Topic One: "London": Part One (Appendix A): Dickens

Through the darkness of London, Dickens leaves the people to wonder whether the metaphorical fog will ever lift. The Darkness of London is symbolized by the "… mourning… for the death of the sun" (Dickens 255). For the people do not know whether or not a new day has begun. A new day would symbolize the new rules for the Victorian era. This new day won't start until the fog lifts. The metaphorical fog represents the harsh rules of the Victorian era. The "harsh rules", "creep into the cabooses of collier- brigs…" (Dickens 255). Dickens shows that the fog doesn't just effect the people who receive pensions, but also captains of ships and farm workers.  Dickens explains the closer you get to Temple Bar, in Lincoln's Inn Hall, the denser the fog gets, the harsher the rules of the Victorian era get because there, at the heart of the fog sits the Lord High Chancellor. The Lord High Chancellor is the one enforcing the Law and the reason why the fog gets denser the Closer you get to Temple Bar.  

Once the fog hovering over the Victorian people gets lifted, the Victorian society would be able to stop mourning about the "death of the sun"(Dickens 255) and instead celebrate a new day. The new day would represent the beginning of more informal rules for the people of the Victorian era. When there is a new day they will walk towards Temple Bar, in Lincoln's Inn Hall, the fog won't get denser because there, at the heart sits the understanding Lord High Chancellor.

Dickens, Charles. "Bleak House." In The Secret Agent. Toronto, Ontario: Broadview Editions, 2009. Print.