Introduction:-

This novel is written by Charles Dickens. It was published in a series from 1855 to 1857. It is considered one of his best known work. This novel tell us about the journey of Dorrit family from poverty to richness. All the difficulties and problems faced by them throughout their journey. Basically Charles tells us about the shortcomings of the government and the society.

Tone/ Mood:-

Mood of this novel is tragic, playful, sarcastic and sometimes violent.

Characters:-

Amy Dorrit:-

A youngest member of the Dorrit family. A 20 years old girl who was born in debt prison. She is a humble person.

William Dorrit:-

He is AMY’S father. He is a proudly person and spend most of his life in prison due to debt. He wants to make victim so people take pity in him and for inner satisfaction.

Arthur Cleannam:-

He is Mrs. Cleannam’s son, belong to a rich family. He is a kind person who wants to pay all the debts of Dorrit family.

Fanny Dorrit:-

Daughter of William and older sister of Amy. She works as a dancer to repaid all the debt of her father.

• Daniel Doyce:-

Daniel and Arthur are business partner. He is kind ang forgiving person.

Other characters are:

• Mrs. Cleannam
• Flora Finching
• Henry Gowan
• Mr. Merdle
• Flintwitch
• Mr. Meagle

Summary:-

The death of Arthur Clennman’s father brings him back to his hometown i-e London to his mother, Mrs. Clennman for whom his father has left the mysterious watch. Inside the watch casing is an old silk paper with the initials DNF (Do Not Forget) worked into it in beads. Arthur knows it is a message but it is not able to find out what it says when the cold natured, arthritic and wheelchair bound Mrs. Clennman refuses to tell him about it.

The Marshalsea debtor’s prison in London has been a long time residence of William Dorrit, and his three children, Fanny, Edward and Amy (little Dorrit). The children are allowed to leave prison if they want but little Dorrit who adores her father supports them both through her sewing.

Mrs. Clennman although old and sick, still runs the family business and when Arthur finds out about Little Dorrit working for her as a seamstress and the kindly behavir of Mrs. Clennman towards her, he become suspicious and follows Little Dorrit to Marshalsea to find out more about her. He soon learns about Mr.  Dorrit’s debt in the circumlocution office and Little Dorrit thinking of him as their benefactor, is grateful for his efforts and eventually falls in love with him.

Arthur, while at the circumlocution office meets struggling inventor Daniel Doyce and decides to help him by going into business with him. Later Arthur discovers that William Dorrit is the lost heir to a large fortune which then enables him to finally leave prison.

The Dorrits then tour Europe as a new respectable rich family, displaying an air of conceit over their new-found wealth. Little Dorrit is not so impressed by their wealth, however. All too soon , misfortune befalls the family again and after a spell of delirium , William Dorrit dies as does his distraught elder brother Frederick, a kind hearted musician who has always stood by him. Little Dorrit now alone left goes to London to live with her sister Fanny and her husband.

When Arthur loses his savings due to the fraudulent dealings of a partner, he is also cast off to Marshalsea, where he falls ill but is nursed back to health with Little Dorrit’s help. A French murderer Rigaud now in London, discovers that Mrs. Clennam hides the fact that Arthur is not her son by birth, and tries to blackmail her. Arthur’s biological mother was a beautiful young singer with whom his father had gone through a non-legal marital ceremony, before being pressured by his wealthy uncle to marry the present Mrs. Clennam. The Later had insisted on bringing up Little Arthur and denying his mother the right to see him.  Arthur’s real mother died of grief at being separated from Arthur and his father, but the wealthy uncle, now remorseful leaves his inheritance to the youngest daughter of Arthur’s biological mother’s patron, who happened to be Mr. Dorrit’s elder brother Frederick, as he had no daughter, the inheritance was to go to Little Dorrit .

Mrs Clennman despite knowing about the inheritance doesn’t tell Little Dorrit for years, but eventually, guilt ridden, she refuses off to Little Dorrit to tell her when Rigaud was blackmailing her. However she then falls in the street, never to recover the use of speech and limbs, as the house of Clennman literally collapses before her eyes, killing Rigaud.

When Arthur’s business partner Daniel Doyce returns from abroad a wealthy man, Arthur is released with his fortune revived, and Arthur and Little Dorrit marry.

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