Little Dorrit · Chapter
Nobody's Disappearance explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Meagles makes repeated efforts to recover Tattycoram after her disappearance, including letters, a personal visit from Mrs. Meagles, and a request for Arthur Clennam's help, all of which fail. He publishes an advertisement that attracts numerous impostors and beggars. Eventually, the Meagles family reluctantly gives up hope. Arthur visits the Meagles cottage, where he walks by the river, releases a handful of roses into the water, and has an emotional conversation with Pet (Minnie Gowan), who asks him to comfort her father after her marriage. Arthur resigns his own romantic hopes and promises to support Mr. Meagles.
Themes in this chapter
Self-Sacrifice and Devotion
Arthur Clennam's quiet resignation of his romantic hopes for Pet and his promise to support Mr. Meagles exemplify selfless devotion.
Family Dynamics and Obligation
Pet's deep love for her family and her anxiety about leaving them, as well as Mr. Meagles's persistent efforts to recover Tattycoram, highlight familial bonds and obligations.
Secrecy and Revelation
The disappearance of Tattycoram and Miss Wade, and the unanswered letters, underscore the theme of hidden motives and unrevealed truths.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Meagles
Persistently tries to recover Tattycoram through letters, a personal visit by his wife, and an advertisement, but is ultimately forced to give up.
- Mrs. Meagles
Attempts a personal interview with Tattycoram but is denied admission.
- Arthur Clennam
Tries once more to find Tattycoram at Miss Wade's house, but finds it empty. Later visits the Meagles cottage, walks by the river, and has a poignant conversation with Pet, resigning his romantic hopes.
- Pet Meagles
Now married as Minnie Gowan, she has an emotional conversation with Arthur, asking him to comfort her father after her departure, and expresses her love for her family.
- Tattycoram
Has disappeared with Miss Wade; all attempts to contact or recover her fail, and she is given up as irrecoverable.
- Miss Wade
Has left the empty house with Tattycoram and the furniture, refusing all communication.
Key passages
“Unwilling, even under this discomfiture, to resign the ingrate and leave her hopeless, in case of her better dispositions obtaining the mastery over the darker side of her character, Mr. Meagles, for six successive days, published a discreetly covert advertisement in the morning papers...”
Despite his failure, Mr. Meagles did not want to abandon Tattycoram entirely, hoping her better nature might prevail, so he placed a discreet advertisement in the papers for six days.
Shows Mr. Meagles's persistent hope and compassion for Tattycoram despite her ingratitude.
“At that time, it seemed to him, he first finally resigned the dying hope that had flickered in nobody’s heart so much to its pain and trouble; and from that time he became in his own eyes, as to any similar hope or prospect, a very much older man who had done with that part of life.”
In that moment, Arthur finally let go of the faint romantic hope that had caused him so much pain, and from then on he felt much older and finished with such aspirations.
Captures Arthur's emotional resignation and the end of his romantic feelings for Pet.
“He put the roses in his breast and they walked on for a little while, slowly and silently, under the umbrageous trees.”
He placed the roses inside his coat, and they continued walking slowly and quietly beneath the shady trees.
Symbolic gesture of Arthur holding onto the roses, representing his lost hopes.