Characters R-SDickens' Characters R-S
R
Mrs Rachael ( Bleak House ) Esther Summerson's nurse. Later marries Rev Chadband. (top)
Rachael ( Hard Times ) Friend of Stephen Blackpool, who loves her but cannot gain release from his drunken wife. She defends Stephen when he is accused of theft from the bank. (top)
Radfoot, George ( Our Mutual Friend ) Third mate aboard the ship bringing John Harmon back to England. He and Harmon resemble each other and Harmon devises a plan to temporarily exchange clothes and identities with Radfoot so that he can secretly observe his intended bride, Bella Wilfer. Radfoot instead drugs and robs Harmon and is then murdered himself, his body taken for that of John Harmon (top)
Redlaw ( The Haunted Man )
Professor of chemistry who is visited by a phantom on Christmas Eve and given the gift of forgetting painful memories. The gift turns out to be a curse as it is passed on to those Redlaw touches. The adverse effects of the gift are finally reversed by Milly Swidger. (top)Riah ( Our Mutual Friend ) 'An old Jewish man, in an ancient coat, long of skirt and wide of pocket' who fronts Fledgeby's money-lending business. He befriends Lizzie Hexam and Jenny Wren. (top)
Richard ( The Chimes ) Blacksmith and fiance of Meg, they are married on New Year's Day. (top)
Riderhood, Pleasant ( Our Mutual Friend ) Daughter of Rogue Riderhood. Pleasant is an unlicensed pawnbroker, she later overcomes her dislike of Mr Venus's occupation and agrees to marry him. (top)
Riderhood, Rogue ( Our Mutual Friend ) Waterman and former partner of Gaffer Hexam who tries to pin blame on Gaffer for the Harmon murder to gain a reward. Riderhood later becomes a lock-keeper and tries to blackmail Bradley Headstone after Bradley tries to murder Eugene Wrayburn. In a quarrel both Riderhood and Headstone drown in the Thames. Rogue is also the father of Pleasant Riderhood. (top)
Rigaud/Blandois/Lagnier ( Little Dorrit )
Villain of the novel. Rigaud attempts to blackmail Mrs. Clennam and has her house fall on him for his efforts. "When Monsieur Rigaud laughed, a change took place in his face, that was more remarkable than prepossessing. His moustache went up under his nose, and his nose came down over his moustache, in a very sinister and cruel manner". (top)Rokesmith, John ( Our Mutual Friend ) Alias used by John Harmon when he is employed as secretary to the Boffins. (top)
Rosa ( Bleak House ) Personal maid to Lady Dedlock after Hortense is dismissed. Marries Mrs Rouncewell's grandson. (top)
Rouncewell, George ( Bleak House )
Son of the Dedlock's housekeeper Mrs Rouncewell. George ran away to join the army and cut himself off from his mother. After leaving the army George buys a shooting gallery in London with money borrowed from Smallweed. Smallweed pressures George to give over examples of Capt Hawdon's handwriting in order to help Tulkinghorn learn Lady Dedlock's secret. George is charged with the murder of Tulkinghorn by Bucket. Later George is exonerated of the crime and is reunited with his mother. (top)Rouncewell, Mrs ( Bleak House ) Longtime housekeeper of Chesney Wold, home of Sir Leicester Dedlock. Mother of George and another son who is an important ironmaster in northern England. (top)
Rudge, Barnaby ( Barnaby Rudge )
Simple but good hearted boy who unwittingly gets involved in the Gordon Riots when he falls into bad company. He is later arrested and sentenced to death but gains reprieve through the help of Gabriel Varden. (top)Rudge, Barnaby Sr. ( Barnaby Rudge ) Father of Barnaby and husband of Mary. He was the Steward at the Warren and murdered his employer, Reuben Haredale. He went into hiding after the murder and resurfaces years later trying to extort money from his wife. He is finally captured by Geoffrey Haredale and executed at Newgate. (top)
Rudge, Mary ( Barnaby Rudge )
Barnaby's mother, goes to great lengths to keep Barnaby away from his father who has murdered Reuben Haredale. (top)Rugg, Mr ( Little Dorrit ) Landlord of Pancks who assists in finding William Dorrit's fortune. (top)
S
Marquis de St Evremonde ( A Tale of Two Cities ) Uncle of Charles Darnay. He shows unconcern when his carriage runs over and kills the child of the Parisian peasant Gaspard. Gaspard follows the Marquis to his country home and kills him in his bed. (top)
Sally, Old ( Oliver Twist ) Old hag present at Oliver's birth. She steals the locket and ring from Oliver's mother as she lays dying. (top)
Sapsea, Thomas ( The Mystery of Edwin Drood ) Pompous auctioneer turned mayor of Cloisterham. "The Purest jackass in Cloisterham". (top)
