Characters
Paul Dombey (Sr.)
The owner of a shipping firm. He is a cold, cruel man whose only wish is to have a son so that his firm might be called "Dombey and Son".
The owner of a shipping firm. He is a cold, cruel man whose only wish is to have a son so that his firm might be called "Dombey and Son".Florence DombeyHis daughter. She is kind, gentle and loving despite the lack of affection he shows for her.
His daughter. She is kind, gentle and loving despite the lack of affection he shows for her.Susan NipperFlorence's companion who speaks her mind and later marries Mr. Toots.
Florence's companion who speaks her mind and later marries Mr. Toots.Mr. TootsA student at Dr. Blimber's school who loves Florence but marries Susan.
A student at Dr. Blimber's school who loves Florence but marries Susan.Paul Dombey (Jr.)The son, who lives only about 6 years before dying due to a feeble body and a harsh regiment at school. He is "old fashioned" and wise beyond his years.
The son, who lives only about 6 years before dying due to a feeble body and a harsh regiment at school. He is "old fashioned" and wise beyond his years.John CarkerDombey's assistant. He has very white teeth and is always scheming. He eventually runs away with Edith, Dombey's second wife and causes the firm to go bankrupt.
Dombey's assistant. He has very white teeth and is always scheming. He eventually runs away with Edith, Dombey's second wife and causes the firm to go bankrupt.James CarkerThe manager at Dombey and Son. He is honest but hated by his brother.
The manager at Dombey and Son. He is honest but hated by his brother.Harriet CarkerTheir sister, who lives alone with James but is good and sweet.
Their sister, who lives alone with James but is good and sweet.Sol GillsAn instrument maker who has a shop (watched over by a wooden midshipman) that no one has entered in many years.
An instrument maker who has a shop (watched over by a wooden midshipman) that no one has entered in many years.Walter GayHis nephew, who is sent to sea on the Son and Heir after asking Dombey for money. The ship sinks and he is lost for many years but then returns and marries Florence.
His nephew, who is sent to sea on the Son and Heir after asking Dombey for money. The ship sinks and he is lost for many years but then returns and marries Florence.Captain CuttleTheir friend, who takes care of the shop after Gills leaves.
Their friend, who takes care of the shop after Gills leaves.Joe BagstockDombey's pimp, figuratively speaking, in that he is a friend that sets Dombey up with Edit Skewton.
Dombey's pimp, figuratively speaking, in that he is a friend that sets Dombey up with Edit Skewton.Edith SkewtonDombey's second wife. She is a proud, harsh woman who only has heart for Florence.
Dombey's second wife. She is a proud, harsh woman who only has heart for Florence.Cleopartra SkewtonHer mother, who dies after having a stroke a year after their wedding.
Her mother, who dies after having a stroke a year after their wedding.Mrs. ChickDombey's sister.
Dombey's sister.Miss ToxA nice woman who teaches the Toodles after she is disowned by Mrs. Chick, her friend.
A nice woman who teaches the Toodles after she is disowned by Mrs. Chick, her friend.ToodleA whole family of apple-faced children and their mother, called by the Dombeys Mrs. Richards (she nurses Paul after his mother dies).
A whole family of apple-faced children and their mother, called by the Dombeys Mrs. Richards (she nurses Paul after his mother dies).Rob the GrinderA Toodle who has a miscreant youth, then works for Captain Cuttle and then John Carker.
A Toodle who has a miscreant youth, then works for Captain Cuttle and then John Carker.Good Mrs. BrownA haggardly old woman who kidnaps Florence and takes her clothes, she is Alice Marmwood's mother and Rob the Grinder's friend. She orchestrates Dombey's knowledge of Carker and Edith's whereabouts.
A haggardly old woman who kidnaps Florence and takes her clothes, she is Alice Marmwood's mother and Rob the Grinder's friend. She orchestrates Dombey's knowledge of Carker and Edith's whereabouts.Alice MarmwoodHer daughter, who was John Carker's mistress and Edith's cousin
Her daughter, who was John Carker's mistress and Edith's cousinPlot Summary
Paul Dombey always wanted a son, so that he could call his renowned shipping firm: Dombey and Son. Alas, it was a girl that was born. A few years later, a son was finally born (named Paul, of course) and his wife died in childbirth. As a result, the child was forever sickly. He was very attached to Florence, his older sister. They even sent him away to school near an ocean. He dies at somewhere around six or seven. Paul Dombey pushes his daughter away, because the wise and old fashioned boy loved her. When she is kidnapped by Good Mrs.. Brown (irony) she is rescued by an up-and-comer named Walter Gay who works for the firm. Although the two are apart in years they become attached, and Dombey sends Walter away to the West Indies and later finds that the ship he went on sank. He is supposed drowned.
Dombey, along with an acquaintance from his firm named Carker, meets Major Bagstock and Miss Edith and Mrs.. Cleopatra Skwewton. Mrs.. Skewton in essence sells her daughter to Dombey- he needs a trophy wife and another son. Florence wonders what other daughters do to make their fathers love them and asks Edith.Mrs.. Dombey and Florence grow to love each other but there never was any love between Mr.. and Mrs.. Dombey and Carker schemes to see that there never will be. The wedding was like a funeral; the marriage is a farce. Mrs.. Edith Dombey runs away with Carker- once again selling herself, this time for freedom. Dombey strikes Florence and she runs away to Walter's uncle Gil and thus Captain Cuttle, who is taking over Gil's shop while he looks for Walter.
Dombey chases after Carker to reclaim his prize wife, and the man leaps in front of a train. Dombey then learns that as well as his marriage, his business is destroyed and he has nothing. Florence, after Walter returns and the two are married, returns to her father. They have a happy family, and Dombey finds love with both her son and her daughter.
Symbols
MARRIAGE AS PROSTITUTION
One of the greater themes in the book is the use of arranged marriages for financial gain- prostitution by definition, or a form of slavery. Although it was common in Victorian London, Dickens presents it here as savage and barbaric through Paul and Edith's marriage.
Themes
Child abuse
Father/son and father/daughter relationships
Business and personal lives
Marriage and love
Death
Family
Capitalism
Unconditional love
Betrayal and deceit
Self-betrayal
Cite this page in MLA!
Tracy, Trinity. "Notes on Dombey and Son." Dickens Made Simple. 2002. http://www.dickensmadesimple.com (date of access).
