# Paul's Progress and Christening explained — Dombey and Son > Chapter companion for Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens. ## What happens Little Paul Dombey grows stronger under the devoted care of Miss Tox, who is recognized by Mr. Dombey for her efforts. Mr. Dombey decides to honor Miss Tox by making her Paul's godmother at his christening. During the christening ceremony, Paul cries throughout, and the event is marked by coldness and formality. Afterward, a cold collation is served, and gifts are exchanged. Florence, neglected by her father, seeks comfort by lying beside her brother. ## Themes in this chapter ### Family and Neglect Florence is neglected by her father and dismissed by her aunt, who declares she will never be a Dombey, highlighting the theme of familial neglect. ### Social Class and Hierarchy Mr. Dombey's condescension toward Miss Tox and his emphasis on position and dignity underscore the rigid social hierarchy. ### Pride and Ambition Mr. Dombey's pride in his son and his formal, arrogant demeanor during the christening reflect his obsession with the Dombey name and legacy. ## Character check-ins ### Paul Dombey Little Paul grows stouter and stronger daily, cherished by Miss Tox and the focus of the christening ceremony. ### Mr. Dombey Mr. Dombey remains impassive and formal during the christening, showing condescension toward Miss Tox and coldness toward Florence. ### Miss Tox Miss Tox is devoted to Paul, assists in his care, and is made his godmother; she receives a bracelet from Mr. Dombey. ### Florence Dombey Florence is awake and tearful during the evening, seeking to lie by her brother, but is largely unnoticed by the adults. ### Mrs. Chick Mrs. Chick discusses Florence's lack of Dombey nature with Miss Tox and participates in the christening arrangements. ### Susan Nipper Susan Nipper shows her disgust at Mrs. Chick and Miss Tox's presence by making wry faces behind the door. ## Key lines > Little Paul, suffering no contamination from the blood of the Toodles, grew stouter and stronger every day. Little Paul thrived and became healthier, unaffected by the common lineage of his wet nurse Polly Toodle. _Highlights Mr. Dombey's class prejudice and the theme of social hierarchy._ > Florence will never, never, never be a Dombey, not if she lives to be a thousand years old. Florence will never embody the Dombey family traits, no matter how long she lives. _Emphasizes Florence's exclusion from the Dombey identity and the theme of family neglect._ > Mr. Dombey alone remained unmoved. He might have been hung up for sale at a Russian fair as a specimen of a frozen gentleman. Mr. Dombey stayed cold and impassive, as if he were a frozen exhibit at a market. _Illustrates Mr. Dombey's emotional coldness and rigidity._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/v-paul-s-progress-and-christening - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dombey_and_son_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters