Charles Dickens' Bleak House: Mr. Tulkinghorn as a Successful Literary Lawyer

Authors

Maureen E. Markey, Thomas Jefferson School of Law

First Page

689

Document Type

Article

Abstract

After a short summary of the story of Bleak House, this Article analyzes the character of Mr. Tulkinghorn as a "successful literary lawyer" according to the criteria described by Richard Weisberg in his book Poethics. This Article concludes that, although Mr. Tulkinghom may be considered "successful" in one sense of the word-he is powerful, he achieves his goals, he makes money-he is an abject failure from an ethical, moral, humanistic, or any other perspective. Mr. Tulkinghorn's behavior simply cannot and should not be justified under ethical norms. This Article challenges attempts by lawyers to do so, as providing ammunition for further lawyer bashing by a cynical public. Whether we as lawyers like it or not, we belong to a profession whose image is tarnished by "bad" lawyers, both in life and in literature. We do neither our profession nor the public a service when we rationalize unethical lawyer behavior. As lawyers, we have an obligation to condemn reprehensible lawyer behavior, in fiction as well as in reality.

Recommended Citation

Maureen E. Markey, Charles Dickens' Bleak House: Mr. Tulkinghorn as a Successful Literary Lawyer, 14 St. Thomas L. Rev. 689 (2002).
Available at: https://scholarship.stu.edu/stlr/vol14/iss4/3