Bleak House

Bleak House

by

Charles Dickens

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Mrs. Bucket is the wife of Mr. Bucket and operates as his partner in his private detective work. Her lodger is Mademoiselle Hortense, who is also a suspect in the case of Mr. Tulkinghorn’s murder, and whom Mr. Bucket eventually arrests. Although Mrs. Bucket’s efforts do not feature explicitly in the action of the novel, Mr. Bucket’s account of his investigation reveals Mrs. Bucket’s part in the process. It is evident that Mademoiselle Hortense has been offered a room in their house on purpose and that Mr. Bucket has used his wife to spy on the lodger, whom he correctly suspects of killing Mr. Tulkinghorn. Mrs. Bucket is, therefore, a clever and trustworthy woman who is dedicated to her husband’s career.
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Mrs. Bucket Character Timeline in Bleak House

The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Bucket appears in Bleak House. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 53
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
...places and untrodden streets and is ever watchful and ever calculating. He has a wife, Mrs. Bucket , and a lodger, whom Mrs. Bucket spends a great deal of time with and... (full context)
Chapter 54
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
...woman is his lodger, and she says that she has been sent here to find Mrs. Bucket . (full context)
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage Theme Icon
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
That night, Mr. Bucket told his wife, and Mrs. Bucket helped him solve the crime. He told Mrs. Bucket to relay to Mademoiselle Hortense that... (full context)
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage Theme Icon
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
...relatively short space of time. The day after Mr. Tulkinghorn’s funeral, Mademoiselle Hortense suggested to Mrs. Bucket that they go out to the country to have tea and, while they were in... (full context)