Bleak House · Chapter
Attorney and Client explained
Richard Carstone, now represented by Mr.
What happens
Richard Carstone, now represented by Mr. Vholes, expresses his growing resentment towards John Jarndyce, whom he sees as the embodiment of the Chancery suit. Vholes, a respectable but parasitic lawyer, encourages Richard's suspicions while professing his own disinterest. Meanwhile, Mr. Guppy and Mr. Weevle visit Krook's former premises, now ransacked by the Smallweed family in search of hidden treasures, amid the court's gossip and speculation.
Themes in this chapter
Corruption of the Legal System
Vholes embodies the law's principle of making business for itself, exploiting Richard's hopes while draining his resources, as seen in his manipulative counsel and the chapter's commentary on legal respectability.
Bureaucracy and Dehumanization
The legal process reduces Richard to a client consumed by suspicion and anger, while Vholes's mechanical, unblinking demeanor and the decaying office symbolize the dehumanizing effect of Chancery.
Secrets and Identity
The search for Krook's hidden papers and Guppy's veiled references to Lady Dedlock's secret underscore the theme of concealed identities and the power of hidden documents.
Characters to notice
- Richard Carstone
Richard, now a client of Mr. Vholes, vents his anger against John Jarndyce, accusing him of embodying the Chancery suit and causing his suffering.
- Mr. Vholes
Vholes, the respectable attorney with impaired digestion, manipulates Richard's distrust of Jarndyce while professing his own professional duty and disinterest.
- Mr. Guppy
Guppy accompanies Mr. Weevle to Krook's house, delivering a self-important speech about destroying any papers that might implicate him.
- Mr. Weevle
Weevle, the late lodger, returns to Krook's premises with Guppy to retrieve his property, amid the court's intense curiosity.
- Mr. Smallweed
The elder Smallweed, along with Judy and Mrs. Smallweed, is shown ransacking Krook's shop for hidden valuables, blackened with dust and dirt.
- Judy Smallweed
Judy assists her grandfather in digging through Krook's wastepaper, described as a 'female sexton' in the grimy search.
Key passages
“The one great principle of the English law is to make business for itself.”
The single most important rule of English law is to create work for lawyers.
This line encapsulates the chapter's critique of the legal system's self-serving nature.
“Mr. Vholes is a very respectable man. He has not a large business, but he is a very respectable man.”
Mr. Vholes is highly esteemed despite his modest practice, his respectability being a key trait.
Dickens ironically emphasizes Vholes's respectability as a mask for his parasitic role in the legal system.
“I never disparage, sir. I never disparage.”
I never speak ill of anyone, sir. I never speak ill.
Vholes's repeated denial of disparagement contrasts with his subtle undermining of Jarndyce's character.