Bleak House · Character

Mr. George

A former soldier turned shooting-gallery keeper whose quiet, guarded loyalty hides an old debt and a buried family history.

supporting

Also known as George, George Rouncewell, the trooper

First appearance: Sharpshooters

As a supporting figure in Bleak House, Mr. George is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

See Mr. George in Sharpshooters Book page

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George Rouncewell runs a modest London shooting gallery and moves through the city with a soldier's plainness and reserve. He is a man of conscience and few words, carrying an old estrangement from his family and an unspoken obligation that keeps him wary of explaining his past. His steady presence and willingness to serve others quietly make him a moral anchor amid Chancery's murk, and the slow revelation of who he really is becomes one of the novel's most affecting threads.

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The fuller portrait of Mr. George sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mr. George in Sharpshooters

Character Web

36 connections

A slice of how Mr. George sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Social
Rivalry
Friendship

Character groups

Chancery and Mystery Core

+31 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage marks the dramatic climax because it depicts Esther’s psychological reversal from illness and los…

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Relationships

Sir Leicester Dedlock
professional · ambivalent
Mrs. Jellyby
social · ambivalent
Mr. Bucket
professional · ambivalent
Mr. Smallweed
rivalry · negative
Matthew Bagnet
friendship · positive
Sir Leicester Dedlock
professional · ambivalent
Mrs. Jellyby
social · ambivalent
Mr. Bucket
professional · ambivalent
Mr. Smallweed
rivalry · negative
Matthew Bagnet
friendship · positive
Matthew Bagnet
friendship · positive
Mr. Smallweed
rivalry · negative

Sir Leicester Dedlock
Mr. George is a former soldier and shooting-gallery owner who becomes entangled in Sir Leicester's household affairs through the investigation of Captain Hawdon.
Mrs. Jellyby
They are connected through the broader network of characters in the novel, with Mr. George occasionally interacting with Mrs. Jellyby's philanthropic circles.
Mr. Bucket
Bucket investigates Mr. George as a suspect in Tulkinghorn's murder, creating a tense cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Mr. Smallweed
Smallweed harasses Mr. George over a debt and attempts to manipulate him for information about Captain Hawdon.
Matthew Bagnet
Matthew Bagnet is Mr. George's loyal friend and former army comrade, often providing him with support and advice.
Sir Leicester Dedlock
Mr. George is a former soldier and shooting-gallery owner who becomes entangled in Sir Leicester's household affairs through the investigation of Captain Hawdon.
Mrs. Jellyby
They are connected through the broader network of characters in the novel, with Mr. George occasionally interacting with Mrs. Jellyby's philanthropic circles.
Mr. Bucket
Bucket investigates Mr. George as a suspect in Tulkinghorn's murder, creating a tense cat-and-mouse dynamic.
Mr. Smallweed
Smallweed harasses Mr. George over a debt and attempts to manipulate him for information about Captain Hawdon.
Matthew Bagnet
Matthew Bagnet is Mr. George's loyal friend and former army comrade, often providing him with support and advice.
Matthew Bagnet
Matthew Bagnet is Mr. George's loyal friend and former army comrade, often providing him with support and advice.
Mr. Smallweed
Smallweed harasses Mr. George over a debt and attempts to manipulate him for information about Captain Hawdon.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mr. George in Sharpshooters

In the story

Mr. George appears across 12 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Smallweed Family
Mr. George, a former trooper, visits the Smallweeds to pay interest on a loan, presenting a strong, open contrast to their pinched and grasping nature.
An Appeal Case
Seeks Miss Flite to visit the dying Gridley; shows deference and discomfort in court.
Sharpshooters
Owner of the shooting gallery; prepares for the day with Phil, then receives a visit from Grandfather Smallweed and agrees to help with a handwriting sample.
More Old Soldiers Than One
Visits the Bagnet family, reflects on his loneliness, and later confronts Mr. Tulkinghorn about Captain Hawdon's writing, refusing to comply.
A Turn of the Screw
Troubled by a letter about a security debt; feels guilty and offers to sell his possessions to make amends.
XLVII: Jo’s Will
Offers Jo a place in his shooting gallery, despite the rough surroundings.
Dutiful Friendship
Visits the Bagnets for the birthday celebration, but is troubled by the death of a poor lad and memories of Gridley.
LII: Obstinacy
Arrested for Tulkinghorn's murder; remains calm and insists on his innocence, but acknowledges the circumstantial evidence against him.
Flight
Reunited with his mother in prison, expresses remorse and love.
LVIII: A Wintry Day and Night
Mrs. Rouncewell's son, who patrols the house and reports on the weather and Sir Leicester's condition.
Steel and Iron
Travels north to the iron country to reunite with his brother, the ironmaster, after many years of estrangement.
Down in Lincolnshire
The trooper now lives in a lodge on the estate, with Phil Squod keeping his relics polished.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mr. George unlock in the free preview.

See Mr. George in Sharpshooters