# Book II: Riches explained — Little Dorrit

> Chapter companion for Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

## What happens

The Dorrit family, now wealthy, travels abroad and navigates the complexities of their new social status, while Arthur Clennam remains in London dealing with his own affairs and the lingering mysteries of the past.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wealth and Moral Decline

The Dorrit family's new riches expose their moral vulnerabilities, as they struggle with pride, social climbing, and the loss of their former humility.

### Identity and Social Mobility

The chapter explores how the Dorrits' identities are reshaped by their sudden elevation in social class, highlighting the tension between their past and present selves.

## Character check-ins

### Little Dorrit

Amy Dorrit adjusts to her family's newfound wealth and the social expectations that come with it, maintaining her humble and caring nature.

### William Dorrit

Now released from the Marshalsea, William Dorrit embraces his role as a wealthy gentleman, though his past imprisonment continues to shape his behavior and anxieties.

### Arthur Clennam

Arthur remains in London, grappling with his feelings for Little Dorrit and the ongoing mysteries surrounding the Clennam family.

### Fanny Dorrit

Fanny revels in the social opportunities afforded by the family's wealth, displaying a haughty and ambitious demeanor.

### Mr. Pancks

Pancks, who discovered the Dorrit fortune, continues to interact with the family and Arthur, serving as a link between their past and present.

## Key lines

> The family's new wealth brought them to the continent, where they sought to forget the shadow of the Marshalsea.

The Dorrits traveled abroad to escape the stigma of their former imprisonment.

_This paraphrase captures the family's attempt to distance themselves from their past._

> Little Dorrit, ever the same, remained a quiet observer amidst the glittering scenes of their new life.

Amy Dorrit stayed true to her character, watching silently as her family embraced their new lifestyle.

_Highlights Little Dorrit's constancy in the face of change._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/book-ii-riches
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_dorrit_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters