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Mrs. Jellyby
Mr. Skimpole is a friend of Mr. Jarndyce’s and a playful, entertaining gentleman of leisure. He is not a poor man, but he is always in debt and constantly borrows money from Mr. Jarndyce and from his other acquaintances, whether they can afford it or not. Mr. Skimpole hates to take things seriously and is totally irresponsible. Although he does not care for anyone but himself, his friends and acquaintances are disarmed by his cheerful, charming manner and do not immediately recognize this. Mr. Skimpole does not feel that it is his job to help or guide anybody, and he claims that he cannot keep track of his debts or finances because he cannot count or understand money. However, he often accepts bribes and avoids his friends as soon as they become poor, usually from furnishing his expenses. He also plays a part in bankrupting Richard Carstone; he accepts a bribe from Mr. Vholes, the predatory lawyer who preys on Richard’s frail mental state, to introduce him to Richard, and he encourages Richard to keep spending money even when Richard is nearly ruined. Although Esther Summerson wants to give Mr. Skimpole the benefit of the doubt, believing that he is innocent and not aware of the consequences of his careless actions, she is skeptical of his character and loses patience with him after his poor treatment of Richard. Mr. Skimpole never takes responsibility for his actions and, in fact, angrily attacks Mr. Jarndyce and calls him selfish when Mr. Jarndyce finally withdraws his charity.
Mr. Skimpole Quotes in Bleak House
The Bleak House quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Skimpole or refer to Mr. Skimpole. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 15
Quotes
We were looking at one another, and at these two children, when there came into the room a very little girl, childish in figure but shrewd and older-looking in the face—pretty-faced too—wearing a womanly sort of bonnet much too large for her, and drying her bare arms on a womanly sort of apron. Her fingers were white and wrinkled with washing, and the soap-suds were yet smoking which she wiped off her arms. But for this, she might have been a child, playing at washing, and imitating a poor working-woman with a quick observation of the truth.
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Chapter 37
Quotes
I never shall forget those two seated side by side in the lantern’s light; Richard, all flush and fire and laughter, with the reins in his hand; Mr. Vholes, quite still, black-gloved, and buttoned up, looking at him as if he were looking at his prey and charming it. I have before me the whole picture of the warm dark night, the summer lightning, the dusty track of road closed in by hedgerows and high trees, the gaunt pale horse with his ears pricked up, and the driving away at speed to Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
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Mr. Skimpole Quotes in Bleak House
The Bleak House quotes below are all either spoken by Mr. Skimpole or refer to Mr. Skimpole. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 15
Quotes
We were looking at one another, and at these two children, when there came into the room a very little girl, childish in figure but shrewd and older-looking in the face—pretty-faced too—wearing a womanly sort of bonnet much too large for her, and drying her bare arms on a womanly sort of apron. Her fingers were white and wrinkled with washing, and the soap-suds were yet smoking which she wiped off her arms. But for this, she might have been a child, playing at washing, and imitating a poor working-woman with a quick observation of the truth.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 37
Quotes
I never shall forget those two seated side by side in the lantern’s light; Richard, all flush and fire and laughter, with the reins in his hand; Mr. Vholes, quite still, black-gloved, and buttoned up, looking at him as if he were looking at his prey and charming it. I have before me the whole picture of the warm dark night, the summer lightning, the dusty track of road closed in by hedgerows and high trees, the gaunt pale horse with his ears pricked up, and the driving away at speed to Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
