Bleak House · Chapter
A Struggle explained
Esther returns to Bleak House fully recovered and resumes her duties with renewed vigor.
What happens
Esther returns to Bleak House fully recovered and resumes her duties with renewed vigor. She visits Caddy Jellyby in London, who is now married to Prince Turveydrop and working hard to learn the dancing trade to assist her husband. Esther then calls on Mr. Guppy to formally and finally reject his romantic proposal, putting an end to any hopes he might have entertained.
Themes in this chapter
Family and Loyalty
Caddy's dedication to her husband Prince and her industrious efforts to support him reflect themes of familial duty and sacrifice.
Social Class and Inequality
The humble circumstances of the dancing apprentices and the contrast between old Mr. Turveydrop's comfort and the young couple's cramped quarters illustrate class disparities.
Characters to notice
- Esther Summerson
Returns to Bleak House fully recovered, resumes housekeeping duties, and visits London to settle matters with Mr. Guppy.
- Caddy Jellyby
Now married to Prince Turveydrop, she is learning the dancing trade to assist her husband and manages the household and apprentices.
- Mr. Guppy
Esther visits him to formally reject his proposal; he is flustered and seeks her admission that the declaration was final.
- Prince Turveydrop
Caddy's husband, a dancing-master who teaches apprentices and plays the piano for lessons.
- Old Mr. Turveydrop
Caddy's father-in-law, who is in bed and has his chocolate prepared by Caddy; he lives comfortably at their expense.
- Mrs. Guppy
Mr. Guppy's mother, who is highly amused by Esther's visit and silently communicates her delight to Caddy.
Key passages
“Once more, duty, duty, Esther," said I; "and if you are not overjoyed to do it, more than cheerfully and contentedly, through anything and everything, you ought to be.”
Esther reminds herself to embrace her responsibilities with joy and contentment, no matter the difficulty.
Esther's internal resolve to approach her duties cheerfully.
“I conscientiously believed, dancing-master's wife though she was, and dancing-mistress though in her limited ambition she aspired to be, she had struck out a natural, wholesome, loving course of industry and perseverance that was quite as good as a mission.”
Esther sincerely felt that Caddy's hard work and dedication to her trade were as virtuous as any noble calling.
Esther's validation of Caddy's industrious life as morally worthwhile.