True Grit

by

Charles Portis

Lawyer Daggett Character Analysis

Mattie’s family lawyer. When Mattie convinces Stonehill to buy back the ponies he sold to her father, she sends a telegraph message to Daggett explaining that she needs him to write out the terms of the deal so that Stonehill will be comfortable paying a child. Mattie believes wholeheartedly in Daggett’s usefulness, often telling people that she has a “good lawyer” and that she isn’t afraid to go to court. When Daggett responds to Mattie’s initial message, he sends her what she needs but also implores her to come home, saying that her mother is worried. Before Daggett can come fetch her himself, though, Mattie leaves Fort Smith to accompany Rooster and LaBoeuf on the manhunt.

Lawyer Daggett Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Lawyer Daggett or refer to Lawyer Daggett. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“I cannot make an agreement with a child. You are not accountable. You cannot be bound to a contract.”

“Lawyer Daggett will back up any decision I make. You may rest easy on that score. You can confirm any agreement by telegraph.”

“This is a damned nuisance!" he exclaimed. “How am I to get my work done? I have a sale tomorrow.”

“There can be no settlement after I leave this office,” said I. “It will go to law.”

He worried with his eyeglasses for a minute and then said, “I will pay two hundred dollars to your father’s estate when I have in my hand a letter from your lawyer absolving me of all liability from the beginning of the world to date. It must be signed by your lawyer and your mother and it must be notarized.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Lawyer Daggett, Mattie’s Mother
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The lawyer had blamed Rooster for taking me on the search for Tom Chaney and had roundly cursed him and threatened to prosecute him in a court action. I was upset on hearing it. I told Lawyer Daggett that Rooster was in no way to blame, and was rather to be praised and commended for his grit. He had certainly saved my life.

Whatever his adversaries, the railroads and steamboat companies, may have thought, Lawyer Daggett was a gentleman, and on hearing the straight of the matter he was embarrassed by his actions. He said he still considered the deputy marshal had acted with poor judgment, but in the circumstances was deserving an apology.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lawyer Daggett
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire True Grit LitChart as a printable PDF.
True Grit PDF

Lawyer Daggett Quotes in True Grit

The True Grit quotes below are all either spoken by Lawyer Daggett or refer to Lawyer Daggett. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Chapter 3 Quotes

“I cannot make an agreement with a child. You are not accountable. You cannot be bound to a contract.”

“Lawyer Daggett will back up any decision I make. You may rest easy on that score. You can confirm any agreement by telegraph.”

“This is a damned nuisance!" he exclaimed. “How am I to get my work done? I have a sale tomorrow.”

“There can be no settlement after I leave this office,” said I. “It will go to law.”

He worried with his eyeglasses for a minute and then said, “I will pay two hundred dollars to your father’s estate when I have in my hand a letter from your lawyer absolving me of all liability from the beginning of the world to date. It must be signed by your lawyer and your mother and it must be notarized.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Stonehill (speaker), Frank Ross (Mattie’s Father), Lawyer Daggett, Mattie’s Mother
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 7 Quotes

The lawyer had blamed Rooster for taking me on the search for Tom Chaney and had roundly cursed him and threatened to prosecute him in a court action. I was upset on hearing it. I told Lawyer Daggett that Rooster was in no way to blame, and was rather to be praised and commended for his grit. He had certainly saved my life.

Whatever his adversaries, the railroads and steamboat companies, may have thought, Lawyer Daggett was a gentleman, and on hearing the straight of the matter he was embarrassed by his actions. He said he still considered the deputy marshal had acted with poor judgment, but in the circumstances was deserving an apology.

Related Characters: Mattie Ross (speaker), Rooster Cogburn, Tom Chaney (Theron Chelmsford), Lawyer Daggett
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis: