Who Smike is
Smike is a young man who remains at Dotheboys Hall after being left there years before. When payments for his care stop, Squeers keeps him as a drudge, working and beating him rather than offering protection.
He is thin, lame and so accustomed to cruelty that kindness is almost beyond his understanding. Through Smike, the novel shows the harm done to someone whom others treat as a burden.
Smike and the others in the story
Nicholas speaks gently to Smike, helps with his work and listens when he struggles to talk. Smike begins to cling to him as the first steady, caring presence in his life. Their friendship sets Nicholas's concern for others against Squeers's habit of using the vulnerable for profit.
How Smike changes
Smike's world begins to widen when he leaves Yorkshire with Nicholas and travels with him in search of work. With Vincent Crummles's travelling theatre company, he plays small parts and discovers a place where he belongs. The company offers a contrast to Dotheboys Hall, replacing fear and exploitation with shared work and generosity.
Questions
Who is Smike in Nicholas Nickleby?
Smike is a young man kept as a servant at the cruel boarding school Dotheboys Hall.
How does Nicholas treat Smike?
Nicholas treats Smike with gentleness and care, becoming his close friend and protector.
Does Smike join the theatre company?
Yes, Smike joins Vincent Crummles's company with Nicholas and takes small acting parts.
