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Bleak House · Character

Old Tom Jarndyce

The previous owner of Bleak House who died by suicide over the suit.

minor

Also known as Tom Jarndyce

First appearance: v a morning adventure

Old Tom Jarndyce shows up with force in In Chancery. The page is where that presence becomes real.

Mentioned as having blown his brains out in despair over the Jarndyce and Jarndyce suit, symbolizing the destructive toll of the legal system.
In the storyIn ChanceryOpen this moment free

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In In Chancery: Mentioned as having blown his brains out in despair over the Jarndyce and Jarndyce suit, symbolizing the destructive toll…

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See Old Tom Jarndyce in v a morning adventure

Character Web

19 connections

A slice of how Old Tom Jarndyce sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

CHCharleyMJMr. JarndyceESEsther SummersonMSMr. SnagsbyMWMr. WoodcourtOTOld Tom Jarndyce

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Minor Figures and Background Characters
  • Jarndyce's Circle and Allies
  • Chancery and Mystery Core
  • Protagonist

+14 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

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

SetupAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

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

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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In the story

Old Tom Jarndyce appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Old Tom Jarndyce in v a morning adventure
Who is Old Tom Jarndyce in Bleak House?