Dombey and Son

Florence is hurt to see the estrangement between her father and Edith, and afraid that expressing affection for one will slight the other. Feeling torn between them is even more painful than when she simply wanted her father to love her. Susan takes Florence’s side in all things as she dislikes Mr. Carker, who is often in the house attending on Mr. Dombey, and she dislikes Mrs. Pipchin, whom Dombey has hired as housekeeper. In the night, Florence looks in on her father, and is moved by the sight of him sleeping, for “[s]he had never seen his face in all her life, but hope had sunk within her, and her timid glance had drooped before its stern, unloving, and repelling harshness” (578). Florence goes to Edith’s room and finds her visibly distressed. Edith admits she is wrestling with her sense of pride and is unable to set it aside. Edith, in despair, says that she has no hope but in Florence.

Susan, who knows that Florence crept into her father’s room to visit him, finally speaks her mind. Susan tells Mr. Dombey that he ought to be proud of such a daughter, and the way he treats her is a shame. Susan declares that “Miss Floy […] is the most devoted and most patient and most dutiful and beautiful of daughters,” (584). Dombey is outraged that a servant should scold him and terminates Susan’s employment. Susan weeps that she must leave Florence, and Florence weeps to lose her. Mr. Toots offers to let Susan stay at his house before she departs to her relatives. He asks Susan if Florence might ever love him, and Susan answers, “never” (593).

Edith returns home one night, and Carker the manager asks to speak with her. Edith is upset that he should address her pretending that she feels love and duty toward her husband, when he knows she feels nothing but contempt and disdain. Carker tells her that he feels the need to flatter Dombey because of his employment but takes Edith’s side, claiming that he understands and shares her feelings, and wants to help her. He cautions her against expressing too much affection for Florence, as it irritates Dombey. Edith notes that he’s delivering a threat, and Carker says yes, but not a threat against Edith.

Carker the manager begins paying closer attention to the business at the firm, and to his own personal wealth. Alice and Mrs. Brown watch him one day, and Mrs. Brown laments that Alice will not try to extort money from him. Mrs. Brown approaches Rob and asks for information and coin. Alice will not let her take the money, but Mrs. Brown invites Rob to visit her now and again. John talks with his brother at the office and says he hopes Mr. Dombey will recover. Carker the manager returns that there is not a man in the office who would not be glad to see Dombey humbled or who would not turn on him at the first opportunity. John is surprised by this sentiment. Carker the manager knows that Edith dislikes him but feels he is working his way into her confidence nonetheless and is pleased by the thought.

Dombey and Edith continue to be at odds in their pride and coldness to one another, making “their marriage way a road of ashes” (614). The narrator reflects on Nature and how it manifests in people, noting how it is called unnatural when people commit crimes but wondering if it can be helped if they lived in a poisoned and foul environment. The narrator speculates that good fruit cannot come of thorns or bad seed. The narrator further speculates that if people could be made aware of the consequences of their actions, they might instead strive to make the world a better place.

Two years have passed since the marriage, and Florence has lost all hope that their home might be a happy one. She thinks of her father as a distant memory or a vague image, like the memory of her brother. Noticing Edith has withdrawn from her, Florence asks if she has displeased Edith somehow. Edith says no, but cannot explain why, and Florence feels everyone drifting away from her. Florence is now 17, an innocent and sweet-tempered young woman.

One night at dinner where Carker the manager is present, Dombey informs Edith that he expects guests the next day for their second wedding anniversary. Edith answers that she has made plans and will not be at home. Dombey appeals to Carker to make Edith obey him. Florence wants to leave, but Dombey insists she remain to witness this, since he wants her to take note of Edith’s conduct. Dombey insists Edith obey him, and she insists she will not. She asks for a separation, and Dombey says he will allow no such thing. Once again he directs Carker to tell Edith that, if she continues to behave like this, he will punish Florence. Carker suggests he consider the thought of a separation. Edith pulls off her diamond jewelry, throws it on the floor, and leaves the room.

That night, Florence walks towards Edith’s room and sees Carker emerging. The next day, when Edith passes her on the stair, she shrieks at Florence to keep away from her. Edith goes out, and Florence resolves to wait up for her, but Edith does not return. Florence overhears her father asking after Edith and learning that the coachman has taken her to the house on Brook Street, where she met Mr. Carker. Dombey goes to Edith’s dressing room and finds a mess made of Edith’s fine things, and a letter that says she has fled.

Dombey is furious. Florence feels heart-broken for him and tries to comfort him. Instead, her father strikes her, accusing her of being in league with Edith. Florence is devastated and sees him “murdering that fond idea to which she had held in spite of him. She saw his cruelty, neglect, and hatred dominant above it, and stamping it down” (632). Feeling orphaned, she runs from the house, weeping.

Diogenes follows Florence out of the house, and she goes to the Wooden Midshipman, where Captain Cuttle welcomes her, calling her Heart’s Delight. He doesn’t hesitate to let her stay with him and shuts up the shop so she will feel safe. While the Captain makes tea, Diogenes barks at the door. Later, Mr. Toots visits and says he saw someone at the door of the shop earlier. The person asked Captain Cuttle to stop in at Brogley the Broker’s when he could. The Captain assures Toots that “after Wal’r, and on a different model, you’re as good a lad as ever stepped” (643). The Captain sends Toots away so Florence can sleep.

Florence wakes and, as she fixes her hair, she sees the bruise where her father struck her. She feels no rancor toward him, but she “fled from the idea of him as she had fled from the reality, and he was utterly gone and lost. There was no such Being [as her father] in the world” (646). The Captain makes them a meal, and Florence wishes Walter were there. The Captain keeps repeating that “Wal’r’s drownded […] An’t he?” (648). The narrator notes that they are as strange companions as a wandering princess and a good monster in a story.

The Captain escorts Florence to another shop to buy some small items and tries to pay for them. Florence wonders what to do, since she refuses to return to the Dombey house. As they sit together that evening, Florence asks the Captain about stories of storms, and he describes a ship from London that was thought lost with all hands, but one boy, who had loved stories of shipwrecks, survived. He was picked up by a ship that went on a long voyage, but then returned home. Florence guesses his meaning and looks up to see Walter standing there. She embraces Walter and greets him as a brother. The Captain makes a ceremony of turning over some of his property to them jointly, including his watch and tea spoons. Florence asks Walter for help, repeating that she thinks of him as a brother, and he promises he would do anything for her.

Walter and Captain Cuttle turn Walter’s old bedroom into a parlor for Florence. Walter visits often. He believes Solomon is alive and will return soon. Captain Cuttle, who hopes for a match between the two young people, is disappointed when Walter swears that he would never take advantage of Florence’s position by trying to court her now. Toots visits and meets Walter, whom he addresses as Lieutenant Walters. Toots is eager to help Florence and agrees to go find Susan. Florence is sad that Walter seems to be keeping his distance from her. She speaks with Walter and tells him she will accept it if he feels she is at fault for getting him sent away. Walter admits that he cannot behave as her brother when he wishes to be her husband. Florence wants to be his wife. They inform Captain Cuttle, who is delighted and ribs Walter.

Dombey refuses to speak of Edith or Florence, not even to his sister, but he supposes that Florence has gone to live with Mrs. Chick. Cousin Feenix expresses his remorse that his “lovely and accomplished relative” (681) should have behaved so. The Major thinks Dombey should go after Carker and attack him. Mrs. Pipchin and Miss Tox confer. The clerks at the counting house wonder who will take Carker the manager’s place. Dombey’s servants have little to do since he keeps to his rooms when he is home.

Mrs. Brown summons Dombey to her home, telling him she will be able to get information for him. Alice tells Dombey they are helping him because she is angry and has been for many years. Dombey hides behind a door as Rob visits. After much pressure, Rob writes down the word Dijon as the place where Carker and Edith have gone (699). Dombey leaves in great agitation, and Alice says he will do mischief.