# XLVII: Jo’s Will explained — Bleak House

> Chapter companion for Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

Allan Woodcourt seeks shelter for the dying Jo, first consulting Mr. Snagsby, who is terrified of his wife's suspicions, then turning to Miss Flite and finally to Mr. George, who offers a corner in his shooting gallery. Jo is brought in, a pitiful figure of native squalor, and Allan reveals that the detective Mr. Bucket is involved in Jo's story.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Inequality

Jo is described as a 'homemade savage,' an outcast from civilized society, harder to place than an unowned dog.

### Secrets and Identity

Mr. Snagsby is entangled in secrets about Jo, and Jo's story involves a mysterious lady in a veil.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Jo's outward squalor hides his inner suffering, and the 'civilized world' is shown to be indifferent to his humanity.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Woodcourt

Takes charge of Jo, seeking shelter and medical care for him.

### Jo

The dying crossing-sweeper, weak and miserable, tells his story of the lady in the veil.

### Mr. Snagsby

Visited by Allan, he is fearful of his wife and reluctantly agrees to see Jo.

### Miss Flite

Now lodging with Mrs. Blinder, she welcomes Allan and offers to help with Jo.

### Mr. George

Offers Jo a place in his shooting gallery, despite the rough surroundings.

### Phil Squod

Mr. George's assistant, who brings Jo into the gallery.

## Key lines

> It surely is a strange fact... that in the heart of a civilized world this creature in human form should be more difficult to dispose of than an unowned dog.

Allan reflects on the irony that in a supposedly civilized society, a human being like Jo is harder to find shelter for than a stray animal.

_Highlights the theme of social inequality and dehumanization._

> Dirty, ugly, disagreeable to all the senses, in body a common creature of the common streets, only in soul a heathen.

Jo is described as filthy and repulsive, a product of English poverty, with no redeeming physical qualities.

_Emphasizes the raw, unromanticized portrayal of poverty._

> I never had a secret of my own, sir. I can't charge my memory with ever having once attempted to deceive my little woman on my own account since she named the day.

Mr. Snagsby insists he has never kept a secret from his wife, yet now finds himself entangled in mysteries against his will.

_Shows Snagsby's comic terror and the theme of secrets._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlvii-jo-s-will
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bleak_house_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters