Dombey and Son · Character

Miss Tox

A genteel, sighing intimate of the Dombey circle, chosen as Paul's godmother for her very insignificance.

supporting

Also known as Miss Tox, Lucretia Tox, Tox

First appearance: In Which Timely Provision Is Made for an Emergency That Will Sometimes Arise in the Best-Regulated Families

As a supporting figure in Dombey and Son, Miss Tox is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

See Miss Tox in In Which Timely Provision Is Made for an Emergency That Will Sometimes Arise in the Best-Regulated Families Book page

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Miss Tox hovers at Mrs. Chick's elbow, commiserating on cue and elevating her eyebrows at every expected sorrow, her devotion to Mr. Dombey a quiet, unspoken ache. Elevated to godmothership precisely because she can threaten nothing, she accepts the office with the gratitude of someone used to being useful rather than wanted. Her soft, misplaced tenderness toward the Dombey household exposes how much warmth the family's grandeur leaves unclaimed.

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See Miss Tox in In Which Timely Provision Is Made for an Emergency That Will Sometimes Arise in the Best-Regulated Families

Character Web

20 connections

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

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Lower-class family and schemers
Minor and background figures
Central characters and household
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

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

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this scene, Susan Nipper’s bold, unauthorized confrontation with Mr. Dombey represents the story’s emotiona…

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In the story

Miss Tox appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Dombey and Son
A friend of Mrs. Chick, who admires Mr. Dombey's dignity and has prepared a 'Welcome, little Dombey' device.
In Which Timely Provision Is Made for an Emergency That Will Sometimes Arise in the Best-Regulated Families
Supports Mrs. Chick in persuading Polly, emphasizing the privilege of caring for a child of the superior classes.
Paul's Progress and Christening
Miss Tox is devoted to Paul, assists in his care, and is made his godmother; she receives a bracelet from Mr. Dombey.
A Bird's-Eye Glimpse of Miss Tox's Dwelling-Place: Also of the State of Miss Tox's Affections
Miss Tox is the central figure of the chapter, living in a cramped house in Princess's Place. She becomes increasingly devoted to baby Paul Dombey, neglecting Major Bagstock and adorning her home with new decorations.
Paul’s Further Progress, Growth and Character
Miss Tox assists Mrs. Chick in managing the nursery and is devoted to Paul's care, even being driven in single harness by him during play.
Containing the Sequel of the Midshipman's Disaster
Maintains reserved behavior toward Major Bagstock, but enjoys the attention and emotional display at dinner.
What the Waves Were Always Saying
Miss Tox appears at the end of the chapter, weeping and lamenting that Dombey and Son should be a daughter after all.
Mr. Dombey Goes Upon a Journey
Observed watering her flowers across the street; Major Bagstock denounces her as a scheming and ambitious woman.
XXIX: The Opening of the Eyes of Mrs. Chick
Miss Tox is in a reflective, nostalgic mood, tending to her plants and thinking of her childhood. She is visibly disturbed by Mrs. Chick's news of Mr. Dombey's impending remarriage.
Miss Tox Improves an Old Acquaintance
Feeling depressed and lonely after being cut off from Mrs. Chick and Mr. Dombey, she visits the Toodles to maintain a connection to the Dombey household.
Mr. Dombey and the World
Secretly visits Mrs. Pipchin in disguise to inquire about Mr. Dombey's state.

Chapter companion notes

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See Miss Tox in In Which Timely Provision Is Made for an Emergency That Will Sometimes Arise in the Best-Regulated Families