Dombey and Son, Issue 1Paul Dombey is a cold, unbending, pompous merchant, and a widower with two children - Paul and Florence. His chief ambition is to perpetuate the firm-name. He dreams of passing his business on to his son. Dombey dotes on his son, and neglects and mistreats his daughter.The "son" in the title of the book is incapable of ever joining the firm. A sickly and odd child, Paul dies at the age of six. Dombey pours his resentment and anger out on his daughter, whom he pushes away despite her efforts to earn her father's love.Eventually Dombey remarries, after literally acquiring his new wife from her father in a commercial transaction. Dombey is as bad a husband as he is a father and his marriage is loveless. His new bride hates Dombey and eventually runs off with Canker, his business manager. Dombey characteristically blames Florence for this reversal, and strikes her, causing Florence to run away as well.Abandoned by everyone, Dombey loses his business and goes half insane, living in his decaying house. Dombey is eventually reconciled to his daughter, who always a doormat forgives her father........ |
From inside the book
Page 3
... returned to her mother's face immediately , and she neither moved nor an . swered . Next moment the lady had opened her eyes and seen the child ; and the child had run towards her ; and , standing on tiptoe , the better to hide her face ...
... returned to her mother's face immediately , and she neither moved nor an . swered . Next moment the lady had opened her eyes and seen the child ; and the child had run towards her ; and , standing on tiptoe , the better to hide her face ...
Page 5
... returned Doctor Parker Peps , " to say so . Mr. Pilkins , who , from his position , is best acquainted with the patient's constitution in its normal state ( an acquaintance very valuable to us in forming our opinions on these occasions ) ...
... returned Doctor Parker Peps , " to say so . Mr. Pilkins , who , from his position , is best acquainted with the patient's constitution in its normal state ( an acquaintance very valuable to us in forming our opinions on these occasions ) ...
Page 6
... returned her brother - for Mr. Dombey was her brother- " I think he is like the family . Don't agitate your- self , Louisa . " " It's very foolish of me , " said Louisa , sitting down , and taking out her pocket - handkerchief , " but ...
... returned her brother - for Mr. Dombey was her brother- " I think he is like the family . Don't agitate your- self , Louisa . " " It's very foolish of me , " said Louisa , sitting down , and taking out her pocket - handkerchief , " but ...
Page 8
... returned . " Take some wine . You have been almost as anxious as I have been , and must want it , I am sure . " Mr. Dombey of course officiated . " Miss Tox , Paul , " pursued Mrs. Chick , still retaining her hand , " knowing how much I ...
... returned . " Take some wine . You have been almost as anxious as I have been , and must want it , I am sure . " Mr. Dombey of course officiated . " Miss Tox , Paul , " pursued Mrs. Chick , still retaining her hand , " knowing how much I ...
Page 10
... returned , " you look quite pale ! There's nothing the matter ? " " I am sorry to say , Louisa , that they tell me that Fanny- " " Now , dear Paul , " returned his sister rising , “ don't believe it . If you have any reliance on my ...
... returned , " you look quite pale ! There's nothing the matter ? " " I am sorry to say , Louisa , that they tell me that Fanny- " " Now , dear Paul , " returned his sister rising , “ don't believe it . If you have any reliance on my ...
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Common terms and phrases
arms asked brother Captain Cuttle Carker the Manager chair Chick child Cleopatra Diogenes Doctor Blimber Dombey and Son Dombey's door Edith eyes face father Feeder felt Florence gentleman glancing gone hand head heard heart honor hope inquired Jemima knew Lady Skettles little Paul looking Louisa Ma'am Major Bagstock Master Bitherstone midshipman mind Miss Blimber Miss Dombey Miss Floy Miss Nipper Miss Tox morning mother never night nosegay observed old Sol Papa parlor Paul's Perch perhaps Pipchin Polly poor Princess's Place rence replied returned Richards round seemed shaking Sir Barnet sister sitting Skewton smile Solomon Gills stairs stood street sure Susan Nipper tears tell there's thing thought tion Toodle took Toots Towlinson Tox's turned Uncle Sol voice Wal'r walked Walter Gay watch Wickam window woman words young gentlemen
Popular passages
Page 251 - Oh thank GOD, all who see it, for that older fashion yet, of Immortality! And look upon us, angels of young children, with regards not quite estranged, when the swift river bears us to the ocean!
Page 12 - The doctor gently brushed the scattered ringlets of the child aside from the face and mouth of the mother. Alas how calm they lay there ; how little breath there was to stir them ! Thus, clinging fast to that slight spar within her arms, the mother drifted out upon the dark and unknown sea that rolls round all the world.
Page 157 - Blimber's establishment was a great hothouse, in which there was a forcing apparatus incessantly at work.
Page 2 - Those three words conveyed the one idea of Mr. Dombey's life. The earth was made for Dombey and Son to trade in, and the sun and moon were made to give them light. Rivers and seas were formed to float their ships ; rainbows gave them promise of fair weather ; winds blew for or against their enterprises ; stars and planets circled in their orbits, to preserve inviolate a system of which they were the centre. Common abbreviations took new meanings in his eyes, and had sole reference to them : AD had...
Page 161 - The child sat on the table looking at him, with a curious expression of suppressed emotion in his face, and beating one hand proudly on his knee as if he had the rising tears beneath it, and crushed them. But his other...
Page 245 - ... evening was coming on, and that the sky was red and beautiful. As the reflection died away, and a gloom went creeping up the wall, he watched it deepen, deepen, deepen into night. Then he thought how the long streets were dotted with lamps, and how the peaceful stars were shining overhead. His fancy had a strange tendency to wander to the river...
Page 111 - ... Of course," said Mr. Dombey, and sat looking at one page for an hour afterwards, without reading one word. This celebrated Mrs. Pipchin was a marvellous ill-favoured, ill-conditioned old lady, of a stooping figure, with a mottled face, like bad marble, a hook nose, and a hard grey eye, that looked as if it might have been hammered at on an anvil without sustaining any injury.
Page 248 - He asked incredulously, as if he had some vision of a face before him. "Oh yes, dear!" "Whose, Floy?"
Page 2 - Dombey and Son had often dealt in hides, but never in hearts. They left that fancy ware to boys and girls, and boarding-schools and books. Mr. Dombey would have reasoned: That a matrimonial alliance with himself must, in the nature of things, be gratifying and honourable to any woman of common sense.
Page 250 - and, Floy, come close to me, and let me see you!' Sister and brother wound their arms around each other, and the golden light came streaming in, and fell upon them, locked together.