# Chuffey — Martin Chuzzlewit character guide

> Chuffey in Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Chuffey, poor old Chuffey, That dratted Chuffey, old Chuffey, Old Chuffey, Even poor old Chuffey, Poor Chuffey, Chuff, Mister Chuff, Mr. Chuff, Poor old Chuff

**First appearance:** 0014-xii

## Snapshot

An ancient, half-childlike clerk who has spent his life in Anthony Chuzzlewit's counting-house and clings to the family with helpless devotion.

## Who they are

Chuffey is the doddering old clerk kept about the Chuzzlewit firm, mocked as 'dratted' and humoured like a pet, yet possessed of a memory that surfaces at strange and inconvenient moments. His loyalty to Anthony and to the Chuzzlewit name is absolute, and his grief and agitation when the family turns on itself give the novel some of its rawest feeling. He matters because his cracked recollections and stubborn affection quietly testify to the wrongs done within the house.

## Relationships

### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit)

_psychological_

Chuffey is a broken, elderly clerk who is emotionally and mentally dominated by the cruel Jonas.

### [Sarah Gamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/sarah_gamp)

_social_

Chuffey and Sarah Gamp share a grim, incidental acquaintance through their connections to the Chuzzlewit household.

### [Seth Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff)

_social_

Chuffey is a marginal figure in Pecksniff's orbit, treated with condescension and indifference.

### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit)

_psychological_

Chuffey is a broken, elderly clerk who is emotionally and mentally dominated by the cruel Jonas.

### [Sarah Gamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/sarah_gamp)

_social_

Chuffey and Sarah Gamp share a grim, incidental acquaintance through their connections to the Chuzzlewit household.

### [Seth Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff)

_social_

Chuffey is a marginal figure in Pecksniff's orbit, treated with condescension and indifference.

### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit)

_psychological_

Chuffey is a broken, elderly clerk who is emotionally and mentally dominated by the cruel Jonas.

### [Seth Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff)

_social_

Chuffey is a marginal figure in Pecksniff's orbit, treated with condescension and indifference.

### [Sarah Gamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/sarah_gamp)

_social_

Chuffey and Sarah Gamp share a grim, incidental acquaintance through their connections to the Chuzzlewit household.

## In the story

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xi)

Ancient clerk, largely silent and frozen, only animated by a word or touch from Anthony; soaks his bread mechanically in tea.

### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xviii)

Defends Anthony with a rare outburst, calling Jonas a boy and insisting Anthony is not old.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xix)

Anthony's old clerk, deeply affected by his master's death; weeps and wanders about, raising cries, but is largely ignored by the others.

### [An Unexpected Meeting, and a Promising Prospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxvi)

The aged clerk, sitting by the hearth like a creature of ill omen; he is still alive, thanks to Mrs. Gamp's care.

### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xlvi)

Chuffey is present in his usual corner, showing attachment to Merry and muttering about Jonas's eventual death.

### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/li)

Reveals the truth about Jonas's attempted poisoning of Anthony; confronts Jonas about Mercy's whereabouts.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/chuffey
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters