# Nathaniel Winkle — The Pickwick Papers character guide > Nathaniel Winkle in The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Winkle, Winkle, Mr. Nathaniel Winkle **First appearance:** 0001-the-pickwick-papers ## Snapshot A would-be sportsman whose green shooting-coat and confident boasts collapse into comic ineptitude whenever a gun, horse, or pretty face is involved. ## Who they are Winkle is one of the four founding Pickwickians, presented in the club's proceedings as the member whose ruling passion is fame in field, air, and water. His flaw is a vanity that outruns his ability: he claims sporting prowess he cannot deliver, and his romantic entanglements land him in scrapes as often as his misfired guns. His repeated exposure keeps the early travelogue buoyant and gives the group a running joke about pretension versus performance. ## In the story ### [The Pickwick Papers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/the-pickwick-papers) A sporting member of the Pickwick Club, often involved in mishaps related to his pretensions. ### [The Pickwickians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/i) The sporting member, wearing a new green shooting-coat; appointed to the Corresponding Society. ### [The First Day's Journey, and the First Evening's Adventures; with Their Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/ii) Greets Pickwick at the Golden Cross, claims to be a sportsman, and falls asleep during dinner. ### [A New Acquaintance—The Stroller's Tale—A Disagreeable Interruption, and an Unpleasant Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/iii) Present during the confrontation; his coat is temporarily taken by the stranger. ### [A Field Day and Bivouac—More New Friends—An Invitation to the Country](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/iv) Has his hat knocked over his eyes in the crowd and suffers a bloody nose after the collision. ### [A Short One — Showing How Mr. Pickwick Undertook to Drive, and Mr. Winkle to Ride, and How They Both Did It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/v) Struggles to ride the horse, leading to a series of comedic mishaps. ### [An Old-Fashioned Card-Party—The Clergyman's Verses—The Story of the Convict's Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/vi) Tells jokes that amuse the company, gaining honor and glory. ### [How Mr. Winkle, instead of shooting at the pigeon and killing the crow, shot at the crow and wounded the pigeon; how the Dingley Dell cricket club played All-Muggleton, and how All-Muggleton dined at the Dingley Dell expense; with other interesting and instructive matters.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/vii) Claims to be a good shot but forgets the gun cap and accidentally wounds Tupman. ### [Involving another journey, and an antiquarian discovery; recording Mr. Pickwick's determination to be present at an election; and containing a manuscript of the old clergyman's.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xi) Travels with Pickwick and Snodgrass, appears melancholy about Tupman's disappearance. ### [Descriptive of a very important proceeding on the part of Mr. Pickwick; no less an epoch in his life, than in this history](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xii) Carries the screaming Master Bardell to the far end of the room during the commotion. ### [Some Account of Eatanswill; of the State of Parties Therein; and of the Election of a Member to Serve in Parliament for that Ancient, Loyal, and Patriotic Borough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xiii) Accompanies Mr. Pickwick to Mr. Pott's home and catches the attention of Mrs. Pott. ### [Comprising a brief description of the company at the Peacock assembled; and a tale told by a bagman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xiv) Spends time walking with Mrs. Pott during the election period. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xv) Informs Mr. Pickwick about Mrs. Pott's costume and also plans to wear a fancy-dress. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xviii) Stays at Mr. Pott's house and is accused of being a 'serpent' after a libelous poem appears in the Independent. ### [A Pleasant Day with an Unpleasant Termination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xix) Nervous about shooting; holds his gun awkwardly; nearly shoots himself and hits Sam Weller's head with the barrel. ### [How the Pickwickians made and cultivated the acquaintance of a couple of nice young men belonging to one of the liberal professions; how they disported themselves on the ice; and how their visit came to a conclusion.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxx) Falsely claims to skate, falls awkwardly, and is publicly called a 'humbug' by Mr. Pickwick. ### [A Bachelor's Party at Mr. Bob Sawyer's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxxii) Attends the party and later receives Ben Allen's confession about Arabella. ### [In which Mr. Pickwick thinks he had better go to Bath; and goes accordingly.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxxv) Still recovering from his trial testimony, but joins the journey to Bath. ### [Chapter XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxxvi) Mistakenly enters a sedan-chair meant for Mrs. Dowler, leading to a frantic chase and threats from Mr. Dowler. ### [Honourably accounts for Mr. Weller's absence, by describing a soiree to which he was invited and went; also relates how he was entrusted by Mr. Pickwick with a private mission of delicacy and importance.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxxvii) Has fled the house early in the morning after an altercation with Mr. Dowler; Mr. Pickwick sends Sam to find him. ### [How Mr. Winkle, when he stepped out of the frying-pan, walked gently and comfortably into the fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxxviii) Flees to Bristol to avoid a duel with Dowler, encounters Bob Sawyer and Ben Allen, and learns of Ben's distress over Arabella. ### [Mr. Samuel Weller, being entrusted with a mission of love, proceeds to execute it; with what success will hereinafter appear.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xxxix) Under Sam's surveillance; declares his serious intentions toward Arabella Allen; climbs the wall to meet her and pleads his passion. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xliv) Visits Mr. Pickwick in the Fleet with Mr. Lowten, behaving mysteriously. ### [Relates how Mr. Pickwick, with the assistance of Samuel Weller, essayed to soften the heart of Mr. Benjamin Allen, and to mollify the wrath of Mr. Robert Sawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/chapters/xlviii) Referred to as the happy bridegroom of Arabella Allen. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/characters/nathaniel_inkle - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_pickwick_papers_se/characters