List of Dickensian Characters - P

P

• Pawkins, Major and Mrs Proprietors of a New York boarding house where Martin and Mark stay. The Major is typical of the scoundrels they meet in America in Martin Chuzzlewit
• Payne, Dr is the second to Dr Slammer, who finds Mr Winkle and issues Slammer's challenge to a duel in The Pickwick Papers. Payne is keen on duelling, and is unhappy when the duel is called off, trying to get the two principals to duel over something else, and finally offering to duel with Mr Snodgrass, Winkle's second. Mr Snodgrass declines the offer.
• Pecksniff, Charity (Cherry) Seth Pecksniff's older daughter and sister of Mercy. Haughty and ill-tempered, without her younger sister's playful nature. She is infuriated when passed over for marriage by Jonas Chuzzlewit who chooses her sister. She later promises herself to Mr Moddle, who leaves her at the altar. Charity has a disposition "which was then observed to be of a sharp and acid quality, as though an extra lemon (figuratively speaking) had been squeezed into the nectar of her disposition, and had rather damaged its flavour." in Martin Chuzzlewit
• Pecksniff, Mercy (Merry) Seth Pecksniff's younger daughter and sister of Charity. Seth gives her in marriage to Jonas Chuzzlewit, who breaks her spirit, and her heart in Martin Chuzzlewit
• Pecksniff, Seth Sanctimonious surveyor and architect "who has never designed or built anything", and one of the biggest hypocrites in fiction. Father of daughters Mercy and Charity. In an effort to gain old Martin's money he embraces then throws out young Martin at old Martin's wish. When long time servant Tom Pinch learns of Pecksniff's treachery he is also thrown out. Pecksniff's self-serving designs are eventually exposed by Old Martin who reconciles with his grandson, young Martin. Dickens' description of Pecksniff's hypocrisy is telling: "Some people likened him to a direction-post, which is always telling the way to a place, and never goes there." in Martin Chuzzlewit
• Peggotty, Clara David's devoted nurse and sister to Daniel Peggotty. After the death of David's mother she is discharged and marries Barkis. When Barkis dies she goes to live with David and Betsy Trotwood. David comically describes getting a hug from Peggotty: "She laid aside her work (which was a stocking of her own), and opening her arms wide, took my curly head within them, and gave it a good squeeze. I know it was a good squeeze, because, being very plump, whenever she made any little exertion after she was dressed, some of the buttons on the back of her gown flew off. And I recollect two bursting to the opposite side of the parlour, while she was hugging me." in David Copperfield
• Peggotty, Daniel Crotchety fisherman and dealer in lobsters, crabs, and crawfish. Brother of Clare. He lives in a converted boat on the beach at Yarmouth with Emily, Ham, and Mrs Gummidge. When Emily abandons them to elope with Steerforth, Daniel vows to find her. Steerforth later leaves Emily and she is re-united with Daniel. At the end of the novel Daniel, Emily, and Mrs Gummidge resettle in Australia in David Copperfield.
• Peggotty, Ham Fisherman and boatbuilder. Orphaned nephew of Daniel Peggotty and fiance of Emily. He drowns trying to rescue Steerforth. "He was a huge, strong fellow of six feet high, broad in proportion, and round-shouldered; but with a simpering boy's face and curly light hair that gave him quite a sheepish look. He was dressed in a canvas jacket, and a pair of such very stiff trousers that they would have stood quite as well alone, without any legs in them. And you couldn't so properly have said he wore a hat, as that he was covered in a-top, like an old building, with something pitchy." in David Copperfield
• Perker, Mr is a lawyer in The Pickwick Papers. He represents Pickwick in the case brought against him by Mrs Bardell, and also gives advice concerning Rachael Wardle's elopement. He is election agent to Samuel Slumkey in the Eatanswill by-election.
• Phenomenon, The, aka The Infant Phenomenon is Miss Ninetta Crummles, daughter of Mr and Mrs Vincent Crummles, in Nicholas Nickleby.
• Samuel Pickwick Retired businessman; he is the protagonist, founder, and chairman of the Pickwick Club. Pickwick, along with his friends Tupman, Snodgrass, Winkle, and his servant Sam Weller, travel around England in search of adventure in The Pickwick Papers. Pickwick is one of Dickens' most beloved characters and his story propelled Dickens to literary stardom.
• Pinch, Tom is Seth Pecksniff's assistant in Martin Chuzzlewit.
• Pip (Philip Pirrip) is the protagonist of Great Expectations.
• Plummer, Caleb is Mr Tackton's underpaid toy maker in The Cricket on the Hearth.
• Pott, Mr and Mrs Mr Pott is the editor of the Eatanswill Gazette, a local newspaper in The Pickwick Papers. His public persona is that of a fearless political journalist, but at home he is bullied by Mrs Pott, who makes no secret of the fact that she finds local politics insufferably boring. The Pickwickians have to leave the Pott household after Mr Winkle and Mrs Pott flirt mildly, provoking a scurrilous article in Pott's rival paper, the Eatanswill Independent.
• Pumblechook Joe Gargery's uncle ("but Mrs Joe appropriated him"), hypocritical and well-to-do corn-chandler in the nearest town, proud owner of a chaise-cart. He takes Pip to meet Miss Havisham and takes credit for arranging Pip's "Great Expectations." "A large hard-breathing middle-aged slow man, with a mouth like a fish, dull staring eyes, and sandy hair standing upright on his head, so that he looked as if he had just been all but choked."