Summary

Analysis

In his portraits of Sir Leicester’s poor but proud relatives, Dickens mildly satirizes those who use their rich “connection” as the basis for building unreal attitudes or expectations. Satirized also is Sir Leicester’s immense pride. The man keeps his mind proudly closed on the subject of change, on class distinctions, and on most everything else. Yet Dickens does not present the upstart, middle-class ironmaster to be greatly admirable either. The motif of Lady Dedlock’s melancholy and distraction is picked up again and is emphasized in such a way as to keep the reader’s curiosity about her very much alive.