Charles Dickens possessed an uncanny ability to capture the imagination of his audience. Many of his readers were new to fiction mainly due to a rise in literacy rates during the industrial revolution. His overwhelming popularity was due largely to his extraordinary power of observation, fantastic wit, unforgettable characters, and an absolute command of the English language second only to that of Shakespeare. His fiction gave voice to the demands and frustrations of the poor and working classes, as well, and this in turn helped to assure his enormous appeal across all class boundaries.

In Volume 2, Dombey, along with his sinister manager, Carker, meets the sycophantic Major Bagstock, the feather brained Mrs. Skewton, and her beautiful, aloof daughter, Edith. Mrs. Skewton maneuvers Mr. Dombey into position so that he will propose to Edith. Because he needs a trophy wife and another son, the project is successful. The wedding is like a funeral. Edith, though icy in her demeanor to Mr. Dombey, is fond of Florence. Carker schemes in the background to increase the tension between Dombey and Edith. The marriage becomes a farce. Meanwhile, Captain Cattle has taken over the shop run by Solomon Gills as that old merchant disappears in a quest to find his beloved nephew, Walter Gay. The rogue juvenile, Baler, is employed by Carker as a spy. Volume 2 ends with a marriage and a death.