Dombey And Son 45345i

Dombey and Son is a novel by Charles Dickens, published in monthly parts from 1 October 1846 to 1 April 1848 and in one volume in 1848. Its full title is Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son: Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation. Dickens started writing the book in Lausanne, Switzerland before returning to England, via Paris, to complete it. Illustrations were provided by Hablot Knight Browne. There is some concern with the railways and the novel's conception, and writing, belong to the years of the railway boom, 1844-47. The sea, meanwhile, becomes the image of things of 'an older fashion yet', 'the dark and unknown [-] that rolls round all the world.' Dombey and Son was conceived first and foremost as a continuous novel. A letter from Dickens to Forster on 26 July 1846 shows the major details of the plot and theme already substantially worked out. As with most of Dickens' work, a number of socially significant themes are to be found in this book. In particular the book deals with the then-prevalent common practice of arranged marriages for financial gain. Other themes to be detected within this work include child cruelty (particularly in Dombey's treatment of Florence), familial relationships, and as ever in Dickens, betrayal and deceit and the consequences thereof. Another strong central theme is that of pride and arrogance, of which Paul Dombey senior is the extreme exemplification in Dickens' work. Gissing makes a number of points about certain key inadequacies in the novel, not the least that Dickens's central character is largely unsympathetic and an unsuitable vehicle and also that after the death of the young Paul Dombey the reader is somewhat estranged from the rest of what is to follow. He notes that 'the moral theme of this book was Pride—pride of wealth, pride of place, personal arrogance. Dickens started with a clear conception of his central character and of the course of the story in so far as it depended upon that personage; he planned the action, the play of motive, with unusual definiteness, and adhered very closely in the working to this welllaid scheme'. However, he goes on to write that,'Dombey and Son is a novel which in its beginning promises more than its progress fulfils' The growth of the railways – theme One theme is the destruction and degradation, of both people and places, caused by industrialisation, illustrated in particular by the building of the new railway through Camden Town (assumed to represent the London and Birmingham Railway constructed between 1833 and 1837). The novel reflects to some extent Dickens' concerns with railway travel and the 'railway mania', 'a fascination which had a strong ingredient of fear in it', and reflects ambivalence towards the effects of the railways - they generated prosperity and employment, but undermined older ways of living and encouraged speculation.[12] In 1865, many years after this novel was published, Dickens was involved in a train crash. Characters in "Dombey and Son" Mr Paul Dombey – the main character. Mr. Dombey is a widower with two children; however, he only considers his son, Paul, to be worthy of his attention. His daughter, Florence, is merely a "bad boy." Paul was to carry on the family name, but died of an illness that shattered Mr. Dombey’s hopes for an heir. Dombey’s neglect of his daughter Florence caused problems his second wife, Edith, who he essentially purchased. Due to Edith's hatred for him and Dombey's misplaced trust in James Carker, Dombey loses his business and his wealth. Dombey finally realized that his daughter was the only person who truly cared for him, even when he had nothing left. He reconnects with Florence in his later years and gains an heir through his son-inlaw. Edith Granger – proud widowed daughter of Mrs Skewton, becomes second Mrs Dombey

Mrs Fanny Dombey – Mr Dombey's first wife, mother of Florence and Paul, dies soon after Paul is born Master Paul Dombey (Little Dombey) – the son, is weak and often ill Miss Florence (Floy) Dombey – the elder daughter whom Mr Dombey neglects. She marries Walter and has two children. Mrs Louisa Chick – Mr Dombey's sister Mr Chick – husband of Mrs Chick Miss Lucretia Tox – friend of Mrs Chick, great irer of Mr Dombey, and neighbour of Major Joseph Bagstock James Carker (Mr Carker the Manager) – devious manager in Mr Dombey's business John Carker (Mr Carker the Junior) – disgraced older brother of James, lower level employee in Dombey's business Miss Harriet Carker – sister of James and John Mr Morfin – assistant manager in Mr Dombey's business Mr Perch – messenger in Mr Dombey's business Solomon (Uncle Sol) Gills – ships' instrument maker and owner of the "Wooden Midshipman", a shop Walter Gay – nephew of Gills, friend to Florence, employee of Mr Dombey, sent away by Carker the Manager Captain Edward (Ned) Cuttle – retired hook-handed sea captain; friend of Solomon Gills Major Joseph Bagstock (Josh, Joe, J.B., Old Joe) – conceited retired army major, irer of Miss Tox, friend of Mr Dombey until his downfall Briggs – schoolmate of Paul's Tozer – schoolmate of Paul's Mr P. Toots – schoolmate of Paul's, later a dandy in love with Florence The Game Chicken – rowdy companion of Mr Toots Miss Susan Nipper – Florence's loyal nurse, later marries Mr. Toots Mrs Skewton (Cleopatra) – Edith Dombey's infirm mother Mr Toodle – a railway engineer Polly Toodle (Richards) – wife of Mr Toodle, engaged as nurse to Paul under the name Mrs Richards (by Mr Dombey's order) Robin Toodle (Rob the Grinder, Biler) – son of Mr Toodle and Polly, sent to Charitable Grinders school, later engaged in service to Captain Cuttle and Mr Carker the Manager Good Mrs Brown – an elderly rag dealer Alice – daughter of Brown, former lover of Carker's, recently returned from transportation Jack Bunsby – commander of a ship, and regarded as an oracle by Captain Cuttle; eventually wedded to Mrs MacStinger Mrs MacStinger – Captain Cuttle's landlady and nemesis Mrs Pipchin – stern widow who keeps an 'infantine Boarding-House of a very select description' in Brighton, where Paul is sent for his health Master Bitherstone – a fellow-boarder at Mrs. Pipchin's, much later a student at Doctor Blimber's Miss Pankey – a fellow-boarder at Mrs. Pipchin's Sir Barnet Skettles – Lady Skettles –

Master Skettles – Brighton school pupil Doctor Blimber – runs a school in Brighton which Paul briefly attends Mrs Blimber – Doctor Blimber's wife Miss Cornelia Blimber – Doctor Blimber's daughter, teacher at the schooll Mr Feeder, B.A. – Doctor Blimber's assistant, teacher at the school Diogenes (Di) – A dog from the school, befriended by Paul and adopted by Florence after Paul's death