# Ralph Nickleby — Nicholas Nickleby character guide > Ralph Nickleby in Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Ralph Nickleby, young Ralph Nickleby, Master Ralph Nickleby, Ralph Nickleby, Mr. Nickleby **First appearance:** 0003-i ## Snapshot A moneylender of no recognisable profession, he keeps a brass-plated office in Golden Square and regards his dead brother's family as an inconvenient debt. ## Who they are Ralph lives in faded Golden Square among musicians and foreigners, enjoying a reputation for immense wealth while belonging to no trade or profession anyone can name. He greets the news of his brother's death with a shrug and immediately begins calculating what his widow and children might cost him, then schemes to turn them into instruments of profit. Cold, plausible, and never quite catchable, he is the gravity that pulls Nicholas's story downward, and the reader watches him the way one watches a man handling a knife. ## Relationships ### [Newman Noggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/newman_noggs) _professional_ Noggs is Ralph's downtrodden clerk, secretly working against his employer's schemes. ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/nicholas_nickleby) _rivalry_ Bitter uncle and nephew locked in a conflict over money, family honor, and power. ### [Wackford Squeers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/wackford_squeers) _professional_ Ralph collaborates with the cruel schoolmaster Squeers for mutual financial gain. ### [Sir Mulberry Hawk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/sir_mulberry_hawk) _social_ Ralph associates with Sir Mulberry Hawk as a wealthy acquaintance and fellow schemer. ### [Kate Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/kate_nickleby) _family_ Kate is Ralph's niece, whom he exploits and treats coldly for his own purposes. ### [Sir Mulberry Hawk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/sir_mulberry_hawk) _social_ Ralph associates with Sir Mulberry Hawk as a wealthy acquaintance and fellow schemer. ### [Newman Noggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/newman_noggs) _professional_ Noggs is Ralph's downtrodden clerk, secretly working against his employer's schemes. ### [Wackford Squeers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/wackford_squeers) _professional_ Ralph collaborates with the cruel schoolmaster Squeers for mutual financial gain. ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/nicholas_nickleby) _rivalry_ Bitter uncle and nephew locked in a conflict over money, family honor, and power. ### [Wackford Squeers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/wackford_squeers) _professional_ Ralph collaborates with the cruel schoolmaster Squeers for mutual financial gain. ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/nicholas_nickleby) _rivalry_ Bitter uncle and nephew locked in a conflict over money, family honor, and power. ### [Newman Noggs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/newman_noggs) _professional_ Noggs is Ralph's downtrodden clerk, secretly working against his employer's schemes. ## In the story ### [Nicholas Nickleby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/nicholas-nickleby) Introduced as the miserly and unfeeling uncle of Nicholas and Kate, who refuses to help the family after his brother's death. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/i) Elder son of Godfrey Nickleby; a usurious and money-obsessed youth who later becomes a wealthy London merchant. ### [Of Mr. Ralph Nickleby, and his establishments, and his undertakings, and of a great joint stock company of vast national importance.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/ii) Introduced as a shrewd, cold-eyed businessman living in Golden Square, engaged in speculative ventures. ### [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) Receives news of his brother's death with cold indifference; meets his niece and nephew for the first time; arranges Kate's apprenticeship and Nicholas's position with Squeers. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/iv) Arranges Nicholas's employment with Squeers, warning him not to squander the opportunity. ### [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) Appears at the coach-yard, sarcastically comments on the hackney coach, and coldly observes the farewell. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/x) Arranges Kate's employment, dismisses sentimentality, and escorts her to the dressmaker'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) Indirectly present through Newman's errand; his supposed thoughtfulness is ironically contrasted with Newman's actual efforts. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xv) Received the letter from Squeers detailing Nicholas's assault; mentioned as the uncle who must be informed. ### [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) Arranges the dinner party and introduces Kate to his associates, showing a cold and manipulative demeanor. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xx) Confronts Mrs. Nickleby and Kate, accusing Nicholas of misconduct and disowning him. ### [Chapter XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxvi) Torn between a faint, reluctant compassion for Kate and his profit-driven schemes, he ultimately discloses her address to Lord Frederick Verisopht. ### [Miss Nickleby Appeals to Her Uncle for Protection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxviii) Coldly refuses to help Kate, prioritizing his business ties with Sir Mulberry Hawk and Lord Frederick Verisopht. ### [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) Ralph is distracted by thoughts of Kate and experiences a fleeting moment of humanizing reflection, but quickly returns to his cold, calculating self. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxii) His villainy is revealed through the overheard conversation. ### [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) Receives Nicholas's letter of renunciation; reads it twice, falls into a dark muse, and then turns furiously on Newman. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxiv) Ralph's hatred for Nicholas grows as he recalls past comparisons and schemes for revenge. ### [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) Contrasted with the happy Nicklebys; he is alone and miserable. ### [XXXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xxxviii) Visits Sir Mulberry, stoking his hatred for Nicholas, and is astonished by Lord Frederick's unexpected moral stand. ### [Mr. Ralph Nickleby cuts an old acquaintance. It would also appear from the contents hereof, that a joke, even between husband and wife, may be sometimes carried too far.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xliv) Ralph is confronted by Brooker, an old acquaintance, and refuses his blackmail attempts. He later learns of Sir Mulberry Hawk's departure and is frustrated by Nicholas's apparent good fortune. ### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xlv) Threatens Nicholas with protracted legal warfare and vows to break his spirit. ### [Throws some light upon Nicholas's Love; but whether for good or evil the reader must determine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xlvi) Visits the Cheerybles to complain about Nicholas but is rebuffed. ### [Mr. Ralph Nickleby has some confidential intercourse with another old friend. They concert between them a project, which promises well for both.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/xlvii) Conspires with Arthur Gride to arrange a marriage between Gride and Madeline Bray, using Bray's debts and Gride's hidden knowledge as leverage. ### [Chapter LI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/li) Orchestrates the marriage plot between Arthur Gride and Madeline Bray, as revealed in his letter. ### [LIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/liii) Mentioned as the co-conspirator in the plot to marry Madeline to Gride. ### [The Crisis of the Project and Its Result](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/liv) Manipulates Gride and Bray, taunts Gride about jealousy, and orchestrates the marriage. ### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lvi) Furious and calculating, Ralph hatches a scheme to retrieve a stolen deed and thwart Nicholas's marriage to Madeline Bray. ### [How Ralph Nickleby's auxiliary went about his work, and how he prospered with it.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lvii) Mentioned in Squeers's soliloquy as a sly, cunning 'file' who tracked down Peg Sliderskew and cleared the ground for Squeers to work. ### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lix) Shows signs of mental and physical strain, sleeplessness, and paranoia; confronts Charles Cheeryble and is later accused by Newman Noggs. ### [LX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lx) Visits Squeers in prison, attempts to manipulate him into silence, and learns of the document that threatens his schemes. ### [Ralph Makes One Last Appointment—and Keeps It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/chapters/lxii) Ralph is consumed by remorse and madness after discovering Smike is his son and that he has died in Nicholas's care. He returns home, contemplates suicide, and locks himself in the attic. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters/ralph_nickleby - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nicholas_nickleby_se/characters