Captain Cuttle Does a Little Business for the Young People explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Family and Neglect

  Walter's concern for his uncle Solomon Gills and his reluctance to leave him highlights the theme of family bonds and self-denial.

• Wealth and Morality

  Captain Cuttle's attempts to secure Walter's fortunes through connections with Mr. Dombey and Mr. Carker reflect the intersection of wealth, morality, and social maneuvering.

Characters to notice

• Captain Cuttle

  Visits Mr. Dombey's house but retreats upon hearing of the calamity; later goes to the Dombey office to speak with Mr. Carker about Walter's prospects, feeling he has done business for the young people.

• Walter Gay

  Returns from his long walk and relates his experiences; feigns hope and ardour about his voyage to the West Indies to reassure his uncle.

• Solomon Gills

  Initially stunned and distressed by the news of Walter's voyage, but is gradually reconciled by Captain Cuttle and Walter's assurances.

• Mr. Carker

  Receives Captain Cuttle at the Dombey office; listens to the Captain's hints about Walter's prospects with a sly and watchful manner.

• Towlinson

  Mentioned as the servant who informs Captain Cuttle of the impending calamity at Mr. Dombey's house.

• Perch

  The messenger at the Dombey office; Captain Cuttle invites him for a glass of rum-and-water and toasts Walter.

Key passages

• “Captain Cuttle, in the exercise of that surprising talent for deep-laid and unfathomable scheming, with which (as is not unusual in men of transparent simplicity) he sincerely believed himself to be endowed by nature, had gone to Mr. Dombey’s house on the eventful Sunday, winking all the way as a vent for his superfluous sagacity”

  Captain Cuttle, who naively thinks he is a master of cunning plots, went to Mr. Dombey's house on that fateful Sunday, winking to himself as if to release his excess cleverness.

  Highlights the Captain's self-deception and comic belief in his own shrewdness.

• “So, when an avalanche bears down a mountain-forest, twigs and bushes suffer with the trees, and all perish together.”

  Just as an avalanche destroys everything in its path, both great and small, so too did the catastrophe crush the Captain's small scheme along with larger hopes.

  Metaphor illustrating how minor plans are destroyed alongside major ones in a disaster.

• “One fact was quite clear to the Captain, as Walter, sitting thoughtfully over his untasted dinner, dwelt on all that had happened; namely, that however Walter’s modesty might stand in the way of his perceiving it himself, he was, as one might say, a member of Mr. Dombey’s family.”

  The Captain concluded that Walter was practically part of Mr. Dombey's household, even if Walter's humility prevented him from seeing it.

  Shows the Captain's optimistic interpretation of Walter's connection to Mr. Dombey.

• “But I’m behind the time, you understand,” he observed in apology, passing his hand nervously down the whole row of bright buttons on his coat, and then up again, as if they were beads and he were telling them twice over: “and I would rather have my dear boy here.”

  Solomon Gills apologized for being old-fashioned, nervously fidgeting with his coat buttons, and admitted he would prefer to keep Walter at home.

  Reveals Solomon's anxiety and reluctance to let Walter go, despite the apparent opportunity.

• “In whose sly look and watchful manner; in whose false mouth, stretched but not laughing; in whose spotless cravat and very whiskers; even in whose silent passing of his soft hand over his white linen and his smooth face; there was something desperately catlike.”

  Mr. Carker's sly, watchful expression, his insincere smile, his immaculate appearance, and his silent, smooth gestures all gave him a distinctly feline quality.

  Describes Mr. Carker's predatory and deceitful nature through cat imagery.