Bob Sawyer ( Pickwick Papers ) Medical student, and drinking buddy of Benjamin Allen. (top)
Scadder, Zephaniah ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Unscrupulous agent of the Eden Land Corporation who sells swamp land to Martin. "He was a gaunt man in a huge straw hat, and a coat of green stuff. The weather being hot, he had no cravat, and wore his shirt collar wide open; so that every time he spoke something was seen to twitch and jerk up in his throat, like the little hammers in a harpsichord when the notes are struck. Perhaps it was the Truth feebly endeavouring to leap to his lips. If so, it never reached them." (top)
Scrooge, Ebenezer ( A Christmas Carol )
Probably Dickens' best known character, the miserly Scrooge, with his familiar cry of "Bah, Humbug!", is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, who sends three more spirits in hopes of reforming Scrooge's heartless and penny-pinching ways. (top)Sharp, Mr ( David Copperfield ) First master at Salem House where David attends school. "He was a limp, delicate-looking gentleman...with a good deal of nose, and a way of carrying his head on one side, as if it were a little too heavy for him." (top)
Shepherd, Miss ( David Copperfield ) Early infatuation of David Copperfield. A boarder at Miss Nettingall's establishment. (top)
Sikes, Bill ( Oliver Twist )
A vicious thief working on the fringes of Fagin's band of pickpockets. He uses Oliver in an attempt to burglarize the Maylie home. When Nancy tries to help Oliver she is found out by Fagin. Fagin relates the information to Sikes who murders Nancy. While fleeing police after the murder he accidentally hangs himself. (top)Single Gentleman, The ( The Old Curiosity Shop ) Mysterious lodger of the Brasses who is trying to find Nell and her grandfather. He is revealed to be the brother of the grandfather and finds the pair shortly before his brother's death. In the original serialization of the novel in Master Humphrey's Clock the Single Gentleman turns out to be the original narrator of the story, Master Humphrey. (top)
Skewton, Mrs (Cleopatra) ( Dombey and Son ) Mother of Edith Granger who is 70 years old but tries to appear much younger through the use of cosmetics and various devices. Dickens describes Mrs Skewton, in being dismantled for bed by her maid, taking off of paint, clothes, wig, etc as being "tumbled into ruins like a house of painted cards". Edith resents her mother who has packaged Edith to lure rich gentlemen from a child. (top)
Skiffins, Miss ( Great Expectations ) Wemmick's particular friend, a woman of wooden appearance in an orange gown with green gloves. Wemmick later surprises Pip on an outing by suddenly ("here's a church, lets go in") marrying Miss Skiffins. (top)
Skimpole, Harold ( Bleak House ) Friend of John Jarndyce who claims he is a mere child and understands nothing of money. Through this smooth act he manages to have everyone else pay his way through life. Dickens modeled Skimpole on Leigh Hunt, causing a stir among Hunt and his friends. (top)
Slammer, Dr ( Pickwick Papers ) Surgeon of the 97th, almost duels Nathaniel Winkle whom he mistakes for Alfred Jingle. (top)
Sleary ( Hard Times ) Proprietor of Sleary's Circus. Speaks with a lisp ("People mutht be amuthed"). He helps Tom Gradgrind escape abroad after the bank robbery. (top)
Sliderskew, Peg ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Old and hideously ugly housekeeper of Arthur Gride. Peg is jealous when Gride plans to marry the much younger Madeline Bray. Peg steals documents relating to Madeline's inheritance which are recovered and help undo Gride. For the theft Peg is transported. (top)
Sloppy ( Our Mutual Friend ) Orphan who lives with Betty Higden. Sloppy is taken in by the Boffins and helps expose the rascal Silas Wegg. He later becomes a carpenter. (top)
Slowboy, Tilly ( Cricket on the Hearth ) Angular and clumsy nurse to the Peerybingle's infant son. (top)
Slurk, Mr ( Pickwick Papers ) Editor of the Eatenswill Independent and sworn enemy of Mr Pott, editor of the Eatenswill Gazette. (top)
Slyme, Chevy ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Nephew of old Martin Chuzzlewit who works with Montigue Tigg to try to squeeze money from the family. Later a London police officer. (top)
