Society outside prison is critical of Arthur Clennam. He doesn't make friends within the prison because he is too depressed and keeps to his room. This eventually earns him the scorn of the other prisoners. He is labeled proud, sullen, or lacking in spirit. He begins to change physically.
Ferdinand Barnacle pays him a visit. He is worried the Circumlocution Office was responsible for Arthur's predicament, but Arthur claims this is not the case. Ferdinand Barnacle claims they sometimes do ruin people unintentionally.
Barnacle explains that the Circumlocution Office exists so things are left alone. You can fill out thousands of forms and never reach the end. The Office exists to block people. He tried to warn Arthur, and tells him not to bother anymore-but he is glad they weren't the ones
