Mr Dombey is a proud, unkind and rich merchant in London. His only concern is the continuation of the family name in the context of his firm. For this reason, Dombey cruelly neglects his devoted daughter Florence for the young Paul who he values solely for his potential as a successor in the firm and not as a human being. As the plot pans out Dombey is left without his fortune, son or wife and lives in solitude and misery. He must accept the kindness of his daughter and Walter Gay, the clerk, with humility to end the book happily.