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Here's your shmoop du jour...

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You're probably getting that itch to hit the pause button again, so you can review the

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passage, huh? Yeah, we're basically mind-readers.

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What is the function of the parenthetical phrase in lines 42 through 43?

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And here are the potential answers...

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Okay, so this question wants us to look at the parenthetical phrase in lines 42 through 43:

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That's the stuff between the parentheses.

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and determine why it's there.

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Other than, you know, to meet Dickens' desired word count. He must have had his publisher

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breathing down his neck...

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Here are lines 42 through 43:

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"As the deceased had taken no further notice of his nephew in his lifetime, than sending

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to his eldest boy (who had been christened after him, on desperate speculation) a silver

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spoon in a morocco case."

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So, what are we talking about here?

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"Christened after him," meaning that his eldest boy was named after him.

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"On desperate speculation"

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Well, speculation can mean a few different things, but in this case we're talking about monetary speculation.

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In other words, the boy was named after a wealthy relative in hopes that relative would

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appreciate the gesture so much, that he might throw a few hundred pounds their way.

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Okay, now which answer choice says as much?

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The silver spoon is nice, but doesn't do you much good if you have nothing to put on it.

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So B is no good.

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The Nickleby's might be poor, but that isn't what this parenthetical is about, so we can nix C.

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There's no mention of silver, so D is an easy out,

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nor of Ralph Nickleby's generous nature. E is out, as well.

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Which leaves A: "to emphasize the gamble Mr. and Mrs. Nickleby took in naming their child."

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Well, sure. They named him purely on the off-chance that Uncle Moneybags would feel so honored

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he'd start emptying his money bags.

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Probably not the best reason for settling on a baby name. Although, if there are any

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Shmoop Smiths being born out there, we'd be mighty flattered.

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