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Augustus Snodgrass
Alfred Jingle is a charming but unscrupulous conman who plays a significant role in several of the novel’s early adventures. Known for his fast-talking, fragmented speech and flamboyant manner, Jingle is a master of deception who uses his wit to manipulate others for personal gain. His most notorious scheme involves deceiving and then marrying Rachael Wardle. Jingle is often assisted by his servant, Job Trotter, whose allegiance to Jingle is just as strong as Sam’s is to Pickwick. Although Jingle is a thorn in the side for the Pickwickians during much of the novel, Pickwick ultimately helps Jingle out when he falls upon hard times and ends up in Fleet Prison. Jingle claims he will reform his ways because of Pickwick’s assistance, though the Pickwickians are skeptical that this will actually happen.
Alfred Jingle Quotes in The Pickwick Papers
The The Pickwick Papers quotes below are all either spoken by Alfred Jingle or refer to Alfred Jingle. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 8 Quotes
It was a remarkable coincidence perhaps, but it was nevertheless a fact, that Mr Jingle within five minutes after his arrival at Manor Farm on the preceding night, had inwardly resolved to lay siege to the heart of the spinster aunt, without delay. He had observation enough to see, that his off-hand manner was by no means disagreeable to the fair object of his attack; and he had more than a strong suspicion that she possessed that most desirable of all requisites, a small independence. The imperative necessity of ousting his rival by some means or other, flashed quickly upon him, and he immediately resolved to adopt certain proceedings tending to that end and object, without a moment’s delay. Fielding tells us that man is fire, and woman tow, and the Prince of Darkness sets a light to ’em. Mr Jingle knew that young men, to spinster aunts, are as lighted gas to gunpowder, and he determined to essay the effect of an explosion without loss of time.
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Chapter 53 Quotes
In compliance with this unceremonious invitation, Jingle and Job walked into the room, but, seeing Mr Pickwick, stopped short in some confusion.
‘Well,’ said Perker, ‘don’t you know that gentleman?’
‘Good reason to,’ replied Jingle, stepping forward. ‘Mr Pickwick – deepest obligations – life preserver – made a man of me – you shall never repent it, Sir.’
‘I am happy to hear you say so,’ said Mr Pickwick. ‘You look much better.’
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Alfred Jingle Character Timeline in The Pickwick Papers
The timeline below shows where the character Alfred Jingle appears in The Pickwick Papers. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
Confusion mounts, and the situation escalates until a mysterious young man in a green coat intervenes, diffusing the confrontation and escorting Pickwick and his friends to safety. The stranger, who...
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...makes their way to an inn, where they plan to spend the night. Over dinner, the chatty stranger continues to entertain with more outlandish stories. Throughout the dinner, the stranger becomes increasingly infatuated...
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Later, at the ball, the stranger boldly approaches Mrs. Budger, a wealthy widow, and quickly wins her favor—much to the dismay...
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Chapter 3
When Snodgrass and Winkle return from their near-duel, they find Pickwick with two men: the stranger , and one of the stranger’s friends, Dismal Jemmy. This second stranger has a particularly...
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...for an explanation. Tupman recounts the events of the previous night, including the detail that the stranger had borrowed Winkle’s coat, leading to the misunderstanding. As the situation escalates, Tappleton recognizes the...
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Chapter 7
...the stranger in the green coat, who, when asked his name, introduces himself as Mr. Jingle.
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...they gather around the table with the members of the Dingley Dell and All-Muggleton teams. Jingle, always the center of attention, keeps everyone entertained with his lively banter, telling exaggerated stories...
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Chapter 8
...Wardle, and the other men return from their day at the cricket match, clearly drunk. Jingle introduces himself to everyone at the farm, charming the women with his easy conversation and...
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The next morning, Jingle overhears Joe telling Wardle’s mother about Tupman and Rachael’s romantic encounter in the garden. Seizing...
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Chapter 9
One night as Wardle and Pickwick sit down for dinner, they notice Rachael and Jingle are missing. As the group starts to speculate as to their whereabouts, a servant bursts...
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...encounter delays at a toll gate and another staging post, where the sleepy helpers (whom Jingle has bribed) fumble with harnesses and cause more setbacks. However, Wardle’s persistence keeps them going,...
