# Seth Pecksniff — Martin Chuzzlewit character guide > Seth Pecksniff in Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Pecksniff, Pecksniff, the Pecksniff, scoundrel Pecksniff, upright Pecksniff, old Pecksniff, The great Mr. Pecksniff **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot A sanctimonious architect who weeps on cue, quotes virtue like scripture, and picks his pockets clean of everyone who trusts him. ## Who they are Pecksniff presides over a household of daughters, pupils, and dependents, all arranged to flatter his reputation for benevolence while he quietly calculates what each is worth. His genius is for moral language deployed as camouflage: he sacrifices his children's happiness to his own and calls it self-denial. He anchors the novel's satire, since every plot against old Chuzzlewit's fortune passes through his oily hands. ## Relationships ### [Tom Pinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/tom_pinch) _professional_ Pecksniff exploits Tom as a devoted but underpaid clerk, feigning benevolence while treating him as a tool. ### [Martin Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/martin_chuzzlewit) _rivalry_ Martin despises Pecksniff for his hypocrisy and manipulation, especially regarding the family fortune. ### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit) _professional_ Jonas becomes Pecksniff's son-in-law through a cold business arrangement, marked by mutual contempt. ### [Sarah Gamp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/sarah_gamp) _social_ Sarah Gamp is a drunken, disreputable nurse who occasionally interacts with Pecksniff in his professional capacity. ### [Anthony Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/anthony_chuzzlewit) _rivalry_ Anthony, Martin's grandfather, distrusts and opposes Pecksniff's greedy scheming for the family wealth. ### [Mary Graham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/mary_graham) _psychological_ Mary is a ward of old Martin Chuzzlewit and is subjected to Pecksniff's unwanted romantic advances and manipulation. ### [Chuffey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/chuffey) _social_ Chuffey is a marginal figure in Pecksniff's orbit, treated with condescension and indifference. ### [Mercy Pecksniff](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/mercy_pecksniff) _family_ Mercy is Pecksniff's daughter, initially spoiled and vain, but later suffers under his neglect and her abusive marriage. ### [Tom Pinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/tom_pinch) _professional_ Pecksniff exploits Tom as a devoted but underpaid clerk, feigning benevolence while treating him as a tool. ### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit) _professional_ Jonas becomes Pecksniff's son-in-law through a cold business arrangement, marked by mutual contempt. ### [Tom Pinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/tom_pinch) _professional_ Pecksniff exploits Tom as a devoted but underpaid clerk, feigning benevolence while treating him as a tool. ### [Jonas Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/jonas_chuzzlewit) _professional_ Jonas becomes Pecksniff's son-in-law through a cold business arrangement, marked by mutual contempt. ## In the story ### [Martin Chuzzlewit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/martin-chuzzlewit) Introduced as a hypocritical architect who takes on pupils for their fees, pretending to teach them while exploiting their labor. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/ii) Delivers a hypocritical speech about forgiveness and virtue, refusing to shake hands with Westlock while claiming to bear no ill-will. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/iii) Visits old Martin, feigning disinterest and virtue while subtly manipulating the conversation to appear selfless. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/iv) Pecksniff anxiously waits for old Martin's summons, eavesdrops at the Dragon, collides with Tigg, and later hosts the family gathering where he attempts to position himself as the family's moral leader. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/v) Shows young Martin around his home, displaying his rooms and works with self-congratulatory modesty. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/vi) Pecksniff condescendingly promises to deliver Tom's letter to his sister, then departs for London with his daughters. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/viii) Travels to London with his daughters, delivers moralizing speeches, and is accused of hypocrisy by Anthony Chuzzlewit. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/ix) Visits Ruth Pinch, delivers a patronizing speech, is rudely ejected from the house, and later becomes drunk at Todgers's, delivering moral lectures from the stairs. ### [Containing Strange Matter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/x) Pecksniff is in London, feigning piety and waiting for a letter from old Martin. He manipulates the situation to appear virtuous and loyal. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xii) Renounces Martin with hypocritical moral outrage, falls over a chair, and remains on the floor. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xiv) Denounced by Martin as a scoundrel; Martin warns Mary about him. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xviii) Visits Anthony, schemes to marry Jonas to his daughter, and spies on Jonas reading the will. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xix) Acts as Jonas's agent, engaging Mrs. Gamp and overseeing funeral arrangements; indulges in moralizing and high living during the mourning period. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xx) Discovers Jonas's proposal to Mercy, negotiates dowry, and returns home with Jonas. ### [Chapter XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxiv) Pecksniff struggles to maintain harmony in his household while currying favor with old Martin. ### [Mr. Pecksniff's Design](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxx) Plots to secure old Martin's fortune and considers marrying Mary Graham. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxi) Pecksniff enters the church, falls asleep, and later claims to have overheard a conversation between Tom and Mary. He uses this as a pretext to dismiss Tom, all while maintaining a hypocritical show of moral outrage. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxv) Lays the foundation stone for Martin's grammar-school design, taking full public credit. ### [Tom Pinch departs to seek his fortune. What he finds at starting.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xxxvi) Mentioned as the cause of Tom's departure; his hypocrisy is reflected upon by Tom. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xliii) Interposes himself between Martin and his grandfather, acting as a self-righteous chorus and blocking reconciliation. ### [Chapter XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xliv) Eagerly falls for Jonas's bait, displaying excessive flattery and hypocrisy toward Montague. ### [Chapter XLVII: Conclusion of the Enterprise of Mr. Jonas and His Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/xlvii) Briefly mentioned as Montague's companion earlier; Montague waves goodbye to him before the murder. ### [In which the tables are turned, completely upside down](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/lii) Confronted by old Martin, exposed as selfish and treacherous, and banished; delivers a self-righteous farewell speech. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/chapters/endnotes) Mentioned as the character whose reasoning was mistakenly attributed to the author. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters/seth_pecksniff - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/martin_chuzzlewit_se/characters