Some took years, even decades, to be concluded. Several chancery litigation are noted to be delayed, whether deliberately or not. The satirical nature of Bleak House centers on the issue concerning chancery courts.

However, these courts have long earned the ire of many an English legal reformer, including Charles Dickens. Chancery courts deal with cases involving wills and estates, or with the uses of private property. Chancery or equity courts is one half of the English legal system the other half being law courts. This satire sheds light on the English chancery court. As these layers are unpeeled, the novel’s satirical nature surfaces. Originally published as a series between March 1852 to September 1853, Bleak House is a multifaceted and multilayered narrative prefaced by a fictional legal case. How little I had lost, when the wide world was so full of delight for me.” Charles Dickens, Bleak House “I found every breath of air, and every scent, and every flower and leaf and blade of grass and every passing cloud, and everything in nature, more beautiful and wonderful to me than I had ever found it yet. She moved in with two of Jarndyce’s wards – Richard Carstone and Ada Clare – who are both beneficiaries of wills being contested in Jarndyce versus Jarndyce. Esther moved in with Jarndyce at Bleak House after completing six years. Chancery lawyer Kenge was commissioned by Jarndyce to look after her. When Miss Barnaby passed away, John Jarndyce became her legal guardian. The lack of clarity and closure made the case drag for years.Ĭontemporaneously, the main narrative follows the fate Esther Summerson, a young girl who is believed to have been orphaned and is under the care of Miss Barnaby. This legal case concerns the fate of a large inheritance, wherein the testator has created several conflicting wills. It is a legal case lodged in the Court of Chancery, and its progress is detailed in the narrative. At the heart of these subplots is Jarndyce versus Jarndyce. The narrative follows a plethora of subplots and a diverse set of characters. Perhaps one of Dickens’ most critical works is Bleak House.

His critical works also helped institute reforms in a Victorian London beset with societal and cultural challenges. To say that his literary influences reverberate until today is an understatement. His works and masterful storytelling has inspired a lot of other writers. He is not just another novelist, he is a brand. He owned the Victorian Era, writing stories that last beyond his time, and creating characters who create deep impressions on the readers. Charles Dickens is a name to be reckoned with in the world of literature.

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