# Caddy Jellyby — Bleak House character guide

> Caddy Jellyby in Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Caddy, Caroline Jellyby, Caroline

**First appearance:** 0005-iv-telescopic-philanthropy

## Snapshot

Mrs. Jellyby's eldest daughter, worn ragged by her mother's African philanthropy, who quietly plots a life and love of her own.

## Who they are

Caddy Jellyby grows up in a household where letters to Africa matter more than meals, ink-stained and resentful while her mother lectures on Borrioboola-Gha. Sharp-tongued and secretly tender, she falls for Prince Turveydrop and begins to imagine escape from her mother's neglect. Her small rebellion against being merely useful is one of the novel's most human counterpoints to grand, abstract benevolence.

## Relationships

### [Prince Turveydrop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/prince_turveydrop)

_romantic_

Caddy and Prince are young lovers who marry despite the interference of their demanding parents.

### [Mrs. Jellyby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/mrs_jellyby)

_family_

Caddy is Mrs. Jellyby's neglected daughter, forced to manage the household while her mother obsesses over African philanthropy.

### [Esther Summerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/esther_summerson)

_friendship_

Caddy and Esther are close friends, with Esther acting as a mentor and confidante to Caddy.

### [Esther Summerson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/esther_summerson)

_friendship_

Caddy and Esther are close friends, with Esther acting as a mentor and confidante to Caddy.

### [Prince Turveydrop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/prince_turveydrop)

_romantic_

Caddy and Prince are young lovers who marry despite the interference of their demanding parents.

### [Mrs. Jellyby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/mrs_jellyby)

_family_

Caddy is Mrs. Jellyby's neglected daughter, forced to manage the household while her mother obsesses over African philanthropy.

### [Prince Turveydrop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/prince_turveydrop)

_romantic_

Caddy and Prince are young lovers who marry despite the interference of their demanding parents.

### [Mrs. Jellyby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/mrs_jellyby)

_family_

Caddy is Mrs. Jellyby's neglected daughter, forced to manage the household while her mother obsesses over African philanthropy.

## In the story

### [A Morning Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/v-a-morning-adventure)

Proposes the morning walk; expresses frustration with her mother and Mr. Quale; walks ahead with Esther.

### [Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxiii-esther-s-narrative)

Engaged to Prince Turveydrop; Esther accompanies her to inform old Mr. Turveydrop.

### [Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxx-esther-s-narrative)

Brings news of her marriage to Prince Turveydrop; emotional about leaving her family.

### [A Struggle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-struggle)

Now married to Prince Turveydrop, she is learning the dancing trade to assist her husband and manages the household and apprentices.

### [L: Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/l-esther-s-narrative)

Ill after childbirth; mother of little Esther; has a superstition that Esther does her good.

### [LXV: Beginning the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxv-beginning-the-world)

Meets Esther on the street; expresses joy and affection.

### [The Close of Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxvii-the-close-of-esther-s-narrative)

Now married, has a deaf and dumb daughter, works hard caring for her lame husband, and is content.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/caddy_jellyby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters