Who Richard Carstone is
Richard Carstone is a young man caught in the uncertainty surrounding Jarndyce and Jarndyce, a disputed inheritance case. As a ward of the court, he belongs to a world where legal proceedings shape people's hopes and choices.
John Jarndyce offers Richard, Ada Clare, and Esther Summerson a generous home at Bleak House. He urges them not to place their hopes in the lawsuit that bears his family name.
What Richard Carstone wants
Richard's hopes turn toward the possibility of an inheritance, even as he struggles to choose a profession. The promise of wealth begins to compete with the ordinary work of building a life. His situation shows how the lawsuit can draw attention away from an independent future.
Richard Carstone and the others in the story
Ada Clare is Richard's cousin, and the two fall in love. Both are wards of the court, while Esther comes to Bleak House as Ada's companion. Their shared household places Richard's uncertain prospects beside John Jarndyce's generosity and distrust of the case.
Questions
Who is Richard Carstone in Bleak House?
Richard Carstone is a young ward of the court whose expectations become tied to a disputed inheritance.
Who does Richard Carstone fall in love with?
Richard falls in love with Ada Clare, his cousin and a fellow ward of the court.
How does the lawsuit affect Richard Carstone?
The possibility of inherited wealth competes with Richard's efforts to settle on a profession. His hopes in the case threaten his ability to establish an independent life.