The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Year: 1947

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: English

Director: Alberto Cavalcanti

Drama

A fatherless boy tries to make his fortune despite interference from his rich uncle.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947)

Trace every key event in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1947) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Father's Death and the Family's Move to London

The patriarch dies, leaving his wife and children without an income. To seek aid, Nicholas, his mother, and his younger sister Kate travel to London to appeal to their wealthy uncle Ralph Nickleby. Ralph agrees to help by securing Nicholas a job as a tutor and finding Kate suitable work as a seamstress.

immediately after father's death Yorkshire; journey to London
2

Ralph Secures Nicholas's Tutor Job and Kate's Seamstress Work

Ralph Nickleby arranges for Nicholas to be employed as a tutor, giving him a pathway to support the family. He also finds Kate a seamstress position, though the setup foreshadows the harsher financial world they are entering. The arrangement places Nicholas under Ralph's influence and exposes him to the cold realities of wealth.

shortly after arrival in London London; Ralph Nickleby's residence
3

Meeting Mr. Squeers and Learning of Dotheboys Hall

Nicholas meets his employer, the sadistic Mr. Squeers, just as he finishes a transaction with Mr. Snawley. He quickly learns of Dotheboys Hall, the Yorkshire boarding school where abuse and neglect are routine. The revelation sets the stage for Nicholas's moral crisis.

early in his employment Yorkshire; Dotheboys Hall
4

Escape with Smike from Dotheboys Hall

Nicholas rebels against the brutal regime of the Squeers and escapes with Smike, the disabled boy who has suffered there. They flee the grim environment and strike out together, forming a dangerous but hopeful alliance. This escape marks the beginning of their mutual dependence.

soon after leaving the hall From Dotheboys Hall toward the countryside
5

Lodgings with Newman Noggs; Searching for Work

Nicholas and Smike take refuge with Newman Noggs, Ralph Nickleby's clerk. Nicholas tries to find steady employment, rejecting a low-paying political secretary role and a disastrous tutoring stint with the Kenwigs. The pair cling to the chance of a better life in a precarious urban world.

shortly after escape London; Noggs' lodging
6

First Meeting with Madeline Bray

While wandering in search of food and shelter, Nicholas and Smike encounter Madeline Bray, the devoted daughter of a debtor to Ralph. The encounter introduces Nicholas to a new, morally ambiguous set of relationships tied to Madeline's precarious father.

during their travel On the road outside London; inn encounter
7

Joining Vincent Crummles' Theatrical Troupe

Nicholas and Smike are hired by actor-manager Vincent Crummles to join his traveling troupe and perform in a production of Romeo and Juliet. They find early success on stage, which gives them a temporary respite from their economic troubles. The theatre world offers them a chance at stability and independence.

shortly after meeting Madeline Inn and Crummles' troupe; on the road
8

Return to London; Threats to Kate; Carriage Duel

Noggs urges Nicholas to hurry back as Ralph endangers Kate's safety. Nicholas confronts Sir Mulberry Hawk and Lord Verisopht about Kate's honor, leading to a carriage duel in which Hawk injures Verisopht. The confrontation reveals the corrupt network that surrounds Ralph.

upon returning to the city London; Hawk's carriage
9

Cheeryble Brothers Hire Nicholas; Frank Courts Kate

Nicholas secures valuable employment with the benevolent Cheeryble brothers, and their nephew Frank begins courting Kate. The Cheerybles provide Nicholas a cottage for his family and welcome Smike into their orbit, offering a real foundation for the future.

after returning to London London; Cheeryble offices
10

Squeers' Return and Smike's Kidnapping Plot Foiled

Squeers returns to London, intending to recapture Smike, but Nicholas and Noggs foil the plot. Smike is severely beaten by Squeers and Snawley, while Kate nurses him back to health and he grows closer to Kate.

during the kidnapping attempt London
11

Madeline Bray's Dilemma; Bray Deception and Rescue

Nicholas helps Madeline Bray as her father is coerced by Ralph into an unwelcome marriage settlement. When her father dies, Madeline seems free of obligation, and Nicholas carries her away, warning Ralph to leave her alone. Kate reveals Ralph's true character, deepening the conflict.

during the Madeline affair Bray lodgings; London
12

Noggs Reveals Smike's True Parentage; Conspiracy Uncovered

Noggs realizes and reveals that Smike is Ralph's son, hidden away by a forged arrangement and kept from his inheritance. He uncovers Squeers' scheme and exposes it to the authorities, threatening Ralph's control and finances. Ralph faces arrest and ruin as the truth emerges.

after the Bray affair London
13

Smike Dies; Ralph Nickleby Hangs Himself; Weddings

Smike succumbs to illness on his deathbed, leaving Nicholas devastated but resolute. The police arrive to arrest Ralph, who flees to his garret and hangs himself. In the aftermath, Nicholas marries Madeline, while Kate weds Frank, and the family finds its lasting happiness.

finale Ralph's house and surrounding locations; London

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 09:26

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

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