Summary Old Lawrence Boythorn (modeled very closely on one of Dickens’ friends, the famous poet Walter Savage Landor) comes to Bleak House for a visit. He is an intense human being, a creature of extremes, but well-meaning and, in fact, lovable. A litigious person, he happens to be suing Sir […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 9 – Signs and TokensSummary and Analysis Chapter 8 – Covering a Multitude of Sins
Summary Mrs. Pardiggle, accompanied by her five sons, pays a visit to Bleak House. A charity worker whose zeal unfortunately makes her own sons “ferocious with discontent,” she describes her activities loudly and at great length. Reluctantly, Esther and Ada go with her to visit a poor bricklayer’s family who […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 8 – Covering a Multitude of SinsSummary and Analysis Chapter 7 – The Ghost’s Walk
Summary One day, while limping on the terrace of the Dedlock estate, she fell and died, vowing to haunt the terrace until “the pride of this house is humbled.” Mrs. Rouncewell tells Watt to start the tall French clock. He does so, but above its loud beat and the music […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 7 – The Ghost’s WalkSummary and Analysis Chapter 6 – Quite at Home
Summary They meet Mr. Skimpole, a gracious but irresponsible dilettante whom John Jarndyce has taken under his protection. Under arrest for a small debt, Skimpole appeals to Richard and Esther; they combine their pocket money to save him from imprisonment. Learning of this incident, Mr. Jarndyce warns the young people […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 6 – Quite at HomeSummary and Analysis Chapter 5 – A Morning Adventure
Summary After visiting briefly with Miss Flite, the young people walk back to the Jellyby house. Richard, already affected adversely by the unending Jarndyce and Jarndyce suit, nevertheless states that the suit “will work none of its bad influence on us” and (speaking particularly to Ada) says that it “can’t […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5 – A Morning AdventureSummary and Analysis Chapter 4 – Telescopic Philanthropy
Summary Esther, Ada, and Richard continue to wonder what sort of person John Jarndyce is. Richard saw him briefly once but retains no distinct impression. Desperate in her impossible home and situation, a tearful Caddy finds solace in the compassionate Esther. Analysis Dickens maintained that people devoted to distant (“telescopic”) […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 4 – Telescopic PhilanthropySummary and Analysis Chapter 3 – A Process
Analysis This long chapter introduces and begins characterizations of the book’s principal figures: Esther, Ada, and Richard. Curiosity about Mr. Jarndyce is heightened: We wonder why he is so benevolent. To characterize Esther sympathetically, Dickens utilizes the principle of contrast: Esther’s naturalness and goodheartedness are all the more impressive when […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 3 – A ProcessSummary and Analysis Chapter 2 – In Fashion
Summary In middle age, Lady Dedlock retains her beauty and is always attractively groomed. Her husband, the baronet Sir Leicester Dedlock, loves her and does not complain that she brought to the marriage neither dowry nor prestige. This afternoon she receives Mr. Tulkinghorn, a rich, close-lipped, and secretive solicitor (attorney) […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 2 – In FashionSummary and Analysis Chapter 1 – In Chancery
Analysis This first chapter makes Dickens’ social criticism explicit and introduces one of the book’s principal themes: the ruin that the Chancery Court has made and will continue to make of many people’s lives. Court costs and lawyers’ fees have already exhausted all the inheritance money in Jarndyce and Jarndyce. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 1 – In ChanceryCharacter List
Matthew Bagnet The owner of a music shop; a former soldier who has kept up a friendship with George Rouncewell. Mrs. Bagnet Matthew’s sensible, wholesome, good-natured wife. Malta, Quebec, and Woolwich Bagnet The Bagnets’ happy children. Miss Barbary Lady Dedlock’s sister who raised Esther Summerson for a time and who […]
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