Paul Dombey is a wealthy shipping merchant whose wife dies giving birth to their second child, a long-hoped-for son and heir. Young Paul's health is fragile and he dies aged six, dashing his father's hopes...
The novel centers on Paul Dombey, a wealthy and proud businessman who runs a shipping company. From the outset, Dombey is obsessed with the idea of having a son to inherit his business and carry on the family name. His first child, a daughter named Florence, is quickly dismissed by her father because she does not meet his expectations for a male heir. Dombey’s wife, Ellen, dies shortly after childbirth, leaving him with a sense of loss and a deep desire to replace her with a son.
When a son, also named Paul Dombey, is born, his father’s hope for an heir is fulfilled, but his love and obsession with his son ultimately overshadow the rest of his family, especially Florence, who is emotionally neglected by her father. Dombey’s relentless focus on the future of his business leads to tragic consequences, as he places his son’s health and happiness second to his pride in his name and wealth.
The novel explores the unfolding consequences of Dombey’s emotional neglect, as well as the impact of his actions on the other characters, including his sister, Mrs. Skewton, his business associates, and several working-class characters, particularly Mr. Toots, a kind-hearted but socially awkward man who contrasts with Dombey's cold pride.
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Categories: Fiction Historical Literature Classics