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Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit - Group Read 2
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Little Dorrit II: Chapters 1 - 11
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Robin P
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The dog incident is very distressing. In Dicken's children's story, The Magic Fishbone, there is a "horrid" little dog and in the end the fishbone dives down his throat and chokes him. When I did a presentation about Dickens at our Unitarian society (we claim Dickens as a member although he may not officially have been one), I used that book as a children's story. But I omitted that final page about the dog's end, as it would have horrified all our animal-loving children.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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Anne, Mona and Debra - I too am a dog-lover and owner, except that I am in between dogs. My current sheepdog is still abroad. He was abused extremely badly, and it's taken over a year for him to start to trust people. We get little videos of him every few days.
I've always hated this scene when I've read it before, but I guess it's affecting me even more right now :( As I remember, they skirt over it in the dramatisations (but I could be wrong - Mark might know). But I don't think you have to be particularly an animal lover to realise that this indicates a callous, base, even brutal nature underlying both Gowan and Blandois.
They do say that murderers (I mean psychopaths - not those who kill eg. once from extreme temper) often start by torturing small animals. But we know that Blandois has murdered at least once already. So perhaps Charles Dickens put this scene in to show us something about Henry Gowan?
Debra - well spotted about Gowan. It was almost as if he was goading Blandois, as he was painting him, didn't you think? And Blandois could not control the agitation in his hand.
Jean, yes, it did seem like Gowan was goading Blandois. So, does Gowan know something? And why was Blandois so agitated? Does Blandois know or think that Gowan knows about the murder? And why would Gowan provoke a murderer? I do not have any answers. And I might just be going off the deep end about nothing.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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"She has a lot of integrity in holding out against the wishes of her family and Mrs. General."
Yes, I like this :) Many would give in - or begin to doubt themselves - in her position.
Also, a thought about Fanny. It is terrible the way she plans to use Sparkler.
I also was upset by the murder of the dog. But I think, as others have said, that the treatment of the dog was included to show the inhumanity of both Gowan and Blandois. I, too, believe that it was Blandois that poisoned the dog and I think this shows how little motivation he needs to kill.I am glad that Amy and Minnie are friends because I think they need each other, but I am very uneasy that their friendship is bringing Amy into closer contact with Blandois. He seems to be be taking a particular interest in her, which cannot bode well.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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Oh no! I was thinking The Magic Fishbone would be a great in-between read, like the 4 we had before. I have a copy with some lovely illustrations :)
Maybe it still would ... during January, and maybe you could host/lead it please Robin? (I'm planning well ahead here ;) )
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I kind of hope the better side of her wins out. She can be very caring; we've seen that with Amy. And she's certainly capable of feeling guilt and remorse.
Debra wrote: "Also, a thought about Fanny. It is terrible the way she plans to use Sparkler."I think Fanny only wants to show Mrs. Merdle that her son loves her and she is now as good as all of the Merdle's. I don't think she's bad or means any harm to Sparker. In fact, I think she likes him. He loved her and never looked down on him. She just has an uppity way of speaking as she did before she was rich, especially to Mrs. Merdle because she doesn't want to be treated like she is lesser than - that's the main thing that gets to hers.
Jean and Anne, if that is the way it is with Fanny, then maybe she is not so bad. Maybe she will actually fall in love with Sparkle!
Debra wrote: " ean and Anne, if that is the way it is with Fanny, then maybe she is not so bad. Maybe she will actually fall in love with Sparkle!"That's my guess, Debra. There's nothing in their way now. :)) I'd love to see that. He's not so bright but he's kind. She's very bright and can use his kindness to mellow out and perhaps he'll teach her something about kindness. Not to mention that she would marry into the Merdle family!
I forgot to say that Blandois seems to be trying to befriend everyone. I suspect he is looking for something or for information. I don't why he would kill a dog, if he did do it, unless he snuck in to their place to look around while only Lion was there. Lion would have torn him to shreds.
Sorry for so many posts. Perhaps Gowan killed the dog because his wife is so loving towards him and he is either jealous of the attention or is trying to get back at his wife because her parents aren't giving him/them enough money. I think he could be the psychopath. Dickens is pointing so strongly at Blandois as the bad guy so that we'll only look at him; he certainly is up to no good. But psychopaths don't shake when their nervous or angry. Also, Minnie's parents finally agreed to the marriage but they tried to prevent it for 2 years. Psychopaths can be so charming and charismatic when they want to be. But now that Gowan's married he's relaxed and can let his true nature show. I think we all speculated that this marriage would be a disappointment.
If Gowan did kill the dog, I sure hope Minnie doesn't get pregnant.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Robin P wrote: "The dog incident is very distressing. In Dicken's children's story, The Magic Fishbone ..."Oh no! I was thinking The Magic Fishbone would be a great ..."
Yes, I would be happy to host that. It is a cute story and the incident I mentioned comes in the last sentence. I wonder if anyone here is old enough to remember when the adult Shirley Temple hosted a TV show in the US that featured fairytales. I am pretty sure this story was one of them. (They undoubtedly left out that last sentence.)
What could be more revealing of character than the mistreatment of an animal? I believe Blandois poisoned the dog because he will tolerate no one, even an animal, exposing him or challenging him. He is devoid of soul. Gowan is just as bad, but without so much brazenness as Blandois, so he kicks and bullies, but I do not think he would kill, because he would not want that known of him.This was hard to read, but also more revealing than any other route could possibly have been. Any question the reader might have had about redeeming qualities in either of these men is dispelled, and we can but wish that they both get their due before the story is ended.
I certainly worry for Minnie and also for Amy being brought into his sphere. I am going to complain a tiny bit of Dickens here, because I wish he would refer to her as Amy and not "Little Dorrit" in this context. It is one thing to use it as almost an endearment with Arthur, but it seems out of place and denies her her individuality and personality here.
Fanny will no doubt end up catching Sparkler, but she might not be all that happy with what she gets. He seems a bit shallow and useless, even for Fanny. I wonder how long she will be able to curb her desire to disparage Amy...Uncle Fred's chastisement will only affect her for so long.
Jean - I had meant to weigh in on the "saintliness" you discussed. The first time I read this book, I came away thinking Amy was just too submissive and too sweet to be true. On this reading, however, I have come to see her quite differently. She is a kind soul, who, being raised in the prison and witness to so much sadness and poverty, has formed a deep empathy with others. She has a sort of ability to look beyond the surface, to the soul. She seeks out the good in others, because she has seen that those who are so often reduced to being "bad" in the eyes of the world, are in fact often victims of their circumstances, and can often be kind and caring and self-sacrificing. She struggles with her emotions and her negative thoughts and hurt feelings. She isn't oblivious to the faults, she is simply determined not to add to them. She genuinely loves her family and she found herself in a position, almost from birth, to be their salvation. They have never acknowledged that openly, but even they know it. So, I am a convert to the view that she is a saint in the sense of what a Victorian Christian society would have valued in sainthood--and not "saintly" in the way it is so often now applied, which carries some sense of derision or the idea that there is something sanctimonious that goes with the goodness.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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I'm loving all these ideas - and never personally mind more posts, Anne, but on the contrary, welcome them - especially such thought-provoking ones!
Sara - "I wish he would refer to her as Amy and not "Little Dorrit" in this context." I will pay particular attention to Charles Dickens' use of this. I must admit that up to now I have always thought of it as deliberate: either to show Arthur Clennam's perspective, as you say, but also sometimes when the narrator deliberately want to emphasise her innocence, or the burdens she holds.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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I find that the character of Amy Dorrit is sometimes dismissed. Even readers of classics, including those who particularly like reading Charles Dickens, can be a little too ... what I think of as 21st century cynical of her. This actually put me off one group, as it led to denigrating jokes - a sort of modern arrogance, just because we live in later times. But what is the point of reading Victorian classics if you can't get past looking at their literature through modern spectacles?
OK, I'll get off my soapbox now! And apologies for the diversion.
Jean, just FYI, I listen to a Book Vlogger on Youtube who specializes in and is very passionate about Victorian novels. She has one recording in which she goes through her 15 favorite Victorian characters and Little Dorrit is on the list. She mentioned many positive traits like strength and kindness. I can't recall all of them. So, of course, not at all dismissive. About 4 other Dickens characters made the list. She's a fan. She also has one on her 15 favorite Dickens novels from least favorite to most favorite (Let's just say that Our Mutual Friend and Dombey and Sons are high on my list TBR now).
Book And Things is her "name" on Youtube if anyone is interested.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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(I think Our Mutual Friend is probably his greatest work, by the way.)
Yes! That's her. I follow her on GR but my account has so many glitches right now. it's barely usable. I can't see anything like friends' reviews or people I follow, e.g. Katie.You and she are in agreement on Our Mutual Friend being Dickens greatest work.
I am about halfway through chapter 5- working on catching up! Tip is a gambler... That does not bode well if he falls in with Blandois and Gowan... or even if not!
I think there may be hope for Gowan as it is stated that "if he (Blandois) had given her (Minnie) any tangible personal cause to regard him with aversion, he (Gowan) would have had no compuction whatever in flinging him out of the higest window"
I don't know Jenny. I find it hard to believe there's any hope for him after the way he treated his dog.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Sara - I couldn't agree more with your excellent summing up of Amy, and am so pleased you too see her this way :) I find that the character of Amy Dorrit is sometimes dismissed. Even readers of c..."
Don't apologize Jean. I agree with you completely.
Sara - I also think your summary is excellent. You described Amy's character perfectly.
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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The chapter title, “Mostly, Prunes and Prism”, tells us that we will now learn more about Mrs. General’s attempts to “varnish” her charges. This makes Little Dorrit feel anxious and ill at ease, but as always, she tries to fit in with her family’s wishes. Amy tries harder than ever to be shaped by Mrs. General, but doesn’t make much progress. Her one comfort during all this, is that Fanny is being nice to her, and Amy feels very fond of her sister.
Fanny tells Amy one night that she thinks “somebody is monstrously polite to Mrs General”. She explains to Amy her suspicions that Mrs. General has designs on “Pa” (their father), and hopes to trap him into marriage. Their father already admires Mrs. General so much, thinking of her as a “paragon of accomplishment” who would be an acquisition to the family, that he might easily become infatuated:
“Think of me with Mrs General for a Mama!”
Amy is not at all sure, and asks whether Fanny might not be mistaken. But Fanny says she is certain. She couldn’t bear such a union, she says, and would even marry Sparkler to get out of it. Amy can’t believe her sister will go so far, but Fanny says she will—especially as she could then treat Mrs. Merdle in her own style.
Amy thinks very hard about what Fanny has said about both Mrs. General and Mr. Sparkler. She believes that Fanny is so impetuous, that she could easily be wrong about Mrs. General’s intentions, but that anyone can see how devoted Mr. Sparkler is to Fanny:
“Sometimes she would prefer him to such distinction of notice, that he would chuckle aloud with joy; next day, or next hour, she would overlook him so completely, and drop him into such an abyss of obscurity, that he would groan under a weak pretence of coughing.”
And Fanny is very cruel to him. Mr. Sparkler develops an interest in Mr. Dorrit’s health, and calls often. Edward also finds Mr. Sparkler is his constant companion, but he finds this rather tiresome, so often sneaks away. Mr. Sparkler begins to regularly follow Fanny’s gondola, so often in fact that:
“he might have been supposed to have made a wager for a large stake to be paddled a thousand miles in a thousand hours; though whenever the gondola of his mistress left the gate, the gondola of Mr Sparkler shot out from some watery ambush and gave chase, as if she were a fair smuggler and he a custom-house officer.”
But none of this seems to make any difference to Fanny.
Blandois calls upon Mr. Dorrit, who is pleased to receive him as the friend of Mr. Gowan. Mr. Dorrit asks him to pass a message on to Mr. Gowan, that he wants him to paint his portrait. On hearing this, Henry Gowan becomes angry:
“for he resented patronage almost as much as he resented the want of it.”
However, thinking it over overnight, he changes his mind:
“saying in his off-hand manner and with a slighting laugh, ‘Well, Blandois … We journeymen must take jobs when we can get them … One must eat!”
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gowan - Sol Eytinge Jnr. - 1871
Henry Gowan goes to see Mr. Dorrit, saying:
“Now, the fact is, I am a very bad painter, but not much worse than the generality … I’ll do the best I can for the money; and if the best should be bad, why even then, you may probably have a bad picture with a small name to it, instead of a bad picture with a large name to it.”
Mr. Dorrit is satisfied, and still wants him to do it, as he believes that Henry Gowan is well connected. By painting his portrait, he thinks, Henry Gowan would then be under an obligation to him. Mr. Gowan suggests that he paints the portrait in Rome, since they all will be travelling there shortly.
All the Dorrit family believe the fiction about Henry Gowan marrying beneath him, against his family’s wishes. All, except Little Dorrit, who:
“had an instinctive knowledge that there was not the least truth in it.”
Little Dorrit and Mrs. Minnie Gowan become friends and they both have an aversion to Blandois. When Mrs. Gowan says goodbye to Amy, before the Dorrit family leave Venice, Blandois is there, ever attentive:
'Goodbye my love' - Minnie Gowan and Amy Dorrit, attended by Blandois - James Mahoney
Nevertheless Mrs. Gowan does manage to whisper to Amy, that she is sure Blandois killed the dog.
Little Dorrit wonders at how easy it is for strangers to be accepted by her father, but thinks that he has the same “society mania” as Fanny:
“A perfect fury for making acquaintances on whom to impress their riches and importance, had seized the House of Dorrit.”
On the whole, Amy thinks that the society in which they now live is really not so different from the Marshalsea, only it is a superior sort of society, and she draws several parallels in her mind. Now that their time in Venice is over, they leave for Rome, to the Corso:
“Through a repetition of the former Italian scenes, growing more dirty and more haggard as they went on, and bringing them at length to where the very air was diseased, they passed to their destination.”
And here, Amy notices, it seems not so much like the Marshalsea. Little Dorrit thinks that Mrs. General is getting the upper hand. When they are walking about St. Peter’s and the Vatican nobody actually says what they think. Instead, everybody is a mouthpiece, saying what the current fashionable opinion of the day is. And the correct opinion of the Art and antiquities is that of a “Mr. Eustace”, and his followers:
“The whole body of travellers seemed to be a collection of voluntary human sacrifices, bound hand and foot, and delivered over to Mr Eustace and his attendants, to have the entrails of their intellects arranged according to the taste of that sacred priesthood.”
The result of this is that:
“Mrs General was in her pure element. Nobody had an opinion. There was a formation of surface going on around her on an amazing scale, and it had not a flaw of courage or honest free speech in it.”
Soon after they arrive in Rome, Mrs. Merdle pays them a visit. She says how pleased she is to resume their acquaintance, referring to the episode at Martigny. Neither she nor Fanny are straightforward in their conversation:
“the skilful manner in which she and Fanny fenced with one another on the occasion, almost made her quiet sister wink, like the glittering of small-swords.”
Every comment is barbed, with another meaning entirely, or simply dishonest:
“‘You, Miss Dorrit, I believe have been almost continually abroad for a long time.’
‘Oh dear yes,’ drawled Fanny, with the greatest hardihood. ‘An immense number of years.’
‘So I should have inferred,’ said Mrs Merdle.“
Mr. Dorrit is keen to know whether Mr. Merdle will be coming to Rome, but Mrs. Merdle says her husband never travels now. Little Dorrit muses on this, especially since her father says he wishes to have the advice of “that wonderful man” on the matter of his own fortune. Now Amy herself begins to feel curious about “the shining light of the time”.
This chapter completes the 12th installment. Charles Dickens’s original readers have now been reading Little Dorrit for exactly a year!
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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about Mr. Eustace:
John Chetwode Eustace was an Anglo-Irish Catholic priest and antiquary. In 1802 he travelled through Italy with three pupils. The journal which he wrote during his travels, made him famous. It was called A Classical Tour Through Italy, 1802
In 1813, John Chetwode Eustace then published his “Classical Tour”, which was an instant success. He became quite a celebrity, and a prominent figure in literary society. He hoped to repeat this success in 1815, and travelled to Italy again. However he contracted malaria in Naples, and died there.
Fashionable people such as Mrs. General would view his manual as a sort of bible for the Arts.
I am glad both Fanny and Amy are on the same page for once at least about Mrs. General!
A few chapters back we discussed the fact that Mr. Dorrit must have financial advisors. At the very end of this chapter Mr. Dorrit wants to meet Mr. Merdle for advice on the "disposal" of his estate. Since Mr. Dorrit doesn't hire people for any reason other than their place in or connections to society, e.g. hiring Gowan to paint him, I started thinking about Bernie Madoff. Even Amy perks up her ears: " Now Amy herself begins to feel curious about “the shining light of the time”. Shining lights can expire very easily, especially when it comes to shining lights in the world of finance and investment. That is true in our time. Not sure if it was the same in Dickens' time. Perhaps I'm putting a modern perspective on this.
I had to laugh when Fanny muses how miserable she could make Mrs. Merdle if she became her daughter-in-law. It generally works the other way round, in my experience. Sadly, Fanny is right. Mr. Dorrit is likely to fall into the clutches of Mrs. General. Then poor Amy will never be out from under the reshaping of her person.
The episode with Blandois inserting himself between Minnie and Amy was chilling. He treats them differently because he knows that they see through him. He does not fool them for a second. Goodness perceives pure evil, while the foolish are taken in.
Mr. Merdle might decide to come to Rome after all when Mrs. Merdle tells him Dorrit is ready to hand over all his money into Merdle's keeping.
Bionic Jean wrote: "And a little more …about Mr. Eustace:
John Chetwode Eustace was an Anglo-Irish Catholic priest and antiquary. In 1802 he travelled through Italy with three pupils. The journal w..."
Mark Twain made fun of this sort of guidebook in The Innocents Abroad
Speaking of fun, I love the illustration by Phiz from a previous chapter with the title
'Mr. Sparkler Under a Reversal of Circumstances'
Sara, so many great points.Sara wrote, "I had to laugh when Fanny muses how miserable she could make Mrs. Merdle if she became her daughter-in-law. It generally works the other way round, in my experience. "
Fanny cracks me up. She dealt with so much condescension from Mrs. Merdle when she was just a poor dancer, she would have so much fun giving it right back to her is she marries Sparkler.
Sara, It usually is the other way around. LOL,
Mrs. General is exactly the right wife for Mr. Dorrit. Arthur just has to come to his senses and realize that he's in love with Amy and then Amy will be free from the molding of the potential Mrs. Dorrit.
"Goodness perceives pure evil, while the foolish are taken in." Great line re; Minnie, Amy and Blandois.
"Mr. Merdle might decide to come to Rome after all when Mrs. Merdle tells him Dorrit is ready to hand over all his money into Merdle's keeping. "
Will the mountain come to Mohammed?
Anne - I don't think you have put too modern a spin on it. Having someone else control your money was a risky thing then as now.Robin - How interesting that I also thought of Twain when I was reading that.
Two things stood out for me in this chapter. Mr. Dorrit wants to meet Mr. Merdle for financial advice. Does this mean Mr. Dorrit's finances are still up for grabs? -- Anne, I like your comment about finances.
And Mrs. General might marry Mr. Dorrit. That never crossed my mind. But now, I can see it happening.
Sara, mother-in-law comment. lol.
Anne, interesting comment comparing Mr. Merdle &Bernie Madoff. Mr. Dorrit is such a poor judge of
character because of his obsessive social climbing
that he is putting both his money & his family
in danger. People like him are usually poor judges
of character.
Sara, if Mr. Dorrit marries Mrs. General, Amy will
feel even more miserable than she already does.
She is the best of them, yet they cannot allow
her to be herself, but must constantly “shape”
her (that is, erase her) so Society finds her
“acceptable”.
Sara, I think your point about Blandois sensing that
Amy & Minnie see through him is valid.
But also, I think he sees them as innocent, vulnerable
young women, and hence his natural prey.
Predators like Blandois seek out the vulnerable
(i.e., the dog). He stalks Amy & Minnie but not
the more wordly & assertive Fanny.
Fanny is cruel to Sparkler, but he invites her
cruelty by following her around like a child.
I think men like Sparkler generally prefer
cruel women.
Gowan is showing his true colors. What a fool
he is. Cursing out Mr. Dorrit for wanting his
portrait painted and then going on and on
about what a bad artist he is as if to talk himself
out of the job. Somehow he needs to feel
superior to Mr. Dorrit to shore up his own
self esteem.
Jean, I do like dogs, although I am mainly a cat lady.
Goodreads is so buggy, I’ve had to edit this comment
at least 6 times to get everything I’ve written included.
GR is indeed buggy lately! Good point about preying on the innocent.
GR is very buggy. For some reason my account is worse than others. I can't edit my posts. I won't give you a list of all I cannot do. I'm just glad I can still participate in this group.
Hi, Anne. I can’t edit my group comments in the app, but can on the website in either Chrome or Safari on a tablet or laptop. Have you tried the website?
yes. I'm only on the website. My account has so many glitches I can hardly use GR now. I would tell you about it but I don't want to use this thread to so. :))
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Maybe in the parlour? I'm sure Mrs. Dickens can provide refreshments! And thanks :)
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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'Mr. Sparkler Under a Reversal of Circumstances'..."
Isn't it hilarious! I love that one too, and wish I had more time to talk about the illustrations. Sadly there are none from any of Charles Dickens's main illustrators for today's chapter, so I'll include a couple of related stills from the 2008 TV series.
Great point about The Innocents Abroad! Thanks Robin. I need to read that one!
Anne - As Sara says, you make a good point about "Merdle's Millions". I haven't a clue who the person is you mention, but I'm sure he equates to the "shining lights of the time" we had here in England both in Charles Dickens' time - and now. No 21st century spectacles there - just human nature!
Lots more good points too ... but we must move on to the next chapter :)
If I can, later I'll add the illustrations including Blandois to the summary for book II chapter 7. I hope these are still useful - perhaps especially for those who need a quick catch-up when falling behind?
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Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"
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The action shifts from Venice to London, for a long chapter titled “The Dowager Mrs. Gowan Is Reminded that ‘It Never Does’”.
First though, we see how Arthur is settling into his new job with Daniel Doyce. Arthur has managed to get the business into good order, and the two partners are also now good friends. Arthur wishes to understand properly about Daniel Doyce’s invention, because he realises that in his heart of hearts, Daniel Doyce is still dreaming of making the Circumlocution Office accept it. Daniel Doyce explains the whole thing very clearly to Arthur:
“He had the power … of explaining what he himself perceived, and meant, with the direct force and distinctness with which it struck his own mind. His manner of demonstration was so orderly and neat and simple, that it was not easy to mistake him.”
The narrator does not tell us what this invention actually is, but Arthur knows that Daniel has been trying to get his invention accepted for 12 years. Plus he now knows that it is a very good invention, which could benefit the country a lot, if put into practice.
“The more he pursued it, and the oftener he glanced at the grey head bending over it, and the shrewd eye kindling with pleasure in it and love of it—instrument for probing his heart though it had been made for twelve long years—the less he could reconcile it to his younger energy to let it go without one effort more.”
Daniel Doyce says it is useless to try to get his invention accepted any longer, and that he has put all hopes of that behind him. However, Arthur takes it upon himself to tackle the maze of the Circumlocution Office once more. After all, he cheerfully says to Daniel, he is “fresh game” to them.
“So Arthur resumed the long and hopeless labour of striving to make way with the Circumlocution Office … he was resolved to stick to the Great Department; and so the work of form-filling, corresponding, minuting, memorandum-making, signing, counter-signing, counter-counter-signing, referring backwards and forwards, and referring sideways, crosswise, and zig-zag, recommenced.”
Occasionally, we are told, a Member of Parliament has the audacity to challenge the efficiency of the Circumlocution Office. The result is a forgone conclusion. Charles Dickens describes the self-congratulatory bureaucratic process at length, and how when all the red tape is duly gone through, the “mutilated fragments of the Member” are left. Nothing ever changes.
As well as Arthur’s efforts with the Circumlocution Office, he has his duty visits to his mother, and regular visits to see Mr. Meagles out at Twickenham. But:
“He sadly and sorely missed Little Dorrit. He had been prepared to miss her very much, but not so much.”
When Arthur had received Little Dorrit’s letter, he was moved. He realised that her family all resented him, because they associated him with the Marshalsea Prison, which they wanted to leave behind.
“he thought of her otherwise in the old way. She was his innocent friend, his delicate child, his dear Little Dorrit … [which] fitted curiously in with the habit … of considering himself as a much older man than his years really made him.”
But the narrator tells us that:
“[in this] point of view which in its remoteness, tender as it was, he little thought would have been unspeakable agony to her.”
For Arthur wondered about the husband she might have, “with an affection for her which would have drained her heart of its dearest drop of hope, and broken it.”
Because of his experience with Minnie (Pet), who is now married to Henry Gowan:
'Pet Meagles and Henry Gowan' - BBC 2008 miniseries
Arthur now thinks of himself as an elderly man, whose romantic thoughts were long past.
“His relations with her father and mother were like those on which a widower son-in-law might have stood.”
Mr. Meagles is “the same good-humoured, open creature”, and tells Arthur that their letters from Minnie are full of how happy she is. Yet often a cloud passes over his face, and he seems to feel a sense of loss.
One day, Henry Gowan’s mother hires a coach, which she always acts as if it is her own private coach, and visits the Meagles:
“She descended, in her shady ambuscade of green fan, to favour Mr and Mrs Meagles with a call.”
Mrs. Gowan’s behaviour is from the start deliberately arrogant and condescending. She calls Mr. and Mrs. Meagles “Papa Meagles” and “Mama Meagles” and starts her conversation by referring to her “poor boy” and his “pretty wife”. The narrator explains to us, in little asides, why she uses words like these—just in case we have missed the fact that Mrs. Gowan is blatantly malicious.
She cleverly makes it seem obvious to anyone, that the Meagles can count themselves lucky they have made such a catch for their daughter—and moreover that they should also be prepared to face the costs that such a son-in-law as Henry Gowan will incur—without complaint. To top it all, she heavily implies that it is to be hoped that Pet will make her husband happy. In the middle of this manipulative conversation, we learn that Minnie is now expecting a child.
Mr. Meagles tries to remain courteous and friendly, and to bear all Mrs. Gowan’s insufferable impertinence for as long as he can. Eventually however, he cannot bear it any more. He becomes “a little heightened in colour” and he begins to question her directly. Rather annoyed, Mrs. Gowan says:
“‘Papa and Mama Meagles, we had better say no more about it. We never did look at this subject from the same side, and we never shall.’
… having by this time said everything she could say in maintenance of her wonderfully mythical position“.
Mr. Meagles cannot leave this, without commenting:
“‘I have been a plain man all my life. If I was to try—no matter whether on myself, on somebody else, or both—any genteel mystifications, I should probably not succeed in them … Therefore, my good madam,’ said Mr Meagles, at great pains to restrain himself, ‘I hope I may, without offence, ask to have no such mystification played off upon me.’”
'Mr. Meagles' (Bill Patterson) - BBC miniseries 2008
Things rapidly deteriorate. Mrs. Gowan’s final words on the subject are that it is impossible to expect couples who have such different backgrounds to get on:
“‘It never does … It is an ascertained fact. It never does. I will therefore, if you please, go my way, leaving you to yours. I shall at all times be happy to receive my poor fellow’s pretty wife, and I shall always make a point of being on the most affectionate terms with her. But … I assure you it never does …’
Thenceforth the Dowager, with a light and careless humour, often recounted to her particular acquaintance how, after a hard trial, she had found it impossible to know those people who belonged to Henry’s wife, and who had made that desperate set to catch him.”
I actually really like Mr Meagles in this chapter. He mostly keeps his temper and defends his wife.Reading about the Meagles reminds me we have had no news of Harriet for a long while...
I also like Mr. Meagles here. Of course, we have known all along that he is a good man, although he sometimes errs in his thinking. I was glad he stood up to Mrs. Gowan, who is just as unlikeable as her son--I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Sorry to know that Minnie is expecting. I don't think having a child to worry about is going to help her situation. She might now really feel the rashness of her decision to marry the wrong man.
Poor Arthur, back in the Circumnavigation (lol Freudian slip) that would be Circumlocution Office. How frustrating!
Sara, I like your Freudian slip. :))Agreed about Minnie being pregnant. I think Gowan is going to be even more awful towards Minnie. I hope she can get away from him somehow. She was raised by such kind parents it seems like that is all she sees. I hope she will grow up and open her eyes.
It's funny that the Meagles seem so kind yet none of them were truly kind to Tattycoram though they thought they were being kind.
The Dowager Mrs Gowan is certainly the in-law from hell. She's just after Mr Meagles' money so her "poor boy" won't have to work. Mr Meagles must be fuming inside since he had to work for his money. But he'll probably have to help them because he loves Minnie so much, and he's going to be a grandfather.
Bionic Jean wrote: "I think this is my least favourite chapter in the whole novel. So much hypocritical behaviour, from so many characters: Gowan, Blandois, Fanny, and Mr. Dorrit. So much manipulation of selfish ends...."I agree, Jean. This part about Lion was hard to read. Yes, I have a strong inkling who poisoned Lion. Sickening. Now as I look back at the beginning of this chapter though- I do like what Henry Gowan was thinking about Blandois:
. . . if he had given her any tangible personal cause to regard him with aversion, he (Henry) would have no compunctions whatever in flinging him out of the highest window in Venice, into the deepest water of the city.
This gave me hope.
I am thinking the same things everyone else is. Anne's comment in message 147 stood out, "It's funny that the Meagles seem so kind yet none of them were truly kind to Tattycoram though they thought they were being kind." I assume the Meagles will meet up with Tattycoram again and am wondering how that will go.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
Pictures from Italy (other topics)To Be Read at Dusk (other topics)
David Copperfield (other topics)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood (other topics)
Bleak House (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
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