Pickwick Papers Chapters 9-11

[Kim]

Tristram wrote: "It's maybe not exactly good, but half as bad as it may seem, because this year I'll be in Argentina and buy another poncho. They are good in cold weather, and they are elegant :-)"

I'm halfway in between the two, I already checked.

[Suki]

Tristram wrote: "I also liked it when you asked the question whether it is permitted to laugh at how Miss Rachael's only chance in life is brought to nought. For my part, I had a very bad conscience when enjoying t..."

I felt bad for Miss Rachael-- she is the cliché spinster aunt. She lives with her brother and his family, and, after defying her brother by running away, she is lucky that she still has a home to return to. Her money has attracted not one but two scoundrels-- Mr Jingle and Mr Tupman, who have both tricked her into thinking that they had feelings for her. It is hard for me to have any sympathy for Mr Tupman's melodramatic letter when he runs away after Miss Rachael is returned home-- I believe his sense of loss is all tied to her money, and he has lost face by her leaving with Mr Jingle. He is introduced to us as a ladies' man, and even after flirting with Miss Rachael at the military review, when the party arrives at Manor Farm in their disheveled state, he hangs back in the kitchen to steal a kiss from Emma (who did not appreciate the attention), before joining the others to greet the family. Not exactly the behavior of a man who is anxiously looking forward to meeting his lady friend again! Poor Miss Rachael has exceeded her "sell by" date, and is expected to remain on the shelf.

[Suki]

Tristram wrote: "A last note for now: I enjoyed the Madman's Manuscript a lot, because I like it how Dickens mingles different moods and tries out various writing styles. This was definitely in the vein of Poe, one..."

I also enjoyed The Madman's Manuscript very much-- it was my favorite of the tales so far. It is funny that we find echoes of Poe in some of Dickens' tales, and some people believe that it was Grip the Raven in Barnaby Rudge who inspired Poe's Raven.

[Suki]

My favorite quote from this section falls early on in Chapter 10, where Dickens describes the old inns:

"Great, rambling, queer, old places they are, with galleries, and passages, and staircases, wide enough and antiquated enough to furnish materials for a hundred ghost stories, supposing we should ever be reduced to the lamentable necessity of inventing any..."

I wonder if Dickens had already started writing his ghost stories when he wrote this. 😀👻

[Peter]

Hi Suki

Mr Tupman, being a Pickwickian, may create a ripple or two of disagreement from some Curiosities, but Miss Rachael is certainly a character to raise our sympathy. Not to give away any spoilers, but Dickens’s portrayal of women and courting styles will be something to enjoy as you read through the novel.

Yes. The Madman’s Manuscript is quite the tale. Again, you are in for a treat because many more interpolated tales await you.

Dickens did write ghostly tales early in his career and a great Christmas ghost/goblin awaits you in this novel.

If I seem to be saying you are in for some great reading, I am. Also, you have mentioned some important tropes in the novel. Good eye!

[Tristram]

Suki wrote: "Tristram wrote: "I also liked it when you asked the question whether it is permitted to laugh at how Miss Rachael's only chance in life is brought to nought. For my part, I had a very bad conscienc..."

Did the old philanderer really kiss Emma in the kitchen? That completely eluded me. His interest in the spinster aunt may, of course, have been helped by her independent income, but I also think - not that it makes Tupman more honourable - that he also flirted with her because he would not have stood a chance with any of the young nieces, and he knew it ;-)