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The Chimes
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The Chimes (hosted by Petra)
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Trotty Carrying Lilian - Charles Green
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Meg and the child Lilian
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Trotty Sinks into a Swoon - Charles Green
Lovely pics Jean! Happy New Year to you.
thanks for the wonderful artwork Jean. All the pictures with Lillian in them are tugging at my heart strings for sure.
Many thanks to Jean for finding the illustration of the church and all the information about Stanfield. From reading Dickens's letters years ago now, I remember there are many mentions of "Stanny". Also great to see all the other illustrations both Jean and Petra have posted.
I was struck by this passage near the start of The Second Quarter:|It was a hard frost, that day. The air was bracing, crisp, and clear. The wintry sun, though powerless for warmth, looked brightly down upon the ice it was too weak to melt, and set a radiant glory there. At other times, Trotty might have learned a poor man’s lesson from the wintry sun; but he was past that, now.
It is wonderful passage of description with a very Dickensian characterization of the sun in human terms as too weak to melt the ice but make it radiant
But I’m puzzled as to what is the poor man’s lesson Trotty fails to see.
Any ideas?
Jean, thank you for posting these wonderful pictures. You have found some very nice illustrations. There is a lot of feeling in these drawings.
Jon, I liked that passage as well. I took it to mean that even when the World is cold and hard, there is a beauty and joy in it for us all. I suspect that a Lifetime of such coldness and hardness can set a Man's outlook away from the beauty of Life, making his own life colder and harder yet.
Perhaps the Poor Man's lesson is to not forget to take beauty where it's offered, no matter how cold.
That's how I interpreted this passage.
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That was actually Petra, Judy :) I did add another atmospheric one of the church by Charles Green to the first comment though. I don't know much about him, except for all the Pears editions once a year from 1912.
Shirley - I'm sure you're right, and that Charles Dickens would have liked John Leech's work for its humorous bent :)
Have we started the third quarter?
Oh my goodness! I thought I'd posted it last night. I came on-line to do so, then must have forgottenI'm sorry, everyone....I'll post it now.
Third Quarter
Illustration by Richard Doyle.
Third Quarter Synopsis:When Toby regains consciousness, he sees the Belfry tower swarming with phantoms of the bells. Leaping, flying, above him, at his feet, peering around beams….they danced and sang, howled and ranted.
As if the walls of the town were transparent, Toby could see the creatures as they entered the houses. He saw them at the sleeping sides of people, soothing them in their sleep, singing to them, playing soft music on their pillows. They also followed waking people aiding them with speed, delaying them with weights, Time was moved forward for some or back for others. Everywhere these creatures worked, helping and hindering the sleeping and awake.
A stunned Toby clung to the beams, watching everything in bewilderment. The bells pealed loud and strong. Then they stopped. All creatures collapsed and melted into air as the sounds silenced.
Only when all was silent did Toby see in each of the four bells a large, grim, imposing, mysterious figure, watching him. Toby was rooted in fear. He stared at the figures, not able to look away.
The Goblin of the Great Bell asks who has arrived in the belfry. Toby replies that he came from a summons of the bells. He has listened to them always.
The Goblin questions him on topics of loyalty, outlook, and Faith. The bells have seen everything through their history, and they ring for the People. Toby is reproved that he’s begun to believe what is said of the Poor, thereby losing his Faith in them and himself. He is losing the purpose of his life and the lives of the Poor by believing what is written and said of them. He has wronged the bells by this loss of Faith. Toby’s heart was full of grief at having offended his friends, the Bells. He hastens to show his loyalty and love of the Bells over the years and asks that they not judge on a recent thought or hastily spoken word.
The Goblin states that those who do not listen to the message and comfort of the bells wrong them. Toby asks for their forgiveness. The last wrong committed, said the Bells, was one of abandoning the poor and not seeing that it is their situations that cause them to fall to despair and doom; not their integrity. Toby falls to his knees in despair and sorrow.
The organ below begin to fill the Church, its sound rising every higher, awakening every corner of the Church until the walls could no longer hold it and the music soared to the skies. Poor Toby’s heart was overfilled by the joy of the music and his pain of regret rushed forward. He covered his face in sorrow.
He hears Meg’s voice. The Bells say that Meg will show him the story of the Poor and the story of their fall to desperation. They tell him that the Spirit of the Chimes will guide him through his journey. Toby turns and sees Lillian!
He is told that he has died and it is now nine years in the future. The spirits disappear, leaving only the bells, which began to chime. The phantoms returned and began their interactions with the townspeople. Lillian tells him that the phantoms are the Spirits of the Bells; they are the hopes and thoughts of the people and their memories.
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The scene changes and he finds himself in a poor looking room, where Meg is sewing. Toby looks at her closely. She’s changed. The bloom is gone from her cheeks, the sparkle from her eye. Hope was missing from her.
In the room was another woman, Lillian….grown into a beautiful woman. Meg worries about Lillian. Lillian, too, is heavy with sorrow, finding little to smile at. Life is hard and toilsome. But Meg is the only light in Lillian’s life; Meg’s love makes the hard work bearable. Yet Life is hard. Work brings only enough income to want and need more. The two hold on to each other and lament the hard times.
----------------------------------
The scene changes and Toby finds himself in the parlour of Sir John Bowley and friends.
Sir Bowley is hosting a New Year’s party. All are there: Mr. Filer, Alderman Cute. A great dinner was being served, plum puddings were to be had.
Toby wandered the room, looking for Lillian and finds himself beside an agitated Mr. Filer, who is telling the Alderman that Mr. Deedles, the Banker, has killed himself with a bullet to the head. Suicide! Such a respectable man! Why are such afflictions on the World?!!
Remorse and support to the man’s memory…..no putting down.
Dinner is served! The doors of the dining room are opened and the Poor are let in. The Friend and Father of the People has opened his doors to his Children.
A small disturbance and Will Fern enters the room. He’s older, bent and gray; newly released from prison. Will makes a speech lamenting that prison is not the only solution for controlling the poor; that they need help. It’s the attitude toward the poor that goes against them. If the Gentlemen would just show mercy and compassion to the poor others would be saved.
The Poor are still put down.
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The scene has changes again, and Toby is back with Meg. But the apartment is shabbier, Meg looks poorer and Lillian is gone. Meg was sewing in a chair, straining to see the threads, lighting the candle when it gets too dark. Trotty spoke words of love and tenderness, but poor Meg can not hear him.
There was a knock on the door and Meg found a dishevelled, drunken, slovenly man on the doorstep. He waited for Meg to let him enter; her eyes followed him sadly. Trotty saw that it was Richard. He was a broken, degraded, hopeless version of himself.
Richard gives her a purse of money given to him by Lillian to give to Meg. Meg rejects the money. She implores Richard to tell Lillian that she loves her, thinks of her, she is constantly in her thoughts, but she cannot take this ill-gotten money.
Richard leaves and Meg continues sewing. The Chimes rang at twelve thirty. As they silenced, there was a soft knock on the door and it opened. Lillian! Lillian fell to her knees before Meg. She is dying. She begs Meg’s forgiveness and Meg gives it to her.
As she dies, Lillian’s spirit returns to Toby’s side and she takes him from the scene.
The Spirits of the Bells by Charles Green:
Thank you, Teresa, for letting me know I'd forgotten to post the Third Quarter.
Arthur Rackham (19 September 1867 – 6 September 1939)Arthur Rackham is widely regarded as one of the leading illustrators from the 'Golden Age' of British book illustration which roughly encompassed the years from 1890 until the end of the First World War. During that period, there was a strong market for high quality illustrated books which typically were given as Christmas gifts. Many of Rackham's books were produced in a de luxe limited edition, often vellum bound and usually signed.
Rackham was born in Vauxhall, London as one of 12 children. At the age of 18, he worked as a clerk at the Westminster Fire Office and began studying part-time at the Lambeth School of Art.
In 1892, he left his job and started working for the Westminster Budget as a reporter and illustrator. His first book illustrations were in To the Other Side by Thomas Rhodes, but his first serious commission was for The Dolly Dialogues by Anthony Hope, who later went on to write The Prisoner of Zenda. Book illustrating then became Rackham's career for the rest of his life.
By the turn of the century, Rackham had developed a reputation for pen and ink fantasy illustration with richly illustrated gift books. This was developed further through the austere years of the Boer War with regular contributions to children's periodicals.
It was the publication of his full-colour plates to Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle that particularly brought him into public attention, his reputation being confirmed the following year with J.M.Barrie's Peter Pan.
Rackham won a gold medal at the Milan International Exhibition in 1906 and another one at the Barcelona International Exposition in 1912. His works were included in numerous exhibitions, including one at the Louvre in 1914.
Arthur Rackham's works have become very popular since his death, both in North America and Britain. His images have been widely used by the greeting card industry and many of his books are still in print. His original drawings and paintings are keenly sought at the major international art auction houses.
Self Portrait:
The Chimes by Arthur Rackham:
I've heard of Arthur Rackham but can't for the life of me think why! No worries Petra, I was afraid I'd missed out. My GR notifications are weird at the best of times. Even my daughter says she can't understand why mine works differently to everyone elses :)
I think that Arthur Rackman illustration is my favourite so far! Thanks for all the info Petra .
So, instead of personification of the bells, we should now be talking about "goblinification", LOL!
Petra wrote: "Third Quarter"Did you write that synopsis yourself, Petra? Whether yes or no, it's really quite an amazing bit of work and extremely useful to read as an aid in penetrating the sometimes murkiness of Dickens' actual text.
I can't help but compare this to A Christmas Carol. Instead of ghosts/spirits we have goblins. A goblin is defined by Merriam-Webster as "an ugly or grotesque sprite that is usually mischievous and sometimes evil and malicious." I'll take ghosts any day.
Whereas Scrooge is shown a good bit of happiness all around and is on the outside looking in, Trotty is shown nothing but misery. Where is there warmth or joy? I suppose we could make a case for there being love in there somewhere, in the form of Meg, but it's all so dark and depressing.
Re: Dickens' style... Forgive me if this has come up in the comments and I've missed it, but has anyone else noticed all the repetition throughout the story? It's not limited to a verbal quirk of one character, or an element of the narration, but is sprinkled liberally throughout the story. Dickens uses repetition periodically in all his works, but never so very much. Does anyone have any thoughts about this? The bells/goblins seem to repeat themselves, which would make sense for their personification, but Dickens doesn't limit it to the bells.
Examples:
‘Why, father, father!’ said a pleasant voice, hard by.....
‘Why, father, father!’ said the pleasant voice again.
‘What’s the matter, what’s the matter!’ said the gentleman .... ‘What’s the matter! What’s the matter!’
‘The good old times, the good old times,’ repeated the gentleman. ‘What times they were! They were the only times. It’s of no use talking about any other times, or discussing what the people are in these times. You don’t call these, times, do you? ....
But still the red-faced gentleman extolled the good old times, the grand old times, the great old times.
‘Put ’em down, Put ’em down! Facts and Figures, Facts and Figures!
‘Listen!’ said the Shadow.
‘Listen!’ said the other Shadows.
‘Listen!’ said the child’s voice.
These are just a few of many examples.
Paul wrote: "So, instead of personification of the bells, we should now be talking about "goblinification", LOL!""Goblinification".......LOL! Thanks, Paul.
Paul wrote: "Petra wrote: "Third Quarter"Did you write that synopsis yourself, Petra? Whether yes or no, it's really quite an amazing bit of work and extremely useful to read as an aid in penetrating the some..."
Thank you, Paul.
Yes, I write the synopsises myself as I'm reading, then go back to edit it after I finish the Quarter.
Mary Lou wrote: "Whereas Scrooge is shown a good bit of happiness all around and is on the outside looking in, Trotty is shown nothing but misery. Where is there warmth or joy? I suppose we could make a case for there being love in there somewhere, in the form of Meg, but it's all so dark and depressing...."I think that with Scrooge, he was shown a personal redemption. He needed to change his mindset to save himself.
In Trotty's case, it seems a larger redemption. Trotty doesn't just see himself as "bad" but all the Poor. His mindset needs to be changed for a larger group.
I think (and could easily be wrong), that Trotty has to "walk a mile in the shoes" to (hopefully) realize that the Poor are not "bad". What he is seeing is the downfall of Meg & Lillian, through no fault of their own, no "badness". They work hard and are still falling back.
So, where Scrooge had to see that helping others will bring joy to himself, Trotty needs to see that the Poor are not responsible for their situations. That's a darker situation,.
(I have some suspicions of Lillian's work but I don't find Dickens clear on this, so I'm not sure myself if I'm correct)
Mary Lou, I don't know where those quotes are located in the story.If the repetition is within the bells/goblins sections, perhaps it's meant to represent the ghostly/gobliny/belly world that Trotty is currently immersed in?
In the First Quarter, Toby mentions to Meg how he thinks the bells speak to him -
'...how often have I heard them bells say, "Toby Veck, Toby Veck, keep a good heart, Toby! Toby Veck, Toby Veck, keep a good heart, Toby!" A million times? More!'
At the end of the First Quarter, Toby feels the bells speaking to him differently -
The tune's changed,' cried the old man, as he listened. 'There's not a word of all that fancy in it. Why should there be? I have no business with the New Year nor with the old one neither. Let me die!'
Still the Bells, pealing forth their changes, made the very air spin. Put 'em down, Put 'em down! Good old Times, Good old Times! Facts and Figures, Facts and Figures! Put 'em down, Put 'em down! If they said anything they said this, until the brain of Toby reeled.
I interpreted the word repetition to symbolize the ringing of the bells. I think when people are speaking and repeat phrases, it also symbolizes the bells. The other thought I had about the repetition is how the poor in the story are constantly hearing from those in charge the ringing catch phrases (Put 'em down) over and over and over again.
'...how often have I heard them bells say, "Toby Veck, Toby Veck, keep a good heart, Toby! Toby Veck, Toby Veck, keep a good heart, Toby!" A million times? More!'
At the end of the First Quarter, Toby feels the bells speaking to him differently -
The tune's changed,' cried the old man, as he listened. 'There's not a word of all that fancy in it. Why should there be? I have no business with the New Year nor with the old one neither. Let me die!'
Still the Bells, pealing forth their changes, made the very air spin. Put 'em down, Put 'em down! Good old Times, Good old Times! Facts and Figures, Facts and Figures! Put 'em down, Put 'em down! If they said anything they said this, until the brain of Toby reeled.
I interpreted the word repetition to symbolize the ringing of the bells. I think when people are speaking and repeat phrases, it also symbolizes the bells. The other thought I had about the repetition is how the poor in the story are constantly hearing from those in charge the ringing catch phrases (Put 'em down) over and over and over again.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Judy wrote: "Many thanks to Jean for finding the illustration of the church and all the information about Stanfield ..."That was actually Petra, Judy :) I did add another atmospheric one..."
Oops, sorry Petra! Thank you for the Stanfield info and picture and for all the material you have posted for the third quarter too.
Thanks also to Jean for the Charles Green illustration. :)
I appreciate your summary, Petra, and your interpretation about the larger redemption.And Mary Lou, I liked your comparisons with A Christmas Carol. I was comparing too, and one of the things I noticed was I found it a little confusing to follow Trotty's movement through the spirit world. The way Dickens used the three spirits with three distinct purposes in A Christmas Carol did make for a more immediate understanding his points.
This is looking back to the first quarter, sorry, but I've noticed an interesting note in the Oxford World's Classics edition I'm using about Mr Filer claiming Trotty is taking his tripe from the mouths of widows and orphans. "In ridiculing Mr Filer's logic here, Dickens is replying to an attack on the Carol in the Westminster Review of June 1844.
The reviewer had argued that '...who went without turkey and punch in order that Bob Cratchit might get them - for unless there were turkeys and punch in surplus, some one must go without - is a disagreeable reflection kept wholly out of sight' by Dickens
I've just found this article online in a Westminster Review collection via Google Books - it is massively long and a lot of it is about other writers, so I haven't read it all, but I think it is at least partly an argument about economics rather than a review as such, and the line quoted in the note makes more sense in context, although the author doesn't seem to realise Dickens was writing fiction rather than economics textbooks.
Cozy_Pug wrote: "In the First Quarter, Toby mentions to Meg how he thinks the bells speak to him - But, by the end of the first quarter, he is hearing things differently!
The tune's changed,' cried the old man, as he listened. 'There's not a word of all that fancy in it. Why should there be? I have no business with the New Year nor with the old one neither. Let me die!'
Still the Bells, pealing forth their changes, made the very air spin. Put 'em down, Put 'em down! Good old Times, Good old Times! Facts and Figures, Facts and Figures! Put 'em down, Put 'em down! If they said anything they said this, until the brain of Toby reeled.
My belief is that it's not the bells that have changed. It's that Toby has now fully bought into the vilification of himself and the other poor that Alderman Cute has been preaching.
In fact, in the Third Quarter, the bells accuse Trotty of doing them wrong by inaccurately interpreting the sounds he is hearing:
"Who hears in us, the Chimes, one note bespeaking disregard, or stern regard, of any hope, or joy, or pain, or sorrow, of the many-sorrowed throng (and God knows, Toby's family and fellow paupers certainly might be labeled the many-sorrowed throng) who hears us make response to any creed that gauges human a=passions and affections, as it gauges the amount of miserable food on which humanity may pine and wither; does us wrong. THAT WRONG YOU HAVE DONE US!" says the Bell.
The Chiimes' final charge against Toby is even clearer:
Who hears us echo the dull vermin of the earth: the Putters Down of crushed and broken natures, formed to be raised up higher than such maggots of the time can crawl or can conceive, ... does us wrong!"
At this point, I believe that Trotty is still uncertain as to how he has wronged the Chimes. Therefore, the Chimes are going to give him a chance to learn the error of his thinking the hard way!
Paul wrote: "Cozy_Pug wrote: "In the First Quarter, Toby mentions to Meg how he thinks the bells speak to him -
But, by the end of the first quarter, he is hearing things differently!
The tune's changed,' cr..."
Yes, in my post I quoted the same passage near the end of the First Quarter where Toby hears the bells saying something else to him.
I agree that Toby has allowed himself to be convinced he is bad after hearing so much false and damaging rhetoric from the public "servants". It's very much eroded his self confidence and self worth.
But, by the end of the first quarter, he is hearing things differently!
The tune's changed,' cr..."
Yes, in my post I quoted the same passage near the end of the First Quarter where Toby hears the bells saying something else to him.
I agree that Toby has allowed himself to be convinced he is bad after hearing so much false and damaging rhetoric from the public "servants". It's very much eroded his self confidence and self worth.
Judy wrote: "Oops, sorry Petra! Thank you for the Stanfield info and picture and for all the material you have posted for the third quarter too.Thanks also to Jean for the Charles Green illustration. :)"
You are very welcome, Judy.
We are so lucky to have such an interested and lively group discussing this story. It's easy to misplace a comment, attributing it to someone else. I'm very appreciative of our lively group.
Kathleen wrote: "I found it a little confusing to follow Trotty's movement through the spirit world..."I also found his journey a bit confusing at times. Dickens seems to be leaving some openings for the reader to fill in himself. Perhaps that is for self-reflection and to ensure that the reader puts some thought into the state of Society towards the Poor? I'm just guessing about this.
(I'm still not sure about Lillian's work. I think Dickens is hinting that she's a prostitute but hasn't said clearly....and I'm not at all sure that's a correct assumption)
Cozy_Pug, Judy and Paul, it's an interesting writing technique to use the ringing of the bells to indicate repetition. That's a good insight. Thank you. I agree that Toby has internalized the rhetoric and bad mouthing of the Society around him and then twisted the ringing of the bells to bounce back what he's internalized. He misrepresents the Bells......for which they are (rightfully) upset about.
I really appreciate all the comments and thoughts. It adds so much to my appreciation and understanding of the nuances that Dickens has put into this story. Thank you everyone!
Cozy_Pug wrote: "I agree that Toby has allowed himself to be convinced he is bad after hearing so much false and damaging rhetoric from the public "servants". It's very much eroded his self confidence and self worth."I think it goes much, much deeper than that. Petra pointed out that Toby has allowed himself to be persuaded of the thriftless and worthless nature of his entire class, not just himself. He has allowed himself to be persuaded that this worthlessness is not merely inherent but is brought about by their own inept conduct and by their unwillingness and inability to bootstrap themselves out of their self-inflicted misery.
From The Life of Charles Dickens : Volume II.Here are Dickens' words at the completion of each of the first three Quarters:
First Quarter:
Within a week he had completed his first part, or quarter. “I send you today (18 October) by mail, the first and longest of the four divisions. This is great for the first week, which is usually up-hill. I have kept a copy in shorthand in case of accidents. I hope to send you a parcel every Monday until the whole is done. I do not wish to influence you, but it has a great hold upon me, and has affected me, in the doing, in divers strong ways, deeply, forcibly.”
Second Quarter:
With the second part or quarter, after a week’s interval, came announcement of the enlargement of his plan. ….. “I am still in stout heart with the tale. I think it well-timed and a good thought”……. “It has great possession of me every moment in the day; and drags me where it will….If you only could read it all at once! – But you never would have done that, anyway, for I never should have been able to keep it to myself; so that’s nonsense. I hope you’ll enjoy it. I would give a hundred pounds (and think it cheap) to see you read it.”
Third Quarter:
….after eight more days, the third part came, with the scene from which he expected so much, and a mention of what the writing of it had cost him. “This book (whether in the Hajji Baba sense or not I can’t say, but certainly in the literal one) has made my face white in a foreign land. Read the scene at the end of the third part, twice. I wouldn’t write it twice, for something. …….
Tomorrow I shall begin afresh (starting the next part with a grin, and ending it with the very soul of jollity and happiness); and I hope to finish by next Monday at latest. Perhaps on Saturday. I hope you will like the little book. Since I conceived, at the beginning of the second part, what must happen in the third, I have undergone as much sorrow and agitation as if the thing were real; and have wakened up with it at night. I was obliged to lock myself in when I finished it yesterday, for my fac was swollen for the time to twice it’s proper size, and was hugely ridiculous.”
His letter ended abruptly. “I am going for a long walk, to clear my head. I feel that I am very shaky from work, and throw down my pen for the day. There! (That’s where it fell)” A huge blot represented it, as, as Hamlet says, the rest was silence.
I'm having a difficult time finