# Kate Nickleby — Nicholas Nickleby character guide > Kate Nickleby in Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Kate, poor Kate, Little Kate Nickleby, little Kate Nickleby **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot Nicholas's beautiful and gentle sister, sent to work as a dressmaker's apprentice among sneering colleagues, endures the world's casual cruelties with quiet dignity. ## Who they are Kate is placed at Madame Mantalini's fashionable dressmaking establishment, where the work is dull, exhausting, and humiliating, and where Miss Knag's flattery is as poisonous as open contempt. Her beauty draws the predatory attention of wealthy men, and her position exposes how little protection a poor gentlewoman has in London. Where Nicholas can storm and flee, Kate must stay and smile, and her patient endurance gives the novel its sharpest picture of what the world does to women without money. ## Relationships ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/nicholas_nickleby) _family_ Loving and protective siblings who support each other through hardship. ### [Ralph Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/ralph_nickleby) _family_ Kate is Ralph's niece, whom he exploits and treats coldly for his own purposes. ### [Fanny Squeers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/fanny_squeers) _rivalry_ Fanny is bitterly jealous of Kate's beauty and sees her as a romantic rival. ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/nicholas_nickleby) _family_ Loving and protective siblings who support each other through hardship. ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/nicholas_nickleby) _family_ Loving and protective siblings who support each other through hardship. ### [Fanny Squeers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/fanny_squeers) _rivalry_ Fanny is bitterly jealous of Kate's beauty and sees her as a romantic rival. ### [Ralph Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/ralph_nickleby) _family_ Kate is Ralph's niece, whom he exploits and treats coldly for his own purposes. ### [Fanny Squeers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/fanny_squeers) _rivalry_ Fanny is bitterly jealous of Kate's beauty and sees her as a romantic rival. ### [Ralph Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/ralph_nickleby) _family_ Kate is Ralph's niece, whom he exploits and treats coldly for his own purposes. ## In the story ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/nicholas-nickleby) Introduced as the daughter of the deceased, a young woman of beauty and virtue. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/i) Daughter of Nicholas and Mrs. Nickleby; about fourteen years old at the time of her father's death. ### [Mr. Ralph Nickleby receives sad tidings of his brother, but bears up nobly against the intelligence communicated to him. The reader is informed how he liked Nicholas, who is herein introduced, and how kindly he proposed to make his fortune at once.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/iii) Present during Ralph's visit; weeps at her uncle's harshness; agrees to try boarding-school work to support herself. ### [Nicholas starts for Yorkshire. Of his leave-taking and his fellow-travellers, and what befell them on the road.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/v) Helps pack Nicholas's trunk, weeps silently, and comes to the coach-yard to see him off, expressing distaste for Squeers. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/x) Sits for her portrait with Miss La Creevy and is taken by Ralph to begin work at Madame Mantalini's. ### [Newman Noggs inducts Mrs. and Miss Nickleby into their new dwelling in the city](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xi) Reflects despondently on her new career and the gloomy house; shows perceptiveness and gratitude toward Miss La Creevy and Newman Noggs. ### [Follows the fortunes of Miss Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xvii) Begins her employment at Madame Mantalini's, feeling heavy-hearted and facing the grim realities of working life. ### [Miss Knag, after doting on Kate Nickleby for three whole days, makes up her mind to hate her forevermore. The causes which led Miss Knag to form this resolution.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xviii) Begins her novitiate at Madame Mantalini's; described as awkward and weary, she is manipulated by Miss Knag's false friendship. ### [Descriptive of a Dinner at Mr. Ralph Nickleby's, and of the manner in which the company entertained themselves, before dinner, at dinner, and after dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xix) Endures a difficult week at work and is reluctantly drawn into Ralph's dinner party, where she faces disrespect from his guests. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xx) Defends Nicholas against Ralph's accusations and pleads with him to stay. ### [Madam Mantalini finds herself in a situation of some difficulty, and Miss Nickleby finds herself in no situation at all.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxi) Returns to work after illness, faces Miss Knag's hostility, is dismissed when Madame Mantalini's business fails, and then applies for a companion position with Mrs. Wititterly. ### [Nicholas, accompanied by Smike, sallies forth to seek his fortune. He encounters Mr. Vincent Crummles; and who he was, is herein made manifest.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxii) Mentioned as Nicholas stands beneath her window, thinking of her and deciding not to say goodbye to spare her pain. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxvi) Though not present, she is the subject of her mother's fantasies and Ralph's troubled thoughts, as well as the target of the noblemen's predatory interest. ### [Mrs. Nickleby Becomes Acquainted with Messrs. Pyke and Pluck, Whose Affection and Interest Are Beyond All Bounds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxvii) Forced to endure Sir Mulberry Hawk's company at the theater; she angrily rejects his advances and threatens him with her brother's retaliation. ### [Miss Nickleby Appeals to Her Uncle for Protection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxviii) Desperate and distressed, she appeals to her uncle for protection after suffering harassment and unjust accusations. ### [Of Ralph Nickleby and Newman Noggs, and some wise precautions, the success or failure of which will appear in the sequel.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxi) Kate is the subject of Ralph's conflicted thoughts and the focus of Newman and Miss La Creevy's protective scheme. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxii) Her name and virtue are derided by Sir Mulberry and his companions, prompting Nicholas's confrontation. ### [In which Mr. Ralph Nickleby is relieved, by a very expeditious process, from all commerce with his relations.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxiii) Found pale and miserable at the Wititterlys'; is immediately removed by Nicholas and expresses her relief and gratitude. ### [Smike becomes known to Mrs. Nickleby and Kate. Nicholas also meets with new acquaintances. Brighter days seem to dawn upon the family.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxv) Warmly welcomes Smike and busies herself with settling into the new cottage. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxviii) Enjoys a settled feeling of tranquility and happiness living with her brother, her cheerfulness and beauty restored. ### [Containing some romantic passages between Mrs. Nickleby and the gentleman in the small-clothes next door.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xli) Terrified by the neighbor's strange behavior, she urges her mother to come inside and is perplexed by Mrs. Nickleby's complacency. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xliii) Blushes at Frank's visit and enjoys the evening walk and conversation. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xlv) Pale but quiet, stays close to her brother during the confrontation. ### [Chapter XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xlix) Lives peacefully with her mother; flushes when Mrs. Nickleby praises Frank Cheeryble's attentiveness. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lv) Gently tries to explain Madeline's circumstances to her mother; nurses Madeline devotedly during her illness. ### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lviii) Mentioned in Nicholas's memories and as the object of Smike's secret love. ### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lxi) Mourns Smike, supports Nicholas's decision, and shares her own regrets about a past sacrifice. ### [Chapter LXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lxiii) Attends the dinner, is emotional about Madeline's silence, and is led to a room where she finds a letter from Madeline. ### [An Old Acquaintance is Recognised Under Melancholy Circumstances, and Dotheboys Hall Breaks Up Forever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lxiv) Accompanies Nicholas on his walk and recognizes Mr. Mantalini in the cellar. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lxv) Marries Frank Cheeryble on the same day as Nicholas's wedding, remaining a gentle and loving sister and mother. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/kate_nickleby - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters