The Pickwick Papers

Main Ideas

• A satirical depiction of 19th-century English society, its social and political institutions.
• Comical adventures and misunderstandings arising from the naivety and good nature of the main character, Mr. Pickwick.
• Friendship and camaraderie as important values that unite the members of the Pickwick Club.
• Critique of the judicial system and bureaucracy, illustrated through Mr. Pickwick's court case.
• Portrayal of various human characters and types through numerous secondary characters.
• The theme of travel and discovery, both external and internal, through the characters' adventures.