Bleak House

Bleak House

by

Charles Dickens

Mr. Bagnet Character Analysis

Mr. Bagnet is an ex-solider and a good friend of George’s. Mr. Bagnet is the husband of Mrs. Bagnet and the father of Woolwich, Quebec, and Malta. He is a devoted husband and an honest, straightforward man. He trusts his wife’s opinions on everything and allows her to run the family as she sees fit, although he keeps up a façade of paternal “discipline,” which Mrs. Bagnet tolerantly ignores. Mr. Bagnet is forgiving and does not hold a grudge against George when George gets into debt and needs the Bagnets to pay for him. He runs a shop which sells musical instruments with his son, Woolwich, and is grateful for his wife’s stabilizing influence on his life. It is implied that, if it were not for Mrs. Bagnet, Mr. Bagnet would have ended up a drifter like George.
Get the entire Bleak House LitChart as a printable PDF.
Bleak House PDF

Mr. Bagnet Character Timeline in Bleak House

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Bagnet appears in Bleak House. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 27
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
...she exclaims that she wishes he were far away because he always gets her husband, Mr. Bagnet , into trouble. George takes this good humoredly and greets the woman. (full context)
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
...to meet George as he enters. As she prepares dinner, Mrs. Bagnet tells George that Mr. Bagnet and their eldest son, Woolwich, get on very well with their music business. George grows... (full context)
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
Mr. Bagnet and Woolwich return. Mr. Bagnet is an old soldier, like George, and has a very... (full context)
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
...George and the Bagnets talk. George tells them of his dilemma and addresses himself to Mr. Bagnet , although he knows Mrs. Bagnet will answer. When George is finished, Mrs. Bagnet tells... (full context)
Chapter 34
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
...quickly forgives George and admits that she knows he would never trouble them on purpose. Mr. Bagnet advises that George should see Mr. Smallweed immediately, and George agrees and sets out with... (full context)
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
...why “his friend in the city” has sent him this letter when he knows that Mr. Bagnet cannot pay. Mr. Smallweed snaps that he does not know Mr. Bagnet cannot pay and... (full context)
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
...he will “crush” and “destroy him” if the debt is not paid. Astounded, George and Mr. Bagnet glance at one another and leave the Smallweed’s house as Mr. Smallweed calls for Judy... (full context)
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage Theme Icon
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
Once outside, George and Mr. Bagnet solemnly pace together. They agree to visit Mr. Tulkinghorn, but, when they arrive, his clerk... (full context)
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage Theme Icon
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
Mr. Bagnet tries to cheer George up, and the clerk goes into Mr. Tulkinghorn’s office again to... (full context)
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage Theme Icon
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
...says that, if George chooses to do this, he will write a document which frees Mr. Bagnet from all obligations connected with the debt. George immediately agrees and pulls the letter from... (full context)
Chapter 49
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
It is Mrs. Bagnet’s birthday and Mr. Bagnet and the children go through their yearly ritual of doing all the chores for the... (full context)
Passion, Obsession, and Madness Theme Icon
Philanthropy, Social Responsibility, and Kindness Theme Icon
...tells them that Jo has died. George gives Mrs. Bagnet her present and he and Mr. Bagnet light their pipes and drink a toast to her. A man peers across the threshold... (full context)
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Identity and Appearance Theme Icon
...together and, when George makes to leave, Mr. Bucket gets up too. Mr. Bucket tells Mr. Bagnet that he will return tomorrow for the instrument, which the men have discussed. (full context)
Chapter 52
Social Mobility, Class, and Lineage Theme Icon
Law vs. Justice Theme Icon
Haunting, Guilt, and Destiny Theme Icon
...pouch of money in her skirts. Esther and Mr. Jarndyce watch her go, amazed, and Mr. Bagnet remarks that she is an incredible woman. (full context)