Death Quote by Charles Dickens
““Other men’s fathers may have died of the rheumatism or may have taken base contagion from the tainted blood of the sick vulgar, but the Dedlock family have communicated something exclusive even to the levelling process of dying by dying of their own family gout. It has come down through the illustrious line like the plate, or the pictures, or the place in Lincolnshire. It is among their dignities. Sir Leicester is perhaps not wholly without an impression, though he has never resolved it into words, that the angel of death in the discharge of his necessary duties may observe to the shades of the aristocracy, “My lords and gentlemen, I have the honour to present to you another Dedlock certified to have arrived per the family gout.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, 1861
The Dedlock family’s hereditary gout is portrayed as a distinguished, almost aristocratic trait, symbolizing how some afflictions become a badge of lineage.
In simple terms: Family disease seen as a status symbol.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how inherited traits can shape identity.
Themes
inheritance
aristocracy
illness
identity
legacy
Mood
reflective
ironic
Type
literary
social critique
When to use this quote
- medical history
- family gatherings
- genealogy research
- social commentary
Key Concepts
genetics
social perception
family reputation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does society assign prestige to inherited conditions?
- Can lineage be both a burden and a badge?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may romanticize suffering, ignoring its pain.
