Roman dombey and son. Trading house Dombey and Son. Charles Dickens. Dombey and son

The book, the full title of which is Dombey and Son Trading House. Wholesale, retail and export trade" was written in 1848. According to critics, this work is considered one of the most mature novels of the writer, despite the fact that his most mature works were written in a later period of creativity. In general, both critics and readers accepted the novel favorably, finding it quite witty and at the same time denouncing many of the vices and injustices of contemporary English society for Dickens.

The action takes place in the capital of Great Britain in the middle of the 19th century. In the life of Mr. Dombey the most joyful and significant event took place: he had an heir. Mr. Dombey is the owner of a large firm, which should now be called Dombey and Son. The happy father already has a child, daughter Florence, but he needed a son to continue the family line and transfer the family business.

The happy event was overshadowed by the death of Mrs. Dombey, who died of postpartum complications. The widower takes into the house the wet nurse Paulie Toodle. The woman believes that the father is acting unfairly, paying attention to the newborn heir and forgetting about his daughter. The nurse persuades the owner to allow the girl to spend as much time as possible with her brother. As a sign of special favor, Dombey offers Paulie to take care of her son and educate him.

One day, the nurse, along with the governess Susie, Florence and Paul (as Mr. Dombey called his son) went to the city slums, where Paulie was from. The nurse was homesick and decided to visit her family. During the walk, Florence got lost. It was with great difficulty that she was found. Mr. Dombey is furious that the servants took his children to an inappropriate place and fires Paulie.

The heir grows sickly, which causes fear for his health. Florence and Paul are sent by the sea to Mrs. Pipchin's children's boarding school. A few years later, the sister is left in the boarding house, and the brother is sent to the school of Mr. Blimber. The boy cannot cope with the load at school and becomes even weaker and more sickly. Paul has practically no friends. He does not see his sister very often, which makes him very sad. After the end of half a year, Paul goes home, where he becomes even worse. In the end, the boy dies.

The Misadventures of Mr. Dombey
Mr Dombey has found himself a new wife. The woman's name is Edith. A trusting and warm relationship is established between the stepmother and stepdaughter. The new mistress behaves arrogantly with almost everyone in the house, which her husband does not like very much. Gradually, hostility arises between the spouses. Edith leaves home with another man. Florence tries to console her father. Mr. Dombey hit his daughter, suspecting her of complicity with her stepmother. The girl also leaves the house.

Walter returned despite the fact that everyone thought he was dead. Florence becomes his bride. Soon a modest wedding took place, which was attended by a few close relatives of the bride and groom. Mr Dombey is ruined. Sitting alone in an empty house, the former rich man remembers his daughter. All these years Florence was with him, looking for his love, and he turned out to be so ungrateful towards her. Mr Dombey is about to commit suicide. Shortly before he tried to commit suicide, Florence entered the room, which saved the unfortunate man. Mr. Dombey meets his old age next to his daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren.

Character characteristics

A wealthy English entrepreneur lives by calculation. Business is one of the few pleasures in his life. The family business should not disappear after his death or go to someone else's family. That is why the rich man dreams of an heir, looking at his daughter through his fingers.

Money and position in society prevent Mr. Dombey from seeing people and soberly assessing reality. The birth of a son cost him the loss of his wife. However, this does not bother the millionaire. He got what he wanted. Little Paul does not show any hope, growing up too weak. It is unlikely that he can be trusted with the family business. But the father will not beg. He had waited too long for an heir to abandon his plans.

After the death of the boy, Mr. Dombey realizes that his project has collapsed overnight. He mourns not so much for his son, but for his unfulfilled hopes. The death of Paul did not help the millionaire understand that not everything in this world is subject to him. Only the loss of property and position in society make Mr. Dombey rethink his life. The rest of the time he will have to spend near his daughter, whom he never put in anything.

At the age of six, Florence lost her mother, leaving behind a child. The girl loves her little brother. There is never any rivalry between Mr. Dombey's children. The obvious preference that the father gives to his son does not cause jealousy in the heart of the girl.

Despite the fact that in the life of Florence there are still people who love and love her, she is very lonely and rarely feels truly happy. When Paul dies and Walter leaves, Florence becomes even more miserable. She wants to get her father's attention with all her might. But Mr. Dombey is too upset by the frustrated plans to pay attention to his daughter, who was indifferent to him before.

Florence is alien to the whims and selfishness inherent in the children of wealthy parents. She does not need expensive toys and beautiful clothes, she is not arrogant towards the servants. All Florence wants is a little love and attention, which she has been deprived of since childhood. A generous girl forgives her father when he lost everything he had and was left alone with his conscience. In a sense, Florence is even glad that she will no longer share her father with his business.

Analysis of the work

Dickens will repeatedly return to the theme of poverty and luxury in his works. The author is not indifferent to the fact that some live in comfort and prosperity, can afford to teach their children and give them all the best. Others are forced to leave their families to work for the comfort of others. This unjustified injustice seems to Dickens disgusting.

However, do not envy prosperity. The author invites the reader to look into a rich house. The life of a millionaire and his family looks prosperous only at first glance. Both the wife and children of the rich man most often do not have what it is impossible to buy for any money. The cold atmosphere of indifference and calculation makes the existence of the inhabitants of the "golden cage" unbearable and meaningless.

Charles Dickens
Dombey and son
Preface to the first edition
Preface to the second edition
Chapter I. Dombey and Son
CHAPTER II - In which measures are promptly taken in case of an unexpected confluence of circumstances that sometimes arise in the most prosperous families
Chapter III - In which Mr. Dombey is shown as a man and a father at the head of his household department
CHAPTER IV In which new faces appear for the first time on the stage where events are unfolding
Chapter V
Chapter VI. The second loss of the Field
Chapter VII. A bird's eye view of Miss Tox's residence, as well as Miss Tox's cordial affections
Chapter VIII. Further development, growth and character of the Field
Chapter IX In which the Wooden Midshipman gets into trouble
Chapter X, Concerning the Consequences of Midshipman's Disasters
Chapter XI. Paul's performance on the new stage
Chapter XII. Field education
Chapter XIII. Information about the merchant fleet and business in the office
Chapter XIV. Paul becomes more and more eccentric and goes home for the holidays.
Chapter XV. The marvelous ingenuity of Captain Cuttle and the new preoccupations of Walter Gay
Chapter XVI. What the waves were talking about all the time
Chapter XVII. Captain Katl manages to arrange something for young people
Chapter XVIII. Father and daughter
Chapter XIX. Walter is leaving
Chapter XX. Mr Dombey takes the trip
Chapter XXI. New faces
Chapter XXII. Something about the activities of Mr. Carker the manager
Chapter XXIII. Florence is lonely and Midshipman is mysterious
Chapter XXIV. Loving heart care
Chapter XXV. Strange news about Uncle Sol
Chapter XXVI. Shadows of the past and future
Chapter XXVII. The shadows are deepening
Chapter XXVIII. change
Chapter XXIX. Mrs Chick's epiphany
Chapter XXX. Before the wedding
Chapter XXXI. Wedding
Chapter XXXII. The wooden Midshipman is shattered
Chapter XXXIII. contrasts
Chapter XXXIV. Other mother and daughter
Chapter XXXV. happy couple
Chapter XXXVI. Housewarming
Chapter XXXVII. A few caveats
Chapter XXXVIII. Miss Tox renews an old acquaintance
Chapter XXXIX. The Further Adventures of Captain Eduard Katl, Sailor
Chapter XL. Family relationships
Chapter XLI. New voices in the waves
Chapter XLII - Concerning the Conversation of Confidence and the Accident
Chapter XLIII. Vigil in the night
Chapter XLIV. Parting
Chapter XLV. Confidant
Chapter XLVI. Identification and reflection
Chapter XLVII. thunder struck
Chapter XLVIII. Flight of Florence
Chapter XLIX. Midshipman makes a discovery
Chapter L. Mr. Toots' Lamentations
Chapter L.I. Mr Dombey and high society
Chapter II. Secret information
Chapter LIII. New information
Chapter LIV. Runaways
Chapter LV. Rob the Grinder loses his job
Chapter VI. Many are happy, but the Fighting Rooster is outraged
Chapter LVII. Another wedding
Chapter LVIII. Some time later
Chapter LIX. Retribution
Chapter LX. Mostly about weddings
Chapter LXI. She succumbs
Chapter LXII. Final

Part one

Chapter I. Dombey and Son

Dombey sat in a corner of the closed room in a large armchair by the side of the bed, while his son, warmly bundled up, lay in a wicker basket, carefully placed on the sofa, near the fireplace, in front of the fire.

Dombey father was about forty-eight; son - about forty-eight minutes. Dombey was a little bald, a little red; the man was generally very stately and handsome, though too stern and stately. The son was completely bald, completely red, a child, nothing to say, charming and cute, although a little flattened and with spots on his body. Time and his sister Care, those merciless twins indiscriminately devastating their human domains, had already laid some fatal notes on Dombey's brow, as on a tree destined for felling; the son's face was distorted by many small folds, but the treacherous time, with the blunt side of its walking scythe, was preparing to level and smooth a new field for itself, in order to subsequently make deep furrows across it.

Dombey, in the fullness of his soul, tinkled smugly at his gold watch-chain, which hung from under a blue tailcoat, the buttons of which, in the faint rays of a kindled fire, glowed with a kind of phosphorescent brilliance. The son was lying in his cradle with his small fists raised, as if challenging the arbitrary fate that had given him an unexpected event.

Our house from now on, Mrs. Dombey, - said Mr. Dombey, - not only in name, but in fact will be again: Dombey and Son, Dombey and Son!

And these words had such a soothing effect on the mother, that Mr. Dombey, contrary to his custom, became touchingly tender, and decided, though not without some hesitation, to add a tender word to his wife's name: "

A fleeting blush of faint amazement ran over the pale face of a sick woman, unaccustomed to conjugal tenderness. She timidly raised her eyes to her husband.

We'll call him Paul, my dear... Mrs. Dombey, won't we?

The sick woman moved her lips in agreement and closed her eyes again.

That is the name of his father and grandfather,” continued Mr. Dombey. - Oh, if grandfather lived to see this day!

Here he paused a little, and then repeated again: "Dommby and Son!"

These three words expressed the idea of Mr. Dombey's whole life. The earth was created for the trading operations of Dombey and Son. The sun and moon are meant to illuminate their deeds. Seas and rivers are commanded to carry their ships. The rainbow undertook to serve as a messenger of fine weather. The stars and planets move in their orbits solely in order to keep the system in good order, the center of which was: Dombey and Son. The usual abbreviations in English took on a special meaning in his eyes, expressing a direct relation to the trading house of Dombey and Son. A. D. instead of Anno Domini (From the Nativity of Christ. Note ed.), Mr. Dombey read Anno Dombey and Son.

As his father had risen from Son to Dombey on the path of life and death, so he was now the sole representative of the firm. For ten years now he has been married; his wife, as they said, did not bring a virgin heart as a dowry: the happiness of the poor woman lay in the past, and, getting married, she hoped to calm her torn soul by the meek and uncomplaining performance of severe duties. However, this rumor never reached the ears of the self-satisfied husband, and, if it did, Mr. Dombey would never have believed in the wild and insolent gossip. Dombey and Son often traded in leather; but women's hearts have never entered into their commercial considerations. This fantastic merchandise they left to boys and girls, boarding houses and books. Concerning married life, Mr. Dombey's notions were of this kind: every decent and prudent woman should consider it her greatest honor to be married to such a person as he, a representative of a famous firm. The hope of bringing into the world a new member for such a house should arouse the ambition of every woman, if there is any ambition in her. Mrs. Dombey, concluding the marriage contract, fully understood all these advantages, and then every day in fact could see her high position in society. She always sat at the table in the first place and behaved like a noble lady. So Mrs. Dombey is perfectly happy. It cannot be otherwise.

But, reasoning in this way, Mr. Dombey willingly agreed that another very important condition was required for the completeness of family happiness. For ten years now his married life had been going on; but up to the present day, when Mr. Dombey sat majestically by the side of the bed in a large chair, rattling his heavy gold chain, the tall couple had no children.

That is, it’s not that they didn’t have it at all: they have a child, but it’s not worth even mentioning it. This is a little girl of about six years old, who stood invisible in the room, timidly huddled in a corner, from where she gazed intently at her mother's face. But what is a girl to Dombey and Son? an insignificant coin in the huge capital of a trading house, a coin that cannot be put into circulation, and nothing more.

However, this time Mr. Dombey's cup of pleasure was already too full, and he felt that he could take two or three drops from it to sprinkle the dust on his little daughter's path.

Come here, Florence, - said Fr. uh, - and look at your brother if you want, but just don't touch him.

The girl quickly glanced at her father's blue tailcoat and white stand-up tie, but without saying a word, without making any movement, she again fixed her eyes on her mother's pale face.

At that moment the patient opened her eyes and looked at her daughter. The child instantly rushed towards her and, standing on tiptoe to better hide his face in her arms, clung to her with such a desperate expression of love, which could not be expected from this age.

Ahh, Lord! said Mr. Dombey, rising hastily from his chair. - What a stupid childish trick! I'll go better, I'll call Dr. Peps. I'll go, I'll go. - Then, stopping at the sofa, he added: - I don't need to ask you, m-s ...

Blockkit, sir, - prompted the nanny, a sweet, smiling figure.

So I don't need to ask you, Mrs. Blockkit, to take special care of this young gentleman.

Of course not, sir. I remember when Miss Florence was born...

Ta, ta, ta, said Mr. Dombey, knitting his brows, and bending over the cradle. “Miss Florence is quite another matter; everything was fine when Florence was born. But this young gentleman is called to a high office: isn't he, my little comrade?

With these words, Mr. Dombey raised to his lips and kissed the hand of the little comrade; but then, apparently afraid that such an act was inconsistent with his dignity, rather awkwardly walked away.

Dr. Parker Peps, the famous court obstetrician, a constant witness to the growth of noble families, walked up and down the drawing room, with his hands folded back, to the inexpressible pleasure of the house doctor, who in the last six weeks blew his trumpet to all his patients, friends and acquaintances, see if Mrs. Dombey is relieved of her burden, and he, on this occasion, will be invited along with Dr. Parker Peps.

Well, sir, - said Peps in a sonorous, bass voice, - did your kind lady get any better in your presence?

Did she cheer up? added the house doctor, and at the same time leaned over to the famous obstetrician, as if he wanted to say: "Excuse me for interfering in the conversation, but this case is important."

Mr. Dombey is utterly bewildered by such questions! He hardly thought about the patient at all and now did not know what to answer. Coming to his senses, he said that Dr. Peps would give him great pleasure if he bothered to go upstairs.

Ah, my God! said Parker Peps. “We can no longer conceal from you that Her Ladyship the Duchess—I beg your pardon, I mix names—I wanted to say that your kind lady feels excessive weakness and there is a general lack of elasticity in her whole body, and this is such a sign that we …

We wouldn’t want to see,” the house doctor interrupted, bowing his head respectfully.

Exactly so, - said Parker Peps, - we would not like to see this sign. It appears to be Lady Canckebey's organism—excuse me, I meant to say Mrs. Dombey's organism—but I always mix up the names of patients.

Still, with such a huge practice! muttered the house doctor. - It is wise not to mix here. Dr. Parker Peps is famous, great ...

Dombey sat in a corner of the darkened room in a large armchair by the bed, while the Son lay warmly wrapped in a wicker cradle, carefully placed on a low couch in front of the fireplace and close to him, as if by nature he was like a muffin and should be well browned, as long as it's just baked.

Dombey was about forty-eight years old. Son about forty-eight minutes. Dombey was bald, reddish, and although a handsome, well-built man, he had a look too severe and pompous to be endearing. The son was very bald and very red, and although he was (of course) a lovely baby, he seemed slightly wrinkled and spotted. Time and his sister Care left some marks on Dombey's brow, as on a tree that must be cut down in due time - pitiless are these twins, who walk among mortals in their forests, making notches in passing - while the face of the Son was cut down and across a thousand wrinkles, which the same treacherous Time will gladly erase and smooth with the blunt edge of its braid, preparing the surface for its deeper operations.

Dombey, rejoicing at the long-awaited event, tinkled a massive gold watch chain, visible from under his immaculate blue coat, on which buttons gleamed phosphorically in the dim rays falling from afar from the fireplace. The son clenched his fists, as if threatening life to the extent of his weak forces for the fact that she overtook him so unexpectedly.

“Mrs. Dombey,” said Mr. Dombey, “the firm will be again, not only in name, but in fact Dombey and Son. Dombey and Son!

These words had such a soothing effect that he added an endearing epithet to Mrs Dombey's name (though not without hesitation, for he was not accustomed to such a form of address), and said: "Mrs Dombey, my ... my dear."

A momentary flush of mild surprise filled the sick lady's face as she looked up at him.

“At baptism, of course, he will be given the name Paul, my… Mrs. Dombey.

She said weakly, "Of course," or rather she whispered the word, barely moving her lips, and closed her eyes again.

“The name of his father, Mrs. Dombey, and his grandfather!” I wish his grandfather lived to see this day!

And again he repeated "Dombey and Son" in exactly the same tone as before.

These three words contained the meaning of Mr. Dombey's whole life. The earth was made for Dombey and the Son to do business on it, and the sun and moon were made to shine their light on them... The rivers and seas were made for the navigation of their ships; the rainbow promised them good weather; the wind favored or opposed their enterprises; stars and planets moved in their orbits in order to preserve the indestructible system, in the center of which they were. The usual abbreviations took on a new meaning and applied only to them: A. D. by no means meant anno Domini, but symbolized anno Dombei and the Son.

He rose as his father had risen before him, by the law of life and death, from Son to Dombey, and for almost twenty years he was the sole representative of the firm. He was married ten of those twenty years—married, some said, to a lady who would not give him her heart, a lady whose happiness was a thing of the past, and who contented herself with making her broken spirit reconcile, reverently and submissively, with the real one. Such empty rumors could hardly reach Mr. Dombey, whom they closely concerned, and perhaps no one in the world would have treated them with more distrust than he had they reached him. Dombey and Son often dealt with the skin, but never with the heart. This fashionable product they provided to boys and girls, boarding schools and books. Mr. Dombey would have reasoned that a marriage union with him should, in the nature of things, be pleasant and honorable for any woman endowed with common sense; that the hope of giving birth to a new companion of such a firm cannot fail to arouse a sweet and exciting ambition in the breast of the least ambitious of the fairer sex; that Mrs. Dombey signed the marriage contract - an act almost inevitable in families of the noble and rich, not to mention the need to keep the name of the company - without closing her eyes to these advantages; that Mrs. Dombey learned daily by experience what position he occupied in society; that Mrs. Dombey always sat at the head of his table, and performed the duties of hostess in his house with great dignity and decorum; that Mrs. Dombey should be happy; which cannot be otherwise.

However, with one caveat. Yes. He was ready to accept her. With one and only; but it certainly contained much. They had been married for ten years, and until today, when Mr. Dombey sat in the big armchair by the bed, jingling his massive gold watch chain, they had no offspring ... worth talking about, no one worthy of mention. About six years ago, their daughter was born, and now the girl, imperceptibly crept into the bedroom, timidly huddled in the corner, from where she could see her mother's face. But what is a girl for Dombey and Son? In the capital, which was the name and honor of the company, this child was a counterfeit coin that cannot be invested in business - a boy good for nothing - and nothing more.

But at that moment Mr. Dombey's cup of joy was so full that he felt tempted to spare a drop or two of its contents even to sprinkle the dust on his little daughter's deserted path.

So he said:

“Perhaps, Florence, if you like, you can come and look at your good brother. Don't touch him.

The girl gazed at the blue coat and stiff white tie, which, together with a pair of creaking shoes and a very loud ticking clock, embodied her idea of a father; but her eyes immediately turned back to her mother's face, and she did not move or answer.

In a moment the lady opened her eyes and saw the girl, and the girl rushed towards her and, rising on tiptoe to hide her face on her chest, clung to her mother with a kind of passionate despair, not at all characteristic of her age.

- Oh my god! said Mr Dombey irritably, rising. “Really, you are very imprudent and reckless. Perhaps you should ask Dr. Peps if he would be so kind as to come up here again. I will go. I need not ask you,” he added, lingering for a moment by the couch in front of the fireplace, “to show special concern for this young gentleman, Mrs. ...

Block, sir? prompted the nurse, a sugary, withered person with aristocratic manners, who did not dare to declare her name as an indisputable fact and only named it in the form of a humble guess.

“About this young gentleman, Mrs. Blockit.

- Yes, sure. I remember when Miss Florence was born...

“Yes, yes, yes,” said Mr. Dombey, leaning over the wicker cradle, and at the same time drawing his eyebrows slightly together. “As far as Miss Florence is concerned, that's all very well, but now it's different. This young gentleman has to fulfill his mission. Appointment, little boy! - After such an unexpected address to the baby, he raised his hand to his lips and kissed it; then, apparently fearing that this gesture might diminish his dignity, he retired in some confusion.

Dr. Parker Peps, one of the court physicians and a man of great fame for his help in the growth of aristocratic families, strode around the drawing room with his hands behind his back, to the inexpressible admiration of the family doctor, who for the past month and a half had been ranting among his patients, friends and acquaintances about the upcoming event, on the occasion of which he expected from hour to hour, day and night, that he would be called together with Dr. Parker Peps.

“Well, sir,” said Dr. Parker Peps, in a low, deep, resonant voice, muffled for the occasion, like a muffled doorknocker, “do you find that your visit has cheered up your dear wife?”