Little Dorrit · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.
Arthur Clennam
major
Also known as Mr. Arthur Clennam, Clennam, Arthur
A melancholic gentleman returning from China, central to the mystery of the Clennam fortune.
Little Dorrit
major
Also known as Amy Dorrit, Amy, Miss Amy Dorrit
The gentle daughter born in the Marshalsea prison, whose kindness transforms those around her.
Mr. Pancks
supporting
Also known as Pancks, the snorting Pancks
A blunt, energetic rent-collector who uncovers the Dorrit family inheritance.
Fanny Dorrit
supporting
Also known as Fanny, Miss Fanny
Amy's proud and ambitious older sister, who becomes a dancer and later marries Sparkler.
Mr. Meagles
supporting
Also known as Meagles, honest Mr. Meagles
A warm-hearted retired businessman and father of Pet, who befriends Arthur Clennam.
Mrs. Meagles
minor
Also known as Mrs. Meagles
The kind and motherly wife of Mr. Meagles, devoted to her daughter Pet.
William Dorrit
major
Also known as Mr. Dorrit, the Father of the Marshalsea, Edward Dorrit
The proud, long-term inmate of the Marshalsea who becomes wealthy late in life.
Mr. Merdle
supporting
Also known as Merdle, the illustrious Merdle
A celebrated financier whose vast wealth and schemes drive the novel's financial plot.
Flora Casby
supporting
Also known as Flora, poor Flora
Arthur's former sweetheart, now a garrulous and sentimental widow.
Mr. Flintwinch
supporting
Also known as Flintwinch, Jeremiah Flintwinch
The sinister, twisted clerk of Mrs. Clennam, involved in family secrets.
Young John Chivery
supporting
Also known as John Chivery, Young John, Chivery
The lovelorn turnkey's son who adores Little Dorrit from afar.
Henry Gowan
supporting
Also known as Gowan, Mr. Henry Gowan
A charming but idle artist who marries Pet Meagles, causing family tension.
Mrs. Gowan
minor
Also known as the Dowager Mrs. Gowan
Henry's proud, aristocratic mother who disapproves of his marriage.
Affery Flintwinch
supporting
Also known as Affery, Mistress Affery
The frightened, dream-haunted wife of Jeremiah Flintwinch.
Mrs. Clennam
major
Also known as Mrs. Clennam
Arthur's stern, invalid mother who guards a dark family secret.
Daniel Doyce
supporting
Also known as Doyce, Daniel
A brilliant but overlooked inventor who becomes Arthur's business partner.
Mrs. Merdle
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Merdle
The cold, fashionable wife of Mr. Merdle, obsessed with social status.
Maggy
supporting
Also known as Maggy, the staring Maggy
A simple-minded young woman who adores Little Dorrit and calls her 'Little Mother'.
Mr. Plornish
minor
Also known as Plornish, the mild Plornish
A poor, good-natured plasterer living in Bleeding Heart Yard.
Mrs. Plornish
minor
Also known as Mrs. Plornish
The kind wife of Mr. Plornish, who helps Little Dorrit.
Edmund Sparkler
supporting
Also known as Sparkler, Mr. Sparkler, Edmund
A dim-witted but good-hearted young man who marries Fanny Dorrit.
Monsieur Rigaud
supporting
Also known as Rigaud, Blandois, Monsieur Blandois
A villainous, suave Frenchman who blackmails the Clennam household.
Frederick Dorrit
minor
Also known as Frederick, Mr. Frederick
William Dorrit's gentle, feeble-minded brother, a former musician.
Miss Wade
supporting
Also known as Miss Wade, Wade
A bitter, mysterious woman with a tragic past who influences Tattycoram.
Tattycoram
supporting
Also known as Tattycoram, Harriet
The fiery, adopted daughter of the Meagles family, struggling with her identity.
Pet Meagles
supporting
Also known as Pet, Minnie, Minnie Gowan
The beautiful, gentle daughter of the Meagles who marries Henry Gowan.
Mr. Chivery
minor
Also known as the elder Mr. Chivery
The turnkey of the Marshalsea, father of Young John.
Mrs. Chivery
minor
Also known as the prudent Mrs. Chivery
The practical wife of Mr. Chivery, who manages the family tobacco shop.
Signor Cavalletto
supporting
Also known as Cavalletto, John Baptist Cavalletto, John Baptist
A cheerful Italian escapee who becomes Arthur's loyal friend.
Mr. Casby
minor
Also known as Casby, Christopher Casby, the Patriarch
Flora's father, a seemingly benevolent but manipulative landlord.
Tip Dorrit
minor
Also known as Tip, Edward Dorrit
Amy's feckless, spendthrift brother who struggles to find work.
