CliffsNotes on

Bleak House

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About the Author

About the Novel

Introduction
A Brief Synopsis
List of Characters

Summaries and Commentaries

Chapter 1: In Chancery
Chapter 2: In Fashion
Chapter 3: A Process
Chapter 4: Telescopic Philanthropy
Chapter 5: A Morning Adventure
Chapter 6: Quite at Home
Chapter 7: The Ghost's Walk
Chapter 8: Covering a Multitude of Sins
Chapter 9: Signs and Tokens
Chapters 10 & 11: The Law Writer & Our Dead Brother
Chapter 12: On the Watch
Chapter 13: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 14: Deportment
Chapter 15: Bell Yard
Chapter 16: Tom-all-Alone's
Chapter 17: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 18: Lady Dedlock
Chapter 19: Moving On
Chapters 20 & 21: A New Lodger & The Smallweed Family
Chapter 22: Mr. Bucket
Chapter 23: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 24: An Appeal Case
Chapter 25: Mrs. Snagsby Sees It All
Chapter 26: Sharpshooters
Chapter 27: More Old Soldiers Than One
Chapter 28: The Ironmaster
Chapter 29: The Young Man
Chapter 30: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 31: Nurse and Patient
Chapter 32: The Appointed Time
Chapter 33: Interlopers
Chapter 34: A Turn of the Screw
Chapter 35: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 36: Chesney Wold
Chapter 37: Jarndyce and Jarndyce
Chapter 38: A Struggle
Chapter 39: Attorney and Client
Chapter 40: National and Domestic
Chapter 41: In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Room
Chapter 42: In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Chambers
Chapter 43: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 44: The Letter and the Answer
Chapter 45: In Trust
Chapter 46: Stop Him!
Chapter 47: Jo's Will
Chapter 48: Closing In
Chapter 49: Dutiful Friendship
Chapter 50: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 51: Enlightened
Chapter 52: Obstinacy
Chapters 53 & 54: The Track & Springing a Mine
Chapter 55: Flight
Chapter 56: Pursuit
Chapter 57: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 58: A Wintry Day and Night
Chapter 59: Esther's Narrative
Chapter 60: Perspective
Chapter 61: A Discovery
Chapter 62: Another Discovery
Chapter 63: Steel and Iron
Chapter 64: Esther's Narrative
Chapters 65 & 66: Beginning in the World & Down in Lincolnshire
Chapter 67: The Close of Esther's Narrative

Character Analyses

Lady Dedlock
Esther Summerson
John Jarndyce
Mr. Tulkinghorn
Richard Carstone
Ada Clare
Sir Leicester Dedlock

Critical Essays

Characterization
Theme
Technique and Style
Plot
Setting
The Fog
Symbolism

Study Help

Quiz
Essay Topics And Review Questions

Cite this Literature Note

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Summaries and Commentaries

Chapter 44: The Letter and the Answer

Mr. Jarndyce promises to assist Esther and her mother in every way possible. He agrees that Tulkinghorn is a dangerous person. In the same conversation, Mr. Jarndyce tells Esther that one week later she should send Charley to his room for a letter, which he will have written by then.

The letter turns out to be a marriage proposal. Esther feels blessed to be chosen as the mistress of Bleak House. During the next several days, she expects Mr. Jarndyce to bring up the subject of the letter, but as he does not, she (a week after the proposal) takes the initiative and gives him the answer he has hoped for.

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