Nickleby does not see the true evil her children encounter until it is directly pointed out to her. Nickleby Nicholas and Kate’s mother, who provides much of the novel’s comic relief. She finds well-deserved happiness with Frank Cheeryble.

She does not blanch at hard labour to earn her keep and defends herself against the lecherous Sir Mulberry Hawk. Kate is a fairly passive character, typical of Dickensian women, but she shares some of her brother’s fortitude and strong will. Kate Nickleby Nicholas's younger sister.When it is revealed that Smike was his son, and that the boy died hating him, he takes his own life. Ralph’s anger at Nicholas’s beating of Wackford Squeers leads to a vow to destroy the younger man, but the only man Ralph ends up destroying is himself. But, as gruff as he is, he harbours something of a soft spot for Kate. He seems to care about nothing but money and takes an immediate dislike to the idealistic Nicholas. Ralph Nickleby The book’s major antagonist, Nicholas’s uncle.But he devotes himself primarily to his friends and family and fiercely defies those who wrong the ones he loves. Nicholas is not a typical hero: he can be violent, naïve, and emotional. His father has died and left Nicholas and his family penniless. Nicholas Nickleby The hero of the novel.The major characters in Nicholas Nickleby include: His Uncle Ralph, who thinks Nicholas will never amount to anything, plays the role of an antagonist.Īs in most of Dickens’ works, there is a sprawling number of characters in the book. The novel centres around the life and adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, a young man who must support his mother and sister after his father dies.

Much of the action takes place in London, with several chapters taking place in Dickens' birthplace of Portsmouth, as well as settings in Yorkshire and Devon. Like many of Dickens' works, the novel has a contemporary setting. It was originally published as a serial from 1838 to 1839. Nicholas Nickleby or, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is the third novel by Charles Dickens.

Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens