Artist: Ron Embleton
(biography)Medium: Pencil on Paper
Size: 12" x 16" (300mm x 410mm)
This is the unique original Pencil drawing by Ron Embleton.Mr Paul Dombey: The main character, about 48 years old as the novel opens. 'In all his life, he had never made a friend. His cold and distant nature had neither sought one, nor found one'. He is left a widower with two children by the end of Chapter 1. However, he only considers his son, Paul, to be worthy of his attention; his daughter, Florence, is 'merely a piece of base coin that couldn't be invested a bad boy.'
His son's death shatters Mr. Dombey's hopes for an heir. His neglect of his daughter Florence causes problems with his second wife, Edith, whom he essentially purchased. Due to Edith's hatred for him and his own misplaced trust in James Carker, Dombey loses his business and his wealth.
Dombey finally realises that his daughter was the only person who truly cared for him, even when he has nothing left. He reconnects with her in his later years and gains an heir through his son-in-law.
Major Joseph Bagstock: Conceited retired army major. 'Wooden-featured, blue-faced' with 'long-flapped elephantine ears', he refers to himself annoyingly in the third person as Josh, Joe, Joey B., J.B., Old Joe, etc. He befriends Mr Dombey at Brighton, and fatefully introduces him to Mrs Skewton and her daughter. Bagstock convinces himself that Miss Tox finds him appealing when in reality she has eyes only for Mr Dombey.