# Mercy Pecksniff — Martin Chuzzlewit character guide > Mercy Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Miss Merry, Merry, the lively Merry, poor Merry, Poor Merry, Miss Pecksniff, Miss Mercy, Miss Mercy Pecksniff, Mercy Pecksniff, the fair Miss Mercy, Silly Merry, Cousin Mercy **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot The younger Pecksniff daughter, all giggles and sly mockery, whose flirtatious vanity carries her into a marriage that slowly strips her of both. ## Who they are Merry Pecksniff is the livelier of Pecksniff's two daughters, a girl whose teasing wit and appetite for admiration make her a favourite at Todgers's and a rival to her sour sister Charity. When Jonas Chuzzlewit's courtship shifts from elder to younger, she mistakes his crude attention for triumph and marries him in a spirit of spiteful victory. Her slow disillusionment inside that household becomes one of the novel's quiet tragedies, and her suffering measures the human cost of the Pecksniff moral education. ## Relationships ### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit) _family_ Jonas marries Mercy (Merry) Pecksniff, but their union is abusive and loveless, driven by his cruelty. ### [Seth Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff) _family_ Mercy is Pecksniff's daughter, initially spoiled and vain, but later suffers under his neglect and her abusive marriage. ### [Seth Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff) _family_ Mercy is Pecksniff's daughter, initially spoiled and vain, but later suffers under his neglect and her abusive marriage. ### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit) _family_ Jonas marries Mercy (Merry) Pecksniff, but their union is abusive and loveless, driven by his cruelty. ### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit) _family_ Jonas marries Mercy (Merry) Pecksniff, but their union is abusive and loveless, driven by his cruelty. ### [Seth Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff) _family_ Mercy is Pecksniff's daughter, initially spoiled and vain, but later suffers under his neglect and her abusive marriage. ## In the story ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/ii) Joins her sister in mocking Tom and supporting her father's hypocritical stance. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/vi) Mercy walks arm-in-arm with Martin to the coach and is amused by the mention of Tom's sister. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/viii) Travels with her father and sister; is the object of Jonas Chuzzlewit's attention during the journey. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/ix) Accompanies her father, adds a remark about Mrs. Todgers, and joins in the indignation after the ejection. ### [Containing Strange Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/x) Mercy is present with her sister, showing filial devotion and sharing in the outrage against young Martin's deception. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xi) Reluctant to join the outing, teases Jonas openly, calling him 'fright' and 'odious'; prefers the society of Todgers's. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xx) Accepts Jonas's proposal, leading to conflict with Charity. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxiv) Mercy flippantly dismisses Martin's warnings about her marriage to Jonas, insisting she will dominate him. ### [An Unexpected Meeting, and a Promising Prospect](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxvi) Now Mrs. Jonas Chuzzlewit, the bride; she appears tired and unhappy, not 'merry' as expected, and the house feels gloomy. ### [Mr. Montague at home. And Mr. Jonas Chuzzlewit at home.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxviii) Seen briefly at the end, looking careworn and dejected as she carries a light at Jonas's house. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxii) Mentioned as the object of Mr. Moddle's former infatuation; now married to Jonas Chuzzlewit. ### [Tom Pinch, going astray, finds that he is not the only person in that predicament. He retaliates upon a fallen foe.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxvii) Mercy is found at Todgers's, distressed and tearful, and Tom offers her forgiveness. ### [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxix) Mercy is mentioned as having married, with John Westlock inquiring about her husband and her changed circumstances. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xlv) Mentioned as a possible contact at Mrs. Todgers's whom Tom hopes to see. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xlvi) Mercy appears deeply changed by her marriage to Jonas, showing sadness and a new capacity for sympathy toward dependants like Chuffey. ### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/li) Absent from home, causing Jonas anxiety; she is the wife of Jonas. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/liv) In mourning after Jonas's death, she is visited by Old Martin and agrees to leave with him before the wedding. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/mercy_pecksniff - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters