# Jo — Bleak House character guide

> Jo in Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Joe Pouch

**First appearance:** 0011-x-the-law-writer

## Snapshot

A homeless, illiterate crossing-sweeper whose small knowledge of a buried secret makes him a target for powerful people.

## Who they are

Jo survives on the streets of London, sweeping crossings for pennies and sleeping wherever he can, ignored by nearly everyone who passes. He knows a little about a buried secret, and that little makes him dangerous to those who need it kept quiet. He matters because his vulnerability exposes the human cost of the mystery and the indifference of the society around him.

## In the story

### [Our Dear Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xi-our-dear-brother)

Visits the cemetery at night, sweeping the step and muttering that Nemo 'wos wery good to me.'

### [Tom-All-Alone’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xvi-tom-all-alone-s)

A poor crossing-sweeper living in Tom-all-Alone’s, utterly ignorant and struggling to survive.

### [Moving On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xix-moving-on)

Tells his story about receiving a sovereign from a lady, but is disbelieved and ordered to move on.

### [Mr. Bucket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxii-mr-bucket)

The 'Tough Subject,' brought by Mr. Bucket to identify the veiled lady; he notes the clothing but says the hand is different.

### [Mrs. Snagsby Sees It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxv-mrs-snagsby-sees-it-all)

Brought to the Snagsby house for a religious meeting with Mr. Chadband; receives food from Guster and a half-crown from Mr. Snagsby, who warns him to keep quiet about the lady.

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

Jo is taken in sick and sheltered in the loft, but he mysteriously disappears during the night.

### [XLVI: Stop Him!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlvi-stop-him)

Jo is found by the woman and chased down by Allan Woodcourt. He is terrified of a man who threatened him to leave London and never be seen again. He reveals that he was taken to a hospital and given money to move on. He expresses remorse for leaving the young lady who helped him.

### [XLVII: Jo’s Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlvii-jo-s-will)

The dying crossing-sweeper, weak and miserable, tells his story of the lady in the veil.

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

Referenced by Mr. Bucket as 'Toughey'; Bucket had warned him to leave London to keep Lady Dedlock's secret quiet.

## Links

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