# Signs and Tokens explained — Bleak House

> Chapter companion for Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Esther reflects on her tendency to write about herself, then describes the winter days spent with Ada and Richard, noting their growing love. Mr. Jarndyce receives a letter from his old friend Lawrence Boythorn, who is described as impetuous and hearty. Boythorn visits, and Esther learns from Mr. Jarndyce that he was once engaged but the lady 'died to him.' Mr. Guppy arrives, smartly dressed, and his attention perplexes Esther. Richard's careless attitude toward money is illustrated through his reasoning about the loan to Mr. Skimpole.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Sacrifice

The growing love between Richard and Ada is central, and Boythorn's lost love illustrates sacrifice and enduring romance.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Richard mistakes his carelessness for prudence, and Mr. Guppy's smart appearance contrasts with his true intentions.

## Character check-ins

### Esther Summerson

Narrator; reflects on her tendency to write about herself and observes the love between Richard and Ada.

### Richard Carstone

Shows his restless and generous nature; demonstrates a careless attitude toward money, mistaking it for prudence.

### Ada Clare

Quietly in love with Richard; shares tender moments with Esther in the evenings.

### Mr. Jarndyce

Receives a letter from Boythorn and shares the story of Boythorn's lost love with Esther.

### Boythorn

Visits Bleak House; described as impetuous, hearty, and with a tender side; once engaged but the lady 'died to him.'

### Mr. Guppy

Arrives as Kenge and Carboy's clerk, dressed smartly and perfumed; his attention perplexes Esther.

## Key lines

> I don't know how it is I seem to be always writing about myself. I mean all the time to write about other people, and I try to think about myself as little as possible, and I am sure, when I find myself coming into the story again, I am really vexed and say, 'Dear, dear, you tiresome little creature, I wish you wouldn't!' but it is all of no use.

Esther apologizes for constantly writing about herself, though she feels she cannot avoid it as she is inevitably involved in the events.

_Esther's self-deprecating narrative voice reveals her humility and the central role she plays in the story._

> With a buoyancy and hopefulness and a gaiety that hardly ever flagged, Richard had a carelessness in his character that quite perplexed me, principally because he mistook it, in such a very odd way, for prudence.

Richard is always cheerful and optimistic, but his reckless attitude toward money confuses Esther because he wrongly believes it is sensible.

_Highlights Richard's flawed financial reasoning and Esther's perceptive observation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/ix-signs-and-tokens
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bleak_house_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters