The Battle of Life, Part the Second

[Zulfiya]

It is nominally the longest of the three parts in this novelette, but to me, it flowed very quickly with different perspectives, a mystery, and dramatic twists and turns.

Let me start from the very beginning. The part opens with the scene in a snug little office on the old battleground (an allusion to the mysterious war that was fought many years ago and nearly acquired a mythological status in this novelette). Even though the two lawyers (Snitchney and Craggs) have not done anything heinous in the story so far, their names speak volumes, and there are hidden allusions to their legal atrocities. We also learn that our feelings and suspicions were quite right. Marion is not in love with Alfred.

It becomes even more obvious in the second scene of this novelette when Clemency witnesses the secret date of the love doves or at least she hears and sees something that only confirms our expectations.

The tension reaches its culmination at the party that was organized to welcome Alfred after his long absence, and we all are experiencing that feeling of uneasiness that is brewing between the lines of the story, and then the revelation - Marion is gone, and only her footprints are still visible, but even they will soon be 'hushed and covered up'.

The final lines were so unexpected and exciting that I actually had a temptation yesterday to finish reading the novelette last night, but because of other reading obligations, I think I will have to wait for a week to read about Marion, Grace, Alfred, and this mysterious libertine, Michael Warden.

Happy reading, everybody.

P.S. I have never suspected that Dickens could be so suspenseful :-)

[Linda]

We finally get some Christmas-feeling from this story! I liked all the preparations and anticipation that was described, waiting for Alfred's homecoming.

I really felt caught up in the dancing scene when it was approaching midnight - it was described with so much movement and imagery (the bird-of-paradise feather and constant bell-ringing), that I almost forgot about Marion was expected (by the reader, at least) to slip out of the party at some point and steal away with Mr. Warden.

Now, too, the lively air that fanned it, grew less gentle as the music quickened and the dance proceeded with new spirit; and a breeze arose that made the leaves and berries dance upon the wall, as they had often done upon the trees; and the breeze rustled in the room as if an invisible company of fairies, treading in the foot-steps of the good substantial revellers, were whirling after them. Now, too, no feature of the Doctor's face could be distinguished as he spun and spun; and now there seemed a dozen Birds of Paradise in fitful flight; and now there were a thousand little bells at work; and now a fleet of flying skirts was ruffled by a little tempest, when the music gave in, and the dance was over.

One thing I was confused about - why when Alfred was on his return, he found the gate closed and he had to climb over the wall? Wouldn't they have left the gate open for him? How did the party guests arrive - surely not by scaling the wall? Or did he return from a back portion of the property? I'm sure this is a minor thing to mention from the story, but it definitely puzzled me.

He dismounted from the chaise, and telling the driver - even that was not easy in his agitation - to remain behind for a few minutes, and then to follow slowly, ran on with exceeding swiftness, tried the gate, scaled the wall, jumped down on the other side, and stood panting in the old orchard.

I'm curious to see why Michael Warden is out of money and in debt? What is his past? Why must he leave and not return to England for several years (if I understood that correctly).

[Robin P, Moderator]

Wasn't there a comment about how Grace used to say she would marry Alfred. She must have squashed all her own feelings in her dedication to her sister.

[Frances, Moderator]

I thought he scaled the wall as he wanted to surprise them in some way.

Yes, I suspect that Grace has always loved Alfred, and yet for some peculiar Dickensian reason she felt she needed to sacrifice her love for what she thought was her sister's. Part of the difficulty was probably Grace projecting her own feelings on her younger sister, that is, that in loving Alfred herself, she couldn't imagine that her sister did not feel the same way.

Again, the minor women, Clemency and the Mrses Craggs and Snitchy, steal the show to some degree.

Why is little Britain called that?

[Frances, Moderator]

I thought he scaled the wall as he wanted to surprise them in some way.

Yes, I suspect that Grace has always loved Alfred, and yet for some peculiar Dickensian reason she felt she needed to sacrifice her love for what she thought was her sister's. Part of the difficulty was probably Grace projecting her own feelings on her younger sister, that is, that in loving Alfred herself, she couldn't imagine that her sister did not feel the same way.

Again, the minor women, Clemency and the Mrses Craggs and Snitchy, steal the show to some degree.

Why is little Britain called that?

[Linda]

Frances wrote: "I thought he scaled the wall as he wanted to surprise them in some way.

Yes, I suspect that Grace has always loved Alfred, and yet for some peculiar Dickensian reason she felt she needed to sacrif..."

That makes sense about Alfred wanting to surprise the waiting party, my speculation that perhaps he entered the property from a different direction would support that idea.

I agree that Grace loved Alfred. I went back to try and find some passage that made me think so, but I couldn't really pinpoint one for sure, so I think it was just a feeling I got somehow.

I've begun reading part III and Clemency is definitely my favorite character. :)

Frances wrote: "Why is little Britain called that?"

This passage was in part I:

Benjamin Britain - sometimes called Little Britain, to distinguish him from Great; as we might say Young England, to express Old England with a decided difference...

I'm assuming "Great Britain" is in reference to Little Britain's father? Or am I interpreting that wrong? Perhaps it just means that Little Britain himself is still young in age?

[Zulfiya]

The first thing that cae to my mind when I was reading about Little Britain, was the eponymous TV show.

It is slightly burlesque and somewhat risque and a little bit vulgar :-) I do not think this is what Dickens meant when he wrote this novelette :-)

[Lynnm]

I couldn't help but thinking of Emily in David Copperfield when Marion left with Michael Warden. I hope that Marion doesn't have such a sad tale, but I have a feeling that she will.

I was wondering why Grace was so keen on Marion and Alfred, but it came clear in that one line, when they said that she wanted to marry Alfred when she was younger.

I could be far off, but I wonder if Marion realizes that Grace loves Alfred. Could that have affected her decision to leave?

Snitchney and Craggs are a bad pair, but they redeemed themselves a bit when they were happy that Michael Warden was leaving (before they know that Marion went with him). And their wives are a bit of comic relief.

[Frances, Moderator]

I didn't so much get the impression that Snitchey and Craggs were ill-intentioned, more that they were a pair of well-meaning if somewhat inept lawyers bumbling through their duties. Whether they will in fact assist Michael Warden in straightening out his affairs remains to be seen, but I haven't had the impression that they are out to swindle anyone.

[Hedi]

Lynnm wrote: "I couldn't help but thinking of Emily in David Copperfield when Marion left with Michael Warden. I hope that Marion doesn't have such a sad tale, but I have a feeling that she will.

I was wonderi..."

Good point. It really reminds one of Emily's and Steerforth's elopement.

The Mrses Snitchey and Craggs are really comical and even though they might be a little caricaturized there are people like that who are concerned that they/ their loved ones might be put to disadvantage.

With regards to Michael Warden, it sounded as if he had to leave the country otherwise he would be arrested. What has he done? Or would he be imprisoned for not paying his debts like Charles Dickens's father and Mr Micawber in DC?

Sorry for getting so late into the game. I am spending a lot of time at work at the moment so that I have not been so keen on sitting in front of my private computer during the few hours of leisure time.

[Zulfiya]

Hedi wrote: "Good point. It really reminds one of Emily's and Steerforth's elopement."

It is nice to see cross-Dickens allusions and references to his other works. The project puts so many things in their right order.

[Renee]

I agree! The cross-Dickensian references have given me more to think about. I picked up that Marion had run away with Warden butane the assumption that it was an elopement. Although, now I realize that was never stated. It is certainly am unexpected event. I barely noticed Michael Warden until this event.

I'm still quite taken with Clemency. But I don't really understand Ben Britain's part in this. I suspected he would be the fly in the ointment of love, but he seems to be an ineffectual suitor for either daughter.