Martin Chuzzlewit · Chapter
Chapter XVII explained
Martin expands his social circle in America, meeting Mr.
What happens
Martin expands his social circle in America, meeting Mr. Bevan and the Norris family. He observes their contradictory attitudes: they boast of American equality while obsessing over British aristocracy, and they claim to be abolitionists while treating Black people as absurd. Martin also remembers Mark Tapley and goes to find him.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Dickens public…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Hypocrisy and Self-Deception
The Norris family professes equality and abolitionism while snubbing neighbors and mocking Black people.
- American vs. British Society
Martin observes American contradictions: pride in equality yet obsession with British nobility.
- Social Class and Pretension
The Norrises display class pretensions through their fixation on titles and fashion.
Characters to notice
- Martin Chuzzlewit
Martin enlarges his acquaintance, meets the Norris family, and reflects on American society.
- Mark Tapley
Martin remembers Mark waiting at the Rowdy Journal Office and goes to find him.
- Mr. Bevan
Martin's new friend who criticizes American society and introduces him to the Norris family.
- Mr. Norris
Father of the Norris family, who boasts of equality but snubs neighbors for not being 'genteel'.
- General Fladdock
Arrives at the Norris home in full uniform, interrupting the sisters' singing.
Key passages
“It was characteristic of Martin, that all this while he had either forgotten Mark Tapley as completely as if there had been no such person in existence, or, if for a moment the figure of that gentleman rose before his mental vision, had dismissed it as something by no means of a pressing nature, which might be attended to by-and-by, and could wait his perfect leisure.”
Martin had completely forgotten about Mark Tapley, or if he thought of him, he put it off as something that could wait.
Martin's self-absorption and neglect of his companion.
“In a word, I do not find and cannot believe and therefore will not allow, that we are a model of wisdom, and an example to the world, and the perfection of human reason, and a great deal more to the same purpose, which you may hear any hour in the day; simply because we began our political life with two inestimable advantages.”
Mr. Bevan argues that America is not the perfect model it claims to be, because it started with the advantages of a late start and vast territory.
Mr. Bevan's critique of American exceptionalism.
“In short, said Mr. Norris the father, settling the question comfortably, there is a natural antipathy between the races.”
Mr. Norris claims there is a natural dislike between races, justifying prejudice.
Racist rationalization by a self-proclaimed abolitionist.