Smallweed ( Bleak House ) Grandfather (Joshua) Smallweed is a usurer to whom George Rouncewell owes money. Smallweed uses this leverage to obtain from George a sample of Captain Hawdon's handwriting in an attempt to help Tulkinghorn learn Lady Dedlock's secret. Also in the Smallweed family are grandmother, Krook's sister, at whom grandfather throws cushions when she mentions money, and the twin grandchildren, Bartholomew and Judy. (top)
Smike ( Nicholas Nickleby )
Abandoned as a child at Dotheboys Hall in the care of the evil Squeers, Smike is mistreated for years before being rescued by Nicholas. He travels to Portsmouth with Nicholas and performs in Crummles stage troupe and is welcomed as part of the family when he and Nicholas return to London. He is briefly retaken in London by Squeers and escapes with the help of John Browdie. Smike later dies from the treatment he received as a child. After his death it is discovered that he was Ralph Nickleby's son, making him the cousin of Nicholas and Kate. (top)Snagsby ( Bleak House ) Law stationer near Chancery Lane who hires Nemo (Capt Hawdon) to do some copy work. Snagsby's wife is a zealous supporter of Rev. Chadband. (top)
Snawley ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Father who puts his two step-sons in Squeers' school, Dotheboys Hall. Snawley later poses as Smike's father in Ralph Nickleby's scheme to get the runaway boy back. Snawley's wife later forces him to expose Ralph's plan. (top)
Snitchey and Craggs ( The Battle of Life ) Country lawyers who handle the legal affairs of Dr. Jeddler and Michael Warden. (top)
Snodgrass, Augustus ( Pickwick Papers ) A member of the Pickwick club and party to the adventures of Pickwick's travels. Snodgrass fancies himself a poet, but has written no poetry. He falls in love with Emily Wardle and marries her at the end of the story. (top)
Sowerberry, Mr. ( Oliver Twist ) Undertaker to whom Oliver is apprenticed. Oliver is mistreated and runs away to London (top)
Sparkler, Edmund ( Little Dorrit ) Son of Mrs Merdle by a former marriage. A man of limited talents, he offers marriage to 'all manner of undesirable young ladies' finally marries Fanny Dorrit. Edmund and Fanny lose all in the Merdle banking scam. (top)
Sparsit, Mrs. ( Hard Times ) Housekeeper of Bounderby with aristocratic connections. She is a busybody, causing dissension between Bounderby and his wife Louisa Gradgrind. (top)
Spenlow, Dora ( David Copperfield )
Daughter of David's employer, Francis. She and David are married and David tries to teach her to keep house, but she has no head for it. She becomes ill with an unspecified illness and dies young. Dickens based Dora on Maria Beadnell, his first love. (top)Spenlow, Francis ( David Copperfield ) Proctor at Doctor's Commons where David is apprenticed and father of Dora. David says of him: "He was a little light-haired gentleman, with undeniable boots, and the stiffest of white cravats and shirt-collars. He was buttoned up, mighty trim and tight, and must have taken a great deal of pains with his whiskers, which were accurately curled". (top)
Spenlow, Misses (Clarissa and Lavinia) ( David Copperfield )
Dora's spinster aunts with whom she goes to live after her father dies. (top)Spiker, Mr and Mrs ( David Copperfield ) Dinner guest of the Waterbrooks. David thinks Mrs Spiker resembles Hamlet's aunt. (top)
Spottletoe, Mr and Mrs ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Relatives of old Martin Chuzzlewit's (Mrs is old Martin's niece) with designs on inheriting his money. (top)
Squeers, Fanny ( Nicholas Nickleby ) Daughter of Wackford Squeers. Described as "not tall like her mother, but short like her father; from the former she inherited a voice of harsh quality; from the latter a remarkable expression of the right eye, something akin to having none at all". When Nicholas Nickleby becomes her father's assistant she falls madly in love with him, telling her friend Matilda Price that they are practically engaged. Nicholas wants nothing to do with her. (top)
Squeers, Wackford ( Nicholas Nickleby )
Proprietor of Dotheboys Hall, he takes in boys not wanted by their families and mistreats them. Nicholas Nickleby becomes his assistant master and sees the way he treats his charges, gives him a sound thrashing, and leaves. Squeers seeks revenge and conspires with Ralph Nickleby. He is eventually undone, imprisoned, and transported. (top)Squeers, Wackford Jr ( Nicholas Nickleby )
Son of schoolmaster Wackford Squeers. Little Wackford is kept fat as an advertisement of the supposed plenty provided at the school. He is spoiled by being given any gifts intended for pupils of the school by their families. (top)Squeers, Mrs ( Nicholas Nickleby )