Ferdinand Barnacle
minor
Also known as Ferdinand, the engaging young Barnacle
A suave, cynical member of the Circumlocution Office.
Lord Decimus Tite Barnacle
minor
Also known as Lord Decimus, Tite Barnacle
The pompous head of the Barnacle family and the Circumlocution Office.
Mrs. General
supporting
Also known as Mrs. General
A prim, snobbish governess hired to polish the Dorrit daughters.
Old Nandy
minor
Also known as Old Mr. Nandy, Mr. Nandy
An elderly, poor inmate of the workhouse, father of Mrs. Plornish.
Mrs. Bangham
minor
Also known as Mrs. Bangham
A garrulous charwoman who assists at the Marshalsea prison.
Mrs. Finching
minor
Also known as Mrs. Finching, Flora
Flora's married name after her first husband; same as Flora Casby.
Monsieur Lagnier
minor
Also known as Lagnier
An alias used by Rigaud while in hiding.
Altro
minor
Also known as little Altro
A nickname for John Baptist Cavalletto, meaning 'another' in Italian.
Madame Rigaud
minor
Also known as Madame
Rigaud's deceased wife, mentioned in his backstory.
Mr. Tinkler
minor
Also known as Tinkler
A servant in the Meagles household.
Miss Rugg
minor
Also known as Miss Rugg
The daughter of Mr. Rugg, Pancks' landlord.
Mr. Rugg
minor
Also known as Rugg
A lawyer who assists Pancks in his investigations.
Physician
minor
Also known as Physician
A doctor attending the Merdle family and high society.
Mrs. Tickit
minor
Also known as the faithful Mrs. Tickit
The housekeeper at the Meagles' country home.
Bar
minor
Also known as Bar
A satirical personification of the legal profession in the Circumlocution Office.
Bob
minor
Also known as Dear Bob
A minor character, possibly a servant or acquaintance.
Mrs. Sparkler
minor
Also known as Mrs. Sparkler
Fanny Dorrit after her marriage to Edmund Sparkler.
Mr. F.
minor
Also known as the late Mr. F., poor Mr. F.
Flora's deceased first husband, often mentioned in her rambling speech.
Captain Maroon
minor
Also known as Captain Maroon of Gloucestershire
A friend of the Meagles family, briefly mentioned.
Mr. Cripples
minor
Also known as Master Cripples
A schoolmaster who teaches Tip Dorrit.
Mr. Wobbler
minor
Also known as Mr. Wobbler
A clerk in the Circumlocution Office.
Clarence Barnacle
minor
Also known as Clarence, poor little Clarence
A minor, ineffectual member of the Barnacle family.
John Barnacle
minor
Also known as John Barnacle
Another minor Barnacle family member.
William Barnacle
minor
Also known as William Barnacle
A Barnacle family member, possibly a clerk.
Barnacle Junior
minor
Also known as Junior
A young Barnacle working in the Circumlocution Office.
Young Barnacle
minor
Also known as Young Barnacle
A generic term for a younger Barnacle, possibly Ferdinand.
Mr. Tite Barnacle
minor
Also known as Mr. Tite Barnacle
A senior Barnacle at the Circumlocution Office.
Ephraim
minor
Also known as Ephraim
A minor character, possibly a servant or prisoner.
Sally
minor
Also known as Sally
A minor female character, possibly a servant.
George
minor
Also known as Uncle George
A minor relative or acquaintance mentioned in passing.
Mary Anne
minor
Also known as Mary
A minor servant or acquaintance.
Dirty Dick
minor
Also known as Dick
A minor character, possibly a prisoner or local figure.
Bawkins
minor
Also known as Bawkins
A minor character mentioned in the Marshalsea.
Signor Panco
minor
Also known as Panco
A minor Italian character, possibly a musician.
Captain Martin
minor
Also known as Captain Martin
A minor military acquaintance.
Mr. Eustace
minor
Also known as the celebrated Mr. Eustace
A minor character, possibly a writer or traveler.
Dr. Buchan
minor
Also known as Buchan
A physician mentioned in the novel.
Old Christopher Casby
minor
Also known as old Christopher Casby
Another reference to Mr. Casby, the patriarch.
Gilbert Clennam
minor
Also known as Monsieur Gilbert Clennam, old Mr. Gilbert Clennam
Arthur's deceased uncle, whose will is a source of mystery.
Cornish Clennam
minor
Also known as Cornish Clennam
A branch of the Clennam family from Cornwall.
Brother Bellows
minor
Also known as Brother
A minor character in the Bleeding Heart Yard community.
The Collegians
minor
Also known as Collegians
The collective term for prisoners in the Marshalsea.
The Bleeding Hearts
minor
Also known as Bleeding Hearts
The residents of Bleeding Heart Yard.
