# Mark Tapley — Martin Chuzzlewit character guide > Mark Tapley in Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mark **First appearance:** 0005-iii ## Snapshot A servant constitutionally obliged to find cheerfulness a challenge, which is precisely why he keeps rising to every miserable occasion. ## Who they are Mark Tapley attaches himself to young Martin with the theory that a man deserves credit for being jolly when circumstances make jollity hard, and the worse things get, the more determinedly he beams. He speaks in a cheerful idiom of love, honour, and obedience, punctual to the stroke of the clock, and reads other people's characters more shrewdly than his manner suggests. He matters because his loyalty gives Martin a companion in adversity and the reader a comic counterweight to Pecksniff's false virtue. ## Relationships ### [Martin Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/martin_chuzzlewit) _friendship_ Mark is Martin's cheerful and devoted companion, providing unwavering loyalty and comic relief. ### [Tom Pinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/tom_pinch) _friendship_ Mark and Tom are good-natured friends, united by their shared decency and opposition to hypocrisy. ### [Martin Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/martin_chuzzlewit) _friendship_ Mark is Martin's cheerful and devoted companion, providing unwavering loyalty and comic relief. ### [Tom Pinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/tom_pinch) _friendship_ Mark and Tom are good-natured friends, united by their shared decency and opposition to hypocrisy. ### [Martin Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/martin_chuzzlewit) _friendship_ Mark is Martin's cheerful and devoted companion, providing unwavering loyalty and comic relief. ### [Tom Pinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/tom_pinch) _friendship_ Mark and Tom are good-natured friends, united by their shared decency and opposition to hypocrisy. ## In the story ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/vii) Announces his departure for London, seeking a challenging private service. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xiii) Meets Martin in London, reveals he has seen old Martin and Mary Graham, and offers to help deliver a letter to Mary. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xiv) Delivers Martin's letter to Mary, escorts her to the meeting, and silently observes Martin's obliviousness about the ring. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xv) Cheerfully helps a poor woman and her children, washes them, and performs various kindnesses despite his own seasickness; becomes universally popular on board. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xvii) Martin remembers Mark waiting at the Rowdy Journal Office and goes to find him. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxi) Remains jolly despite warnings about snakes, recounts a rattlesnake anecdote, and encourages Martin. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxii) Martin's partner, observes the absurdity of the situation and tries to keep visitors away. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxiii) Maintains his indomitable cheerfulness, encourages Martin, and resolves to show his jolly disposition in the face of extreme hardship. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxiii) Goes in search of help, encounters the family from the Screw, and engages in a disputatious conversation with Hannibal Chollop. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxiv) Secures a job as a cook on the ship to pay for Martin's passage; devises a plan to deceive Mr. Bevan about their passage money; reflects on the American Eagle. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxv) Accompanies Martin, tries to calm him, and remains optimistic about their future. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxix) Mark is mentioned as having accompanied Martin Chuzzlewit abroad. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xliii) Urges Martin to humble himself and make amends, showing unwavering loyalty. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xlviii) Accompanies Martin, maintains his cheerful demeanor, and jokes with Tom. ### [In which the tables are turned, completely upside down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/lii) Summoned by old Martin; delivers message to young Martin; escorts Mrs. Lupin; comments on Tigg's nature. ### [What John Westlock said to Tom Pinch's sister; what Tom Pinch's sister said to John Westlock; what Tom Pinch said to both of them; and how they all passed the remainder of the day.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/liii) Manages the dinner arrangements with humor, entertaining the waiters and celebrating with the party. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/liv) Assists Old Martin and ecstatically reunites with the couple who helped them in Eden. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/mark_tapley - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters