Summary

Edith’s cold, haughty response to Dombey’s rebuke about her behavior at the party just makes him more distant in Chapter 40. His first wife instantly bowed to Dombey’s will, like everybody in his life, so he is unaccustomed to being challenged. He thought that her arrogance would not extend to him and is deeply disappointed and angry. He retreats even further from everyone around him and becomes even more “gloomy, sullen, irksome, and unyeilding” than ever (609). Moreover, he hates Florence even more because she has somehow been able to win the love of Edith, just like she won Paul’s love, when he was unable to. Everything about her that should make him proud just makes him jealous and angry. Dombey continues to try to make Edith bend to his will, disapproving of how much money she spends and the society...