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Jingle, noticing them, encourages his horses to speed up. A thrilling pursuit ensues, with the two...
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Chapter 10
...White Heart Inn, which has a quiet, old-fashioned air about it. The inn’s guests include Jingle and Rachael, who arrived earlier that day. A chambermaid calls Weller to deliver boots to...
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Jingle continues to manipulate Rachael, reassuring her that they will be married the next day. Rachael...
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...arrive at the inn, determined to stop the marriage. Sam helps them by confirming that Jingle and Rachael are staying at the inn, though he does not give them the couple’s...
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A private negotiation between Perker and Jingle ensues. Perker suggests that Jingle take a cash settlement and leave Rachael alone. After some...
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Chapter 11
...behind. In the letter, Tupman reveals that he is devasted about what happened between himself, Jingle, and Rachael. He writes that he is fleeing to Cobham, Kent, as a form of...
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Chapter 15
The party shifts dramatically when Jingle, disguised as “Charles Fitz-Marshall,” arrives. Pickwick recognizes him instantly, feeling a surge of anger and...
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Chapter 16
Pickwick travels to Bury St. Edmunds with Sam, to confront Jingle. As their coach rolls through the picturesque August countryside, Pickwick’s mood shifts from concern to...
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...instructs Sam to secure a private room and avoid mentioning his name, wary of alerting Jingle. Sam quickly gathers information on Jingle’s whereabouts, discovering that Jingle plans to remain in town...
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Job describes how Jingle has deceived both the schoolmistress and the young lady, spinning lies about his affections. Job...
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...positioning him in a shadowy corner near the school’s back door. Pickwick prepares to catch Jingle in the act, but as he waits, a summer storm gathers overhead. Pickwick tries to...
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...that no one in the school is preparing to marry. Pickwick realizes that Job and Jingle have used his good nature to distract him while they made their escape—the wedding was...
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Chapter 18
...wedding, as Trundle is marrying his daughter Isabella. Over dinner, Pickwick recounts his misadventure with Jingle to the Pickwickians, lamenting the rheumatism he caught in the process. Winkle then shares the...
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Chapter 20
During the conversation, Mr. Weller reveals valuable information: he recently drove Jingle and Job Trotter to Ipswich, where they plan to stay for some time. Hearing this,...
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Chapter 22
...guarantee success. Pickwick listens politely but remains focused on his own errand in Ipswich: confronting Jingle.
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Chapter 23
...In a suspiciously emotional display, he shares that he has left his former service with Jingle and is trying to start over. Sam, however, remains skeptical of Trotter’s sincerity and arranges...
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Chapter 25
...to speak to Nupkins in private. As such, Pickwick reveals his true purpose: to expose Jingle as a fraud and an impostor. Sam backs him up, revealing that Trotter is also...
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The revelation stuns Nupkins, who realizes that the charming “Captain Fitz-Marshall” (Jingle), a regular guest of his family, is in fact a conman. Concerned about the social...
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...the situation escalates further, a bell summons them upstairs. In the drawing room, Pickwick confronts Jingle while the Nupkins family looks on in horror. Jingle remains unperturbed, even as Pickwick delivers...
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...over, Pickwick and his friends prepare to leave. Nupkins thanks Pickwick for warning him about Jingle, whom he plans to steer clear of from now on. As Sam retrieves his hat...
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Chapter 26
After exposing Jingle in Ipswich, Pickwick returns to London, hoping to check on the lawsuit brought against him....
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Chapter 41
...he can, but his thoughts are interrupted when he sees something—or rather, someone—entirely unexpected: Alfred Jingle.
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Jingle is now a shadow of his former self. He is dressed in tattered clothes, gaunt...
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Chapter 52
The next morning at Gray’s Inn, Pickwick meets Lowten, who offers some updates on Jingle. Lowten explains that arrangements have been made for Jingle to go to Demerara and start...
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Soon after, Perker arrives confirming that all is arranged for Jingle and Trotter to leave that evening. Jingle and Trotter themselves soon appear, cleanly dressed and...
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As Jingle and Trotter depart, Pickwick shares his concerns with Perker about Winkle’s estrangement from Winkle Sr....
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