Lucky Jim | Chapter 25 | Summary

Summary

Suddenly Dixon, the perpetual pessimist, is as light as Voltaire's Candide, the simple fool in the best of all possible worlds. Christine is "finished" with Bertrand. Carol Goldsmith told Christine about their affair, which means Christine can break with Bertrand in good conscience. She is thrilled to hear Dixon will be living in London. As he and Christine head off to lunch, he thinks, "What a pity it was that all his faces were designed to express rage or loathing." In a final moment of reckoning, they run into the entire Welch clan—including the heretofore-unseen younger son Michel—exiting a teashop. Mrs. Welch looks at Dixon with a face of "imminent vomiting." Dixon cannot stop laughing. Christine pulls his arm, and they walk away.

Analysis

The finale proves extremely satisfying. Dixon gets everything he's wanted—for now, at least. Who knows if he'll be able to hang onto it? Will he and Christine have a romance? Will they marry? Will he like the poshest neighborhood, Knightsbridge, or settle for artier Chelsea? Will he be able to keep his drinking under control and hold on to his new job? The reader will never know, but that's okay. It's enough that "Lucky" Jim Dixon laughs openly at the Welches and walks off into town with Christine.