Dombey and Son Trivia Quiz

Answer: Less than an hour

Mr Dombey is 'about eight-and-forty years of age'. He is sitting regarding his newborn son, who is 'about eight-and-forty minutes.'

Already, in these first moments of the baby's life, Mr Dombey is impatient. He wants him to grow up as quickly as possible so that he can enter into his all-important position in the firm of Dombey and Son. (This has been a family firm for years, so the original 'son' in the name referred to Mr Dombey himself).

Mr Dombey has so longed for a son that he hardly counts six-year-old Florence as his child. He is also oblivious that his wife is, at the moment the story opens, weakened from the birth of the baby and sinking fast. He is quite surprised to be roused from his visions of the House of Dombey and Son by the doctors anxiously asking how Mrs Dombey is.

Answer: Floy

Susan Nipper, the nurse, addresses her charge as "Miss Floy" before Paul is born. As soon as Paul can talk, he uses this name for his sister.

Mrs Dombey has died soon after Paul's birth, so Paul attaches himself to Florence. He receives much attention from other people, such as his aunt Mrs Chick, Miss Tox - a maiden lady who befriends the family - and his father (who is constantly reminding him of his future at Dombey and Son), but it is Florence who shows him whole-hearted and unselfish devotion.

Answer: Because she goes home to visit her own children

When Polly takes on the job of nurse and wet-nurse to the frail and sickly baby, Mr Dombey gives strict orders that she is to see as little as possible of her own five children.

Paul soon appears to be thriving better, and Polly persuades Mr Dombey that it is a beneficial for him to spend time with his sister. Unfortunately Polly is then tempted to go and visit her own family in a poor part of the town, taking the Dombey children with her. On this occasion Florence is lost in London for several hours and inevitably Mr Dombey learns of the nurse's disobedience
and dismisses her.

This incident has a major significance in the novel, for Paul, already a frail infant, has been deprived of natural nourishment and has to be hurriedly weaned. He has also had a second mother-figure taken away from him. It is suggested several times in the book that Paul might have lived to grow up if Polly had been allowed to remain. Therefore Mr Dombey's pride and obstinacy are shown to have damaged his son's physical health.

Answer: Classical

Paul is only six when he his sent to Mr Blimber's Academy. Mr Dombey had become alarmed that Paul's weakness and poor health have so far prevented him from starting his education. Always thinking of his son's future glorious position in Dombey and Son, he is determined Paul must have the best education available.

The Blimbers are not unkind to Paul or to the other boys, but they are blinded by their passion for Latin and Greek. Mr Blimber speaks to the boys as if they were grown men ("Gentlemen, we will resume our studies in half-an-hour") and has no idea they might need fun or recreation. Mrs Blimber is not scholarly herself but claims to delight in all things classical and wishes she could invite Cicero to dinner. Their daughter Cordelia is a fanatical classicist and becomes Paul's tutor.

Answer: She is delighted and affectionate

Florence is unbearably lonely after Paul's death. She has her faithful maid, Susan, and a few other friends, but she spends her most of her time alone. Above all, she longs for her father to love and cherish her. She is afraid it must be her fault that they have never been close to each other, and while he is away at Leamington, she plans ways of capturing his affection on his return.

It is a great surprise to be presented with a 'new mama' in the shape of Edith, a young and beautiful widow. However Florence's affectionate temperament sees Edith as another person to love and hopes that when her father and Edith are married, they will become a proper family.

Answer: Rose-coloured curtains

Mrs Skewton, although nearing seventy, fondly believes in her irresistible personal charms. She flirts with everyone around her, and wears too much rouge and ridiculously youthful clothes. When she collapses with a stroke, "They took her to pieces and put the very little of her that was real on a bed."

She demands rose-coloured curtains which will reflect her complexion in a flattering light for the benefit of the doctor. It is typical and almost painfully comic that as soon as Mrs Skewton rallies from a life-threatening stroke, her first thought is for her appearance.

Answer: Their second wedding anniversary

A dinner party had been planned by Mr Dombey for the second anniversary of their wedding. They did not have a party on the first anniversary because Mrs Skewton had just been taken ill. However, long before two years have gone by, both Mr Dombey and Edith treat their marriage as a travesty and a sham. Mr Dombey, unlike Edith, is anxious to keep up appearances and gives Edith instructions that he expects her to be present at the dinner and play the part of his wife. She replies grandly: "I will be exhibited to no one as the slave you purchased, such a time. If I kept my marriage-day, I would keep it as a day of shame."

The party is cancelled and the following evening Mr Dombey finds she has fled from the house and the country with the man he has always most trusted, the villainous Carker.

Answer: Miss Tox and Polly

Poor Miss Tox, a spinster friend of Mr Dombey's sister, lives genteelly on a small income in a tiny flat opposite Major Bagshaw. She had once had a rather pathetic dream of marrying Mr Dombey. When Paul was a baby she became friendly with the family, and she was gratified when Mr Dombey chose her to be Paul's Godmother at his christening.

Her wistful hopes are shattered when Mr Dombey brings back his bride, who is both beautiful and highly-born. When Miss Tox hears of Mr Dombey's misfortunes and finds he is living completely secluded in a corner of the house, never going out or seeing anyone, she and the good-hearted Polly, Paul's old nurse, move in to do the best they can for him.

Answer: Susan Nipper

Mt Toots is an engaging character with a foolish chuckle and a kind and susceptible heart. At Dr Blimber's Academy his learning powers have been despaired of, and he spends most of his time writing fictitious business letters to himself and thinking about his waistcoats. (Almost his first remark to Paul, who is then six years old, is "Who is your tailor?".)

After Paul's death he pays a visit of condolence to Florence and becomes devoted to her. Susan, Florence's maid, has a similar devotion to her mistress, even after she has been dismissed for speaking her mind to Mr Dombey. It is natural for friendship and affection to grow between Susan and Mr Toots. "Before my whiskers began to be observed by anyone but myself, I adored Miss Dombey," he confides to her.

After Florence has married Walter and gone away, he finds Susan a comfort to him and soon realises she is the woman for him.

Answer: Gay

Florence has married Walter Gay and Paul is their son. Mr Dombey, after a lot of suffering, has realised the mistakes he made with his son and daughter, and is now a devoted grandfather.