Wife of Wackford Squeers: "a large raw-boned figure, was about half a head taller than Mr Squeers". While Mr Squeers attempts to keep his cruelty in check, in order to keep up appearances, Mrs Squeers is openly cruel. (top)Squod, Phil ( Bleak House ) George Rouncewell's ugly little assistant at the shooting gallery. Formerly a traveling tinker. (top)
Stagg ( Barnaby Rudge ) Blind member of the 'Prentice Knights with Simon Tappertit. He joins Barnaby Rudge Sr. in trying to extort money from Mary Rudge. Killed when he tries to run from officers arresting Hugh, Barnaby, and Rudge Sr. (top)
Startop ( Great Expectations ) Pip's fellow student at Matthew Pocket's. He helps Herbert rescue Pip from Orlick and helps Herbert row the boat during the attempt to get Magwitch out of the country. (top)
Steerforth, James ( David Copperfield )
Friend of David at the Salem House school where his engaging charm makes him everyone's favorite. David later runs into him again in London and he accompanies David on a trip to Yarmouth where he charms Emily into eloping with him. They go abroad and Steerforth soon tires of Emily and deserts her. He is later drowned in a shipwreck where Ham Peggotty, from whom Steerforth stole Emily away, dies trying to save him. (top)Stiggins, Reverend ( Pickwick Papers ) Hypocritical Deputy Shepherd (from the Dorking branch) of the Brick Lane Branch of the United Grand Junction Ebenezer Temperance Association. Exposed by Tony Weller whose wife Susan is one of Stiggins' flock. (top)
Strong, Annie ( David Copperfield ) Pretty, young wife of Doctor Strong. Annie is suspected of having an affair with her cousin, Jack Maldon. (top)
Strong, Doctor ( David Copperfield ) Headmaster at the school David attends in Canterbury. He is chiefly concerned with assembling his Greek dictionary. (top)
Stryver ( A Tale of Two Cities ) Barrister who defends Charles Darnay in his trial for treason with assistance from his friend Sydney Carton. Stryver intends to ask Lucie Manette to marry him until counseled by Jarvis Lorry. (top)
Summerson, Esther ( Bleak House )
Principal character in the story. She is brought up an orphan by her aunt, Miss Barbery. On her aunt's death she is adopted by John Jarndyce and becomes companions to his wards, Ada Clare and Richard Carstone. Later in the story it is revealed that Esther is the illegitimate daughter of Captain Hawdon and Lady Dedlock. John Jarndyce falls in love with her and asked her to marry him. She consents out of respect for Jarndyce but during the engagement she falls in love with Allan Woodcourt. When Jarndyce learns of her feelings for Allan he releases her from the engagement and she marries Woodcourt. (top)Sweedlepipe, Paul (Poll) ( Martin Chuzzlewit ) Landlord of Mrs Gamp, barber and bird-fancier. "Poll Sweedlepipe's house was one great bird's nest. Gamecocks resided in the kitchen; pheasants wasted the brightness of their golden plumage on the garret; bantams roosted in the cellar; owls had possession of the bedroom; and specimens of all the smaller fry of birds chirrupped and twittered in the shop." (top)
Swidger, Milly ( The Haunted Man ) Wife of William and the only member of the family not touched by Redlaw's gift of forgetting past sorrows. Her inherent goodness, based on remembrance of her lost child, reverses the effects of this curse in her family, the Tetterby family, and Edmund Longford. (top)
Swidger, Philip ( The Haunted Man ) Eighty-seven year-old patriarch of the Swidger family. He loses his present happiness, based on his memories, when touched by Redlaw's gift. He is restored to happiness by Milly Swidger. (top)
Swidger, William ( The Haunted Man ) Caretaker of the university where Redlaw teaches chemistry. His family is adversely effected by Redlaw's gift of forgetting past sorrows. The adverse effects of this 'gift' are finally reversed by William's wife, Milly. (top)
Swiveller, Dick ( The Old Curiosity Shop ) Friend of Fred Trent, Swiveller has designs to marry Fred's sister, Nell Trent, but is encouraged to wait until Nell has inherited her grandfather's money. When Nell and her grandfather leave London Swiveller is befriended by Quilp who helps him gain employment with the Brasses. While at the Brasses he meets their little half-starved servant the Marchioness. He becomes aware of the Brasses villainy and, with the Marchioness' help, exposes a plot to frame Kit Nubbles. Swiveller later inherits money from his aunt, puts the Marchioness through school, and later marries her. (top)
