# Mr. Oakroyd Leaves Home explained — The Good Companions

> Chapter companion for The Good Companions by J. B. Priestley.

## What happens

Jess Oakroyd, a joiner at Higden's mill in Bruddersford, is sacked from his job. After a tense confrontation with his wife, who insists on taking in a lodger named Albert Tuggridge, and feeling alienated from his son Leonard, Jess discovers a newspaper report about a street robbery. He had earlier found four five-pound notes, and the chapter ends with him deciding to leave home, setting off on a journey.

## Themes in this chapter

### Escape and Transformation

Jess Oakroyd dreams of leaving his job and becoming an independent craftsman. His decision to leave home at the end of the chapter marks a literal escape from his oppressive domestic and work life.

### Social Class and Inequality

The chapter vividly portrays the struggles of a working-class man, the lack of job security, and the tension between Jess's desire for independence and the harsh economic realities of his life.

### Adventure and Self-Discovery

Jess's journey south, inspired by his friend Sam and his own dreams of travel, sets the stage for a new chapter in his life, full of uncertainty but also the promise of self-discovery.

## Character check-ins

### Jess Oakroyd

Jess is the protagonist of this chapter. He is sacked from Higden's mill, dreams of independence, and after a quarrel with his wife about taking in a lodger, he decides to leave home.

### Sam Oglethorpe

Sam is Jess's friend, an independent man who owns a hen-run and a joinery business. He and Jess talk in his henhouse, and Sam's independence inspires Jess's dreams.

### Mrs. Oakroyd

Jess's wife. She is practical and domineering, insisting on taking in lodger Albert Tuggridge after Jess loses his job, which leads to a heated argument.

### Eric Tipstead

Mentioned as Leonard's friend who works at Gregson's and helped Leonard get a job there.

### Mrs. Sugden

A neighbor who briefly speaks with Mrs. Oakroyd about their husbands' lateness.

## Key lines

> Deep in his heart was a sign about Joinery and Jobbing Work. The hoisting of that sign, proclaiming Jes. Oakroyd, the independent craftsman, to the world, was one of his constant dreams.

Jess secretly yearned to set up his own joinery business and be his own boss.

_This reveals Jess's deep desire for independence and self-employment._

> If Albert comes 'ere,' he said firmly, 'I go.'

Jess threatened to leave home if his wife insisted on taking in the lodger Albert.

_This ultimatum sets the stage for Jess's departure._

> He stared and stared at a report headed: 'Street Robbery. Local Sportsman's Loss.'

Jess was transfixed by a newspaper article about a robbery involving a local sportsman.

_This report likely connects to the four five-pound notes Jess found, hinting at a moral dilemma or a turning point._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_good_companions_se/chapters/i-mr-oakroyd-leaves-home
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_good_companions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_good_companions_se/chapters