# Ferdinand Barnacle — Little Dorrit character guide

> Ferdinand Barnacle in Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Ferdinand, the engaging young Barnacle

**First appearance:** 0036-xxxiv-a-shoal-of-barnacles

## Who they are

A suave, cynical member of the Circumlocution Office.

## In the story

### [Preface to the 1857 Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/preface-to-the-1857-edition)

Part of the Barnacle family and the Circumlocution Office, which Dickens defends as exaggerated fiction.

### [Containing the Whole Science of Government](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/x-containing-the-whole-science-of-government)

The engaging young Barnacle who gives Arthur vague advice and a lot of forms, embodying the Circumlocution Office's obstruction.

### [In Which a Great Patriotic Conference Is Holden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xii-in-which-a-great-patriotic-conference-is-holden)

The engaging young Barnacle who acts as negotiator between Mr. Merdle and Lord Decimus, and humorously recounts the bureaucratic troubles with the Dorrit payment.

### [XXV: The Chief Butler Resigns the Seals of Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxv-the-chief-butler-resigns-the-seals-of-office)

Present at the dinner party in his most engaging state.

### [An Appearance in the Marshalsea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxviii-an-appearance-in-the-marshalsea)

Visits Arthur in prison, offering a cynical defense of the Circumlocution Office's purpose of leaving everything alone.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/ferdinand_barnacle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters