Dorrit's Lover
- The Father of the Marshalsea in Two or Three Relations
- A Puzzle
- The Pupil of the Marshalsea
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. Chivery unlock in the free preview.
See Mr. Chivery in Little Dorrit's Lover