# Young John Chivery — Little Dorrit character guide

> Young John Chivery in Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** John Chivery, Young John, Chivery

**First appearance:** 0020-xviii-little-dorrit-s-lover

## Snapshot

The turnkey's son who loves Little Dorrit from the Marshalsea yard, expressing his devotion in cigars, cravats, and hopeless sighs.

## Who they are

Young John is the son of the Marshalsea's turnkey, a soft-hearted young man who worships Little Dorrit with an ardor that everyone but she seems to notice. He courts her father with cigars and small attentions, hoping to win the daughter through the Father of the Marshalsea's vanity, while his own mother watches the wind and shakes her head. His unrequited love makes him both comic and genuinely touching, and his loyalty to the Dorrits makes him a quiet fixture of their prison world.

## Relationships

### [Arthur Clennam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/arthur_clennam)

_rivalry_

Arthur is a rival for Little Dorrit's affections, though Young John is a gentle, hopeless admirer who resents Arthur's closeness to her.

### [Little Dorrit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/little_dorrit)

_romantic_

Young John Chivery is hopelessly in love with Little Dorrit, but she only feels pity and friendship for him.

### [Arthur Clennam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/arthur_clennam)

_rivalry_

Arthur is a rival for Little Dorrit's affections, though Young John is a gentle, hopeless admirer who resents Arthur's closeness to her.

### [Little Dorrit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/little_dorrit)

_romantic_

Young John Chivery is hopelessly in love with Little Dorrit, but she only feels pity and friendship for him.

### [Arthur Clennam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/arthur_clennam)

_rivalry_

Arthur is a rival for Little Dorrit's affections, though Young John is a gentle, hopeless admirer who resents Arthur's closeness to her.

### [Little Dorrit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/little_dorrit)

_romantic_

Young John Chivery is hopelessly in love with Little Dorrit, but she only feels pity and friendship for him.

## In the story

### [Little Dorrit's Lover](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xviii-little-dorrit-s-lover)

The sentimental son of a turnkey, deeply in love with Little Dorrit since childhood; he dreams of a future with her in the Marshalsea and attempts to declare his love, but is met with her distress.

### [Conspirators and Others](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxv-conspirators-and-others)

Invited to dinner at Mr. Rugg's home, he participates in the secret investigations out of love for Miss Dorrit, showing his unselfish devotion.

### [XVIII: A Castle in the Air](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xviii-a-castle-in-the-air)

Visits Mr. Dorrit at his hotel to offer cigars and inquire after Little Dorrit, is harshly rebuked but later given a testimonial for the Collegians.

### [The Pupil of the Marshalsea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxvii-the-pupil-of-the-marshalsea)

The turnkey's son, who has observed Little Dorrit's love for Arthur and confronts him about it, revealing his own magnanimous feelings.

### [XXIX: A Plea in the Marshalsea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxix-a-plea-in-the-marshalsea)

Delivers Little Dorrit's message of love to Clennam and promises to stand by him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/young_john_chivery
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters