Bleak House Characters

Let your friends find their way here, as surely as the paths of Bleak House entwine all who walk them. Check all the Bleak House characters.

Rating	4.02
Reviews	110,480
Total Ratings	5,715
5 Star Rating	44,045 (39%)
Genres	Classics, Historical Fiction
Pages	1012

Character Name	Description
Esther Summerson	Kind and modest orphan, raised by Mr. Jarndyce. Narrates part of the story.
John Jarndyce	Generous guardian of Esther, Ada, and Richard. Owns Bleak House.
Ada Clare	Gentle and loving ward of Mr. Jarndyce. Engaged to Richard.
Richard Carstone	Idealistic ward of Mr. Jarndyce, obsessed with the Jarndyce v. Jarndyce case.
Lady Dedlock	Wealthy, secretive wife of Sir Leicester. Hides a tragic past.
Sir Leicester Dedlock	Proud baronet, devoted to his wife, Lady Dedlock.
Tulkinghorn	Ruthless lawyer, seeks to uncover Lady Dedlock’s secret.
Mr. Guppy	Ambitious law clerk, infatuated with Esther.
Jo	Poor crossing-sweeper, helps uncover the novel’s mysteries.
Inspector Bucket	Clever detective, solves mysteries in the story.
Krook	Rag-and-bottle shop owner, hoards papers, dies mysteriously by spontaneous combustion.
Miss Flite	Eccentric woman, obsessed with the Chancery Court and her “birds of hope.”
Mr. Snagsby	Generous law stationer, often drawn into mysteries.
Mrs. Snagsby	Jealous wife of Mr. Snagsby. One of major characters.
Harold Skimpole	Selfish man-child, lives off others while pretending innocence.
Caddy Jellyby	Overworked daughter of Mrs. Jellyby, marries Prince Turveydrop.
Mrs. Jellyby	Neglectful mother, obsessed with African charity work.
Mr. Jellyby	Long-suffering husband of Mrs. Jellyby.
Prince Turveydrop	Kind and hard-working son of Old Mr. Turveydrop. Marries Caddy.
Old Mr. Turveydrop	Self-absorbed man, obsessed with deportment.
Mr. George	Former soldier, runs a shooting gallery, loyal to Esther and her friends.
Phil Squod	Disabled man, works for Mr. George, kind-hearted and loyal.
Allan Woodcourt	Honest and caring doctor, loves Esther.
Mr. Smallweed	Greedy and cruel moneylender, often manipulates others.
Judy Smallweed	Mr. Smallweed’s sharp-tongued granddaughter, cares for him.
Grandfather Smallweed	Miserly patriarch of the Smallweed family.
Charley Neckett	Young girl, works as a maid for Esther, supports her siblings.
Tom Neckett	Charley’s younger brother, looked after by her.
Emma Neckett	Charley’s younger sister, cared for by Charley.
Mr. Vholes	Cold and calculating lawyer, exploits Richard’s obsession with the case.
Gridley	Angry man, victim of the Chancery Court’s delays.
Mr. Boythorn	Loud and passionate friend of Mr. Jarndyce, enemy of Sir Leicester.
Mrs. Pardiggle	Bossy philanthropist, forces charity on the poor.
The Neckett Children	Orphans left behind by their father, supported by Charley.
Jenny	Poor washerwoman, connected to Jo and Lady Dedlock’s secret.
Liz	Jenny’s friend, often helps care for Jo.
Mr. Chadband	Hypocritical preacher, loves to lecture others.
Mrs. Chadband	Wife of Mr. Chadband, known for her pious demeanor.
Guster	Maid to the Snagsbys, prone to fainting.
Volumnia Dedlock	Sir Leicester’s chatty cousin, often at Chesney Wold.
Mr. Rouncewell	Wealthy ironmaster, father of Rosa and George.
Rosa	Lady Dedlock’s maid, loved by Watt Rouncewell.
Watt Rouncewell	Mr. Rouncewell’s son, wants to marry Rosa.
Hortense	Former maid of Lady Dedlock, vengeful and dangerous.
Mrs. Rouncewell	Housekeeper at Chesney Wold, mother of Mr. Rouncewell.
Captain Hawdon	Lady Dedlock’s former lover, Jo knows him as “Nemo.”
Nemo	Alias of Captain Hawdon, dies of an opium overdose.
Dr. Bayham Badger	Friendly doctor, introduces Esther to Allan Woodcourt.
Mrs. Bayham Badger	Wife of Dr. Badger, proud of her previous marriages.
Tom Jarndyce	Ancestor whose disputed will started the Jarndyce v. Jarndyce case.
Barbary	Esther’s mother’s maiden name, linked to her mysterious past.
Kenge	Mr. Jarndyce’s solicitor, known as “Conversation Kenge.”
Carstone Family	Related to Ada and Richard, involved in the lawsuit.
Guppy’s Mother	Proud of her son, often meddles in his life.
Mr. Weevle	Guppy’s roommate, involved in Krook’s mysteries.
Jobling	Alias of Mr. Weevle, tries to avoid trouble.
Mrs. Guppy	Protective and doting mother of Mr. Guppy.
Mr. Jarndyce’s Servants	Loyal staff at Bleak House, help maintain order.
Chancery Lawyers	Nameless figures representing the slow legal system.
Ghost Walk	Symbolic figure tied to Lady Dedlock’s guilt and past.