Montreal Dickens Fellowship Study Questions: “Bleak House”
April 6, 2021
Chapters 41 - 50
- Are you surprised by Mr. Jarndyce’s proposal to Esther? Do you think it was out of pity, benevolence or true love?
- The death of Jo is one of Dickens’s most famous scenes. Its melodrama and pathos match the death of Little Nell in “The Old Curiosity Shop”and that of Paul Dombey in “Dombey and Son”. What do you think of the religiosity in the scene? Comment on the narrator’s angry outburst.
- Are you shocked by Mr. Tulkinghorn’s murder? Do you think he deserved it? Up to this point the “good characters” seem to be suffering or in trouble. (E.g.: Esther, George, Richard and Ada, Miss Flight, etc.).Does the fact that this “bad guy” dies, give some relief to this very heavy story? Does Dickens give you clues as to who did it?
- Do you like Mr. Bucket? Is he sincere? Do you think his kind; friendly demeanor is just a ruse for giving his suspects a false sense of security. Compare him to modern day detectives like “Columbo”.
- Do you believe Richard should have married Ada. Was this inevitable?
- Does Esther love John Jarndyce or Mr. Woodcourt? Rate Dickens on his ability to portray romance. Do you think Esther should have accepted the proposal, given her feelings for, the doctor?
- Comment on Dickens’s portrayal of women in the novel thus far. Who represents the ideal woman? Esther? Mrs. Bagnet?