Charles Dickens

THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP Annotated Charles Dickens

"Charles Dickens' The Old Curiosity Shop follows a young girl named Nell Trent, who lives in an antique shop with her grandfather. Although her grandfather is a good man, he is preoccupied with keeping Nell away from her brother Fred and his gambling obsession. To that end, he recklessly borrows money so that he can gamble more and to supplement his income. But Nell's grandfather never pays his money back, which attracts the attention of a young man named Daniel Quilp, who continues to lend Nell's grandfather money despite knowing that he would not be able to pay it back. After all, he wants to marry Nell and he thinks that lending her grandfather money will help him do that. After Nell refuses to marry Quilp, Quilp and Nell's grandfather's other creditors go on the offensive. They start to hound her grandfather for their money, which causes Nell and her grandfather to go on the run. For much of the time, they are unable to find refuge, as his creditors are seemingly at every corner, waiting for the two to come out of hiding. Eventually, though, the two find safety from his creditors."