May - June 2020: David Copperfield: chapters 45 - 64

[Sue]

Plateresca, I enjoyed reading your comments. They brought me back into the novel for a bit. I particularly liked the comments about Dora and her timely demise. That whole paragraph was super. Thanks for the dip into the novel.

One part I remember is Aunt Betty and the donkeys.

[Sue]

Oops, I meant Aunt Betsey!

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

I can just imagine her frowning at that Sue - but with a twinkle in her eye 😀

Both Aunt Betsey and Traddles are wonderful, aren't they.

[Sue]

Oh yes, Jean, she would. I see her as Maggie Smith.
And Traddles is a great character too. I wonder if Dickens had a friend or acquaintance like him at school or during his work life.If you mentioned this during the reading, Jean, I either missed it or have forgotten it.

[Plateresca]

Thank you, Jean and Sue :) I enjoyed reading the book and the comments in this discussion. And, of course, I enjoyed Maggie Smith as Aunt Betsey! I watched two adaptations, the one with Maggie Smith - and many other wonderful actors! - and the newer one with colour-blind casting. It's a pity that they both cut out Traddles - it felt like the characters were about to ask about him in a couple of scenes :)

Jean talks about the possible prototype for Traddles in this post:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Thanks for finding that, Plateresca 😊.

I like the adaptation with Maggie Smith - and a 10 year old Daniel Radcliffe as David! It was his first role. I didn't get very far with the new one, though I had been looking forward to it. It seemed to have no atmosphere to me.

[Sue]

Oh! I really have to watch the Maggie Smith version.

[Plateresca]

Jean, I agree, Daniel Radcliffe is impressive in that role! I am not particularly fond of children, but I enjoyed his performance more than the work of the actor who plays young David, so that's saying a lot. Of course, young David is a bit less likeable than the child David in the book, too, but still, it was obvious that this young actor was performing at a high level, even in the same frame with cinematic veterans. What an amazing career he has had :)

The newer adaptation is not a bad film per se, only they've changed so much I think it's not quite fair to call it a Dickens adaptation.

Sue, oh yes, that one's good!

[Sue]

Thanks. I’ll look for that.

[Claudia]

Bionic Jean wrote: "This was a chapter where I was more aware than ever of the foreshadowing. Nothing is definite; it's all suggestion. Sometimes we hear it through a character's thoughts, or something in nature, sugg..."

It is a great chapter. The way Emily's story was told by Littimer -who confirms that he is a rather unpleasant character - is original. Indeed there was a kind of ambiguity in the relationship of the three travellers, because of their clandestinity and their respective social status.

I particularly enjoyed the scenery description by night - Mrs Steerforth's house, the dilapidated garden and surroundings, all seen by night by David/Dickens who liked walking in the evening and gather his thoughts and inspiration. His description of the big city, its lights, and the neighbouring countryside are always great!

[Claudia]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Mrs Gummidge is happy! Who would have thought it, and what a lovely way to end the chapter. The summary is quite long, as I suspect Dan Peggotty's dialect (and Ham's) as transposed by Charl..."</i>

[book:Ruth (published in 3 volumes in 1853) is another example of what Emily experienced.

[Claudia]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Chapter 57:

David decides that those emigrating to Australia should not be told about the death of Ham and Steerforth; that is would be better if they were left in "happy ignorance". He tells Mr M..."

I found this chapter (57) almost as emotional as the two preceding ones. Chapter 56 somehow mirrored chapter 55. Both told of tempests - a meteorological and fatal storm in chapter 55 and a private and family hurricane in chapter 56, the loss of a beloved son, no matter his faults. Miss Dartle's own tempest and sinking into insanity was spectacular.

Chapter 57 has its share of funny moments - I could vividly picture Mr Micawber's attire, which reminds me of how some vacationers from Paris were strolling on the quay in Concarneau, a fishing port, dressed like sailors, while genuine sailors were smiling at them.

But the chapter was also very emotional because of all taking leave from eachother, those hoping for a better future, and particularly the unexpected presence of Martha and Emily, seen from afar, and the generosity and selflessness of Mr Pegotty.

Thank you Jean for the many interesting background information - particularly about emigrants to Australia. The Micawbers seem so real and unforgettable. Perhaps their offspring are hiding behind some of our Australian fellow readers?

[Alice]

What is the age difference between Steerforth and Rosa Dartle? At the time of the main events, she is thirty years old. And him?

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Claudia - I really enjoyed your thoughts, especially about the descriptions, which are sometimes overlooked in a Dickens novel, and apologise for this delayed reply.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Alice wrote: "What is the age difference between Steerforth and Rosa Dartle? At the time of the main events, she is thirty years old. And him?"

I'm not sure what you consider to be the "main events" Alice, but we first meet Rosa Dartle in Chapter 20, and soon learn that there has been a romantic past between the two. I assume therefore that she cannot be much older than Steerforth himself.