Little Dorrit · Chapter
Mrs. General explained
This chapter introduces Mrs.
What happens
This chapter introduces Mrs. General, a highly proper and dignified lady hired by Mr. Dorrit to complete the education of his daughters and serve as their chaperon. Her background as the daughter of a clerical dignitary and widow of a commissary officer is detailed, along with her peculiar method of 'forming the mind' by suppressing opinions and varnishing over unpleasant realities. Mr. Dorrit, having recently inherited wealth, engages her services through his bankers, agreeing to pay her four hundred pounds a year for her role as a companion and mentor.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Hypocrisy
Mrs. General's insistence on perfect equality and her high fees highlight the class pretensions and hypocrisy of the newly wealthy Dorrits.
Wealth and Moral Decline
Mr. Dorrit's willingness to pay a high price for Mrs. General's services reflects the moral compromises and superficiality that accompany his new wealth.
Identity and Social Mobility
Mrs. General's role in 'forming the mind' of the Dorrit daughters underscores the performative nature of social climbing and the construction of a genteel identity.
Characters to notice
- William Dorrit
Recently succeeded to his property, Mr. Dorrit seeks a lady to complete his daughters' education and act as their matron. He hires Mrs. General after consulting his bankers.
- Mrs. General
A dignified, proper lady with no opinions of her own, who varnishes over unpleasantness. She is hired by Mr. Dorrit to form the minds and manners of his daughters.
- Fanny Dorrit
One of Mr. Dorrit's two daughters, for whom Mrs. General is hired to complete her education and serve as chaperon.
Key passages
“Mrs. General had no opinions. Her way of forming a mind was to prevent it from forming opinions.”
Mrs. General believed that education meant suppressing independent thought.
Highlights the satirical critique of Victorian education and propriety.
“Even her propriety could not dispute that there was impropriety in the world; but Mrs. General's way of getting rid of it was to put it out of sight, and make believe that there was no such thing.”
Mrs. General dealt with unpleasantness by ignoring it and pretending it didn't exist.
Illustrates her method of varnishing over reality.