Bleak House · Chapter
Interlopers explained
The chapter describes the aftermath of Krook's death by spontaneous combustion, as the neighborhood reacts with excitement and the Smallweed family arrives to claim his property.
What happens
The chapter describes the aftermath of Krook's death by spontaneous combustion, as the neighborhood reacts with excitement and the Smallweed family arrives to claim his property. Mr. Guppy and Mr. Weevle recount their night at the Sol's Arms, while Mr. Snagsby is confronted by his suspicious wife. The Smallweeds, led by Grandfather Smallweed, assert their claim as next of kin, with Mr. Tulkinghorn's clerk overseeing the legal process.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption of the Legal System
The Smallweed family's aggressive claim to Krook's property and the involvement of Mr. Tulkinghorn's clerk highlight the legal system's focus on property and inheritance, often at the expense of justice.
Secrets and Identity
The mystery surrounding Krook's death and the hidden papers suggest secrets that may affect characters like Lady Dedlock and Esther.
Appearance vs. Reality
The public's excitement and the Sol's Arms' commercial exploitation of the tragedy contrast with the grim reality of Krook's death.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Guppy
Present at the Sol's Arms with Mr. Weevle, recounting the night's events and drinking heavily.
- Mr. Weevle
Lodger at Krook's house; spends the night at the Sol's Arms, exhausted and drinking.
- Mr. Snagsby
Arrives at the scene, distressed and questioned by his wife about the events.
- Mrs. Snagsby
Appears at the Sol's Arms, fixing Mr. Snagsby with an accusing eye and speaking bitterly.
- Mr. Smallweed
Arrives with his family to claim Krook's property as next of kin, behaving aggressively and demanding control.
- Judy Smallweed
Thrown by her grandfather at Mrs. Smallweed during his outburst.
Key passages
“Now do those two gentlemen not very neat about the cuffs and buttons who attended the last coroner’s inquest at the Sol’s Arms reappear in the precincts with surprising swiftness (being, in fact, breathlessly fetched by the active and intelligent beadle), and institute perquisitions through the court, and dive into the Sol’s parlour, and write with ravenous little pens on tissue-paper.”
The two shabby reporters from the previous inquest quickly return, summoned by the beadle, and begin investigating the court and writing notes in the Sol's Arms.
The reporters' swift arrival underscores the public and media frenzy surrounding Krook's death.
“Mr. Smallweed is at once permitted so far to assert his supremacy as to be carried on a visit of sentiment into the next house and upstairs into Miss Flite’s deserted room, where he looks like a hideous bird of prey newly added to her aviary.”
Mr. Smallweed is allowed to be carried into Miss Flite's empty room, where he resembles a predatory bird among her collection.
The simile emphasizes Smallweed's predatory nature and his intrusion into Miss Flite's space.