Oliver Twist, Chapter 37 summary

What happens

1. Mr. Bumble regrets his marriage and the loss of the clothing and authority associated with his former office.
2. Mrs. Bumble answers his claims of male authority with blows, then humiliates him before two paupers.
3. Bumble strikes the gate boy, wanders through the streets, and enters a pub when heavy rain begins.
4. A stranger buys Bumble a drink and pays him for information about the nurse who attended Oliver’s mother.
5. Bumble reports the nurse’s death but offers access to his wife, who knows something about the matter.
6. The stranger arranges a secret meeting for nine the next evening and gives his name as Monks.

In this chapter

What to notice

The comment connects public respect with outward dress. Bumble’s changed clothing introduces the collapse of authority that his encounters with his wife make visible.

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