# Harold Skimpole — Bleak House character guide

> Harold Skimpole in Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mr. Skimpole, Skimpole, Harold

**First appearance:** 0007-vi-quite-at-home

## Snapshot

A childlike, charming parasite who drifts through Bleak House on other people's money, calling his irresponsibility a kind of innocence.

## Who they are

Skimpole is Jarndyce's favored guest, a man of taste and talk who never pays a debt and never feels a pang about it. His pose of helpless aestheticism masks a cold indifference to the people he sponges from, including the desperate and the poor. He matters because he embodies the novel's suspicion of charm without conscience, and his presence tests Jarndyce's charity.

## In the story

### [Quite at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/vi-quite-at-home)

Presented as a charming, childlike man who disclaims all responsibility and lives off the generosity of others; entertains the company with music and playful speeches.

### [Bell Yard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xv-bell-yard)

Reappears, charmingly professing childishness and reframing his relationship with Coavinses as benevolent patronage.

### [Lady Dedlock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xviii-lady-dedlock)

Skimpole is mentioned in a reflective passage where he expresses his cosmopolitan views on slaves and adventurers, showing his detachment from practical concerns.

### [Nurse and Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxi-nurse-and-patient)

Skimpole dismisses Jo's plight with flippant remarks, suggesting he be turned out and amusing himself with music.

### [Jarndyce and Jarndyce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxvii-jarndyce-and-jarndyce)

Skimpole visits and makes merry, speaking of being bailed out and drinking to 'somebody' who helps him.

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

Mr. Skimpole is discussed as an 'encourager' to Richard, though Mr. Jarndyce dismisses his seriousness.

### [XLIV: The Letter and the Answer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xliv-the-letter-and-the-answer)

Prolongs his stay at Bleak House during the week after the letter is sent.

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

Mentioned by Mr. Bucket, who knows him and comments on his character and lack of money sense.

### [A Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxi-a-discovery)

Visits Richard and Ada; Esther confronts him about his careless gaiety and his effect on their finances.

## Links

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