History Literature / NicholasNickleby

* TheDreaded: Most of the people who wronged Nicholas' family end up cowering when Nicholas gets violent with them

* BigBrotherInstinct: Upon learning that Sir Mulberry Hawk is subjugating his younger sister to harassment and humiliationg, he violently attacks him and threatens to '''''not''''' be so forgiving should he come near her again.

* BigBrotherInstinct: Upon learning that Sir Mulberry Hawk is subjugating his younger sister to harassment and humiliationg, he violently attacks him and threatens him to '''''not''''' be so forgiving should he come near her again.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Nicholas is the warmest and most compassionate person ever, but he's also a '''''definite''''' force to be reckoned with. Threaten those he cares about and he will '''''NOT''''' let you get away with it. Just ask Mr. Squeers and Ralph.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Nicholas is the warmest and most compassionate person ever, but he's a '''definite''' force to be reckoned with. Threaten those he cares about and he will '''NOT''' let you get away with it. Just ask Mr. Squeers and Ralph.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Nicholas is the warmest and most compassionate person ever, but threaten those he cares about and he will NOT let you get away with it. Just ask Mr. Squeers and Ralph.

* KitchenSink: Vincent Crummles has "appropriated two bath tubs and a pump" that he insists be written into a play that Nicholas is writing (actually adapting from French to English) for a stage production. The items are even mentioned on posters and advertisements for said play, as a RunningGag. Thus, Dickens presents us with an UnbuiltTrope, predating actual KitchenSink plays by more than a century.

* KitchenSink: Vincent Crummles has "appropriated two bath tubs and a pump", that he insists to be written into a play that Nicholas is writing (actually adapting from French to English) for a stage production. The items are even mentioned on posters and advertisements for said play, as a RunningGag. Thus, Dickens presents us with an UnbuiltTrope, predating actual KitchenSink plays with more than a century.

The novel spawned several film and television adaptations, including one in 2002 with Creator/AnneHathaway and Creator/NathanLane, among others. It also was adapted into an incredibly faithful, 8.5 ''hour'' long stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980. For those interested, that one can be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IieU_CjJK6w here]].

* ChekhovsGunman: Brooker. He is the one revealing Smike´s true identity, and thus is the one instrumental i breaking Ralph Nickleby good and proper. Even more awesome - he does it on his own, helping Nicholas almost in absentia.

* CrossCastRole: In the 2002 version, Mrs. Crummles is played by Creator/BarryHumphries.
* CrowdSong: The play was set over two days, ending with a CrowdSong, assembling everyone on stage. The first "part" ends with a "national anthem" written for the production, featuring the "Shakespeare" players for the first verse, and the rest of the set (in their victorian costumes) for the second (gathering all actors on stage before curtain). The second part ends with a similar rendition of "God rest ye merry gentlemen".
** Doubles with a CMOA/{{Heartwarming}} moment when Nicholas (having Smike dying in his arms earlier on), picks up another starving boy in the same manner.

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ralph Nickleby may be a roothless moneylender and capitalist, but god forbid should anything happen to Kate. He clearly draws the line for sir Mulberry to protect her. She is his only chance for redemption - but in the end he rejects it.

* ItsAllAboutMe: Fannie Squeer [[note]] in the 2002 film [[/note]]. She has this fantasy that Mr. Nickleby has fallen in love with her [[LoveAtFirstSight from the moment he laid eyes on her]], which could not be further from the truth. She's absolutely oblivious to all the suffering her family brings upon their students, which Mr. Nickleby on the other hand is painfully aware of. So it's beyond her comprehension when he not only confesses he ''does not'' love her, but that he's been thinking about the school, the students, everything but her.

* {{Oireland}}: The Cheeryble Brothers in the 1980 Production had audible Irish accents, and were even played by two redheads - giving a strong impression of the FightingIrish as well. This goes even more for Frank Cheeryble, presented With traces of the same accent, with an EstablishingCharacterMoment fulfilling no less than three tropes: HotBlooded, FieryRedhead and, of course, the FightingIrish.

* RealityIsUnrealistic [=/=] TruthInTelevision: Think Dotheboys Hall is too over-the-top to be real? ''Wrong.'' It was based on real schools at the time, and Wackford Squeers was based on either a real person (William Shaw, headmaster of one such school) or an amalgam of real people.

* ThoseTwoBadGuys: Pike & Pluck

* YouLeaveHimAlone: [[spoiler: When Smike is caught running away and beaten harshly to "make an example of" in front of the other boys, Nicholas (who feels responsible, having told Smike there was a better world out there) loses control. He orders Squeers to stop, beats the living daylights out of him, and rescues Smike, winning his eternal gratitude.]]

* {{Oireland}}: The Cheeryble Brothers in the 1980 Production had audible Irish accents, and were even played by two redheads - giving a strong impression of the FihghtingIrish as well.

The novel spawned several film and television adaptations, including one in 2002 with Creator/{{Anne Hathaway}} and Creator/NathanLane, among others. It also was adapted into an incredibly faithful, 8.5 ''hour'' long stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980. For those interested, that one can be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IieU_CjJK6w here]].

* BabiesEverAfter: What happens to [[spoiler: Kate and Frank Cheeryble]] and [[spoiler: Nicholas and Madeline Bray]]

The novel spawned several film and television adaptations, including one in 2002 with Creator/{{Anne Hathaway}} and Nathan Lane, among others. It also was adapted into an incredibly faithful, 8.5 ''hour'' long stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980. For those interested, that one can be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IieU_CjJK6w here]].

* AdaptedOut: In the 2001 version, Tim Linkinwater and the entire Kenwigs family are nowhere to be seen.

* ChristmasCake: Miss La Creevy, though she's much more optimistic about the benefits of her position than most examples.

* BoardingSchoolOfHorrors

* ChewingTheScenery: In the 1980 stage play, the Crummles's production of {{Romeo and Juliet}} is actually performed, [[CrowningMomentofFunny with hilarious results]]. Made even better since it was a parody of the Victorian era habit to {{bowdlerise}} WilliamShakespeare.

** Nicholas Nickleby. His compassion and kindness is what earns him the friendship of Smike. It's also what cause Madeline to fall in love with him. [[BewareTheNiceOnes He is not to be trifled with though]], as he is very protective of those he cares about, [[PapaWolf including his family]]. Just ask Squeers and Ralph.

The novel spawned several film and television adaptations, including one in 2002 with {{Anne Hathaway}} and Nathan Lane, among others. It also was adapted into an incredibly faithful, 8.5 ''hour'' long stage production by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1980. For those interested, that one can be watched [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IieU_CjJK6w here]].