Bleak House · Chapter
Mr. Bucket explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Tulkinghorn enjoys a solitary bottle of old port in his chambers, pondering his secrets and the mysteries of his life. He is joined by Mr. Snagsby, who recounts his story. Mr. Bucket arrives with Jo, the 'Tough Subject,' and orchestrates a confrontation with a veiled female figure in Tulkinghorn's room. Jo identifies the figure by her clothing but notes the hand is different from the lady he previously saw. The chapter ends with a tense, ambiguous scene.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption of the Legal System
Mr. Tulkinghorn, as a representative of the law, is portrayed as secretive and manipulative, using his position to control information and people.
Social Class and Inequality
The stark contrast between Tulkinghorn's comfortable chambers and the foul, disease-ridden streets of Tom-all-Alone's underscores the vast social divide.
Secrets and Identity
The veiled figure and Jo's identification attempt highlight the theme of hidden identities and the unraveling of secrets.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Tulkinghorn
Sits alone in his chambers drinking old port, reflecting on his secrets and the mysteries he knows.
- Mr. Snagsby
Visits Mr. Tulkinghorn to recount his story, nervously deferring to the lawyer and mentioning his wife's inquisitiveness.
- Mr. Bucket
Leads the investigation, bringing Jo to Tulkinghorn's chambers and orchestrating the confrontation with the veiled figure.
- Jo
The 'Tough Subject,' brought by Mr. Bucket to identify the veiled lady; he notes the clothing but says the hand is different.
Key passages
“Allegory looks pretty cool in Lincoln’s Inn Fields, though the evening is hot, for both Mr. Tulkinghorn’s windows are wide open, and the room is lofty, gusty, and gloomy.”
Despite the heat, the allegorical figure in Mr. Tulkinghorn's room appears cool because the windows are open and the room is high and drafty.
Sets the atmospheric scene of Tulkinghorn's chambers.
“He has a priceless bin of port in some artful cellar under the Fields, which is one of his many secrets.”
Tulkinghorn keeps a valuable collection of port wine hidden in a cellar beneath Lincoln's Inn Fields, one of his many secrets.
Highlights Tulkinghorn's secretive nature.
“As if it whispered to him of its fifty years of silence and seclusion, it shuts him up the closer.”
The old wine seems to speak to him of its long quiet years, making him even more withdrawn.
Emphasizes Tulkinghorn's isolation and introspection.
“A female figure, closely veiled, stands in the middle of the room, where the light falls upon it. It is quite still and silent.”
A woman with a heavy veil stands motionless in the center of the room, illuminated by the light.
Introduces the mysterious veiled figure.
“I know the wale, and the bonnet, and the gownd.”
I recognize the veil, the bonnet, and the dress.
Jo identifies the figure by her clothing.