Dombey and Son: eBook EditionThe story opens with the death of Mrs. Dombey, who has left her husband the proud possessor of a baby son and heir. He neglects his daughter Florence and loves Paul, in whom all his ambitions and worldly hopes are centred; but the boy dies. Mr. Dombey marries a beautiful woman, who is as cold and proud as he, and who has sold herself to him to escape from a designing mother. She grows fond of Florence, and this friendship is so displeasing to Mr. Dombey that he tries to humble her by remonstrating through Mr. Carker, his business manager and friend. This crafty villain, realizing his power, goads her beyond endurance, and she demands a separation from Mr. Dombey, but is refused. After an angry interview, she determines upon a bold stroke and disgraces her husband by pretending to elope with Carker to France, where she meets him once, shames and defies him and escapes. Mr. Dombey, after spurning Florence, whom he considers the cause of his trouble, follows Carker in hot haste. They encounter each other without warning at a railway station, and as Carker is crossing the tracks he falls and is instantly killed by an express train. Florence seeks refuge with an old sea-captain whom her little brother, Paul, has been fond of, marries Walter Gay, the friend of her childhood, and they go to sea. After the failure of Dombey and Son, when Mr. Dombey's pride is humbled and he is left desolate, Florence returns and takes care of him. |
Other editions - View all
Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens - Delphi Classics (Illustrated) Charles Dickens Limited preview - 2017 |
Common terms and phrases
ain't asked beautiful better Brighton brother Bunsby Captain Cuttle Captain Gills chair Charles Dickens Chick child Cleopatra Cousin Feenix cried dark daughter dear Dickens Doctor Blimber Dombey and Son Dombey's door Edith eyes face father Feeder feeling Florence gentleman glance gone Grinder hand head heart honour hope knew lady little Paul looked Louisa Ma'am MacStinger Mama marriage Midshipman mind Miss Blimber Miss Dombey Miss Floy Miss Nipper Miss Tox Misses Brown morning mother never night observed old Sol old woman parlour Perch Pipchin Polly poor replied returned Richard Whittington Richards round seemed shaking Sir Barnet sister sitting Skettles Skewton smile stood street sure Susan Nipper tears tell thought tomorrow Toodle took Toots Towlinson turned Uncle Sol voice Wal'r walked Walter Walter Gay Wickam window word young