The characterization of Mr. Bucket is developed throughout the novel Bleak House, beginning with his introduction in chapter XXII. Within Bleak House, Dickens introduced the first detective in : Inspector Bucket. Hired by lawyer Tulkinghorn to inquire into Lady Dedlock’s secret past and later to investigate Tulkinghorn’s own murder he appears quite frequently towards the last half of the novel. There is speculation that Dickens based Mr. Bucket on real life detective Charles F. Field, a member of London’s new police force, who was described to have an interposing forefinger to add emphasis to his conversation (much like that of Mr.
Bucket). Later, Dickens wrote a letter to the newspaper denying that Mr. Bucket was anything more than a fictional character. After Lady Dedlocks disappearance, Sir Leicester hires Mr. Bucket to find her. Mr. Bucket later uncovers the will that is instrumental in clearing up the Jarndyce and Jarndyce chancery case.
While Mr. Bucket is introduced well into the core of the novel, one may assume (at the time), that he is simply another character that Dickens has chosen to present to us with no explanation as to why.
In fact, you will notice that Mr. Bucket is introduced during an inquisition involving Mr. Snagsby at Mr. Tulkinghorns chambers, and soon forgotten, until Jo is discovered lying on his death bed and it is discovered that Mr. Bucket is the one to have taken him from the loft on that late night. It is at this point, that
we begin to discover the true rationale and importance behind this great character.
There is a lot of mystery and intrigue to be found in Mr.Buckets role in Bleak House. According to little Jo, He is in all manner of places, all at wunst. Mr. Bucket seems to appear in the strangest of times and circumstances. For example when he appears at the house of the Bagnets unannounced and unexpected, on the day of Mrs. Bagnets birthday, to celebrate, and then after leaving, to arrest Mr. George for a murder that he did not commit.
I believe that a character such as Mr. Bucket not only develops in the novel as we continue to read, I believe that Dickens also urges a change in our perception towards him. One begins by seeing Mr. Bucket as yet another additional figure Dickens has created, until he quickly develops into a key character used in solving one of the great mysteries in the novel. Mr. Bucket is a very coherent character because he is logical, intelligible and articulate. He might be discontinuous in the fact that he seems to disappear for several chapters and then suddenly reappear when he takes Jo from the loft at Bleak House, but he becomes the main character during the murder mystery motif that the novel revolves around. Mr. Bucket contributes to a couple of the several major themes of the novel, including mystery and murder. In this respect, Mr. Bucket becomes almost the main character, clearly as important as Esther Summerson and Lady Dedlock because without him there would be a lot of mystery left in the novel with no one to solve it.
Mr. Bucket is portrayed as a friendly and good-natured man, and throughout the novel we are reminded of this. For example when he admits Jo to a horsepittle and gives him money once he is discharged and tells him to move on in order to protect him. His detective skills are impressive and quick-witted; he displays his persistence and shrewdness as his character continues to develop in the book. He is described as being attentive and composed, a quiet listener who is middle aged and stoutly built. Mr. Bucket is considered to be in the friendliest condition towards his species, and will drink with most of them. This leads one to believe that he is not your average, sinister detective who sees everyone as some type of suspect. His mannerisms appear to be innocent enough and he appreciates his wife, Mrs. Bucket, as an amateur detective with natural genius. Mrs. Bucket is noted for her keen wit and close observations that she uses to aid her husband. There is a slight tone o!
f psychological realism within Mr. Buckets character. Unlike Esther Summerson and Mr. Jarndyce, he is not always the portrayal of perfection for others to enjoy. Mr. Bucket is an honorable man, who does not lie, but he does sneak around prying into the business of others for his detective work. Mr. Bucket even bribes Mr. Skimpole into helping him take Jo from Bleak House on the night that he is sick. He is a man that spends very little time at home, and he arrests his friend George because, as he puts it, friends are friends, but duty is duty. However, he is by no means a bad man, he has a very good heart which is emphasized within the novel. Soon after the murder mystery is resolved, Mr. Bucket once again takes his leave of the reader, as he has no other business to attend to in the novel.
Overall, Mr. Bucket makes the novel Bleak House complete by portraying the classic detective in a story of mystery, intrigue, murder and romance. He brings together the mystery of an illegitimate child with the death of her great mother, the murder of an infamous lawyer, and tries to save a little boys life, all while collecting the clues and information to lead to the arrest of the true murderess. Mr. Bucket is a very vivid character that makes and completes this great novel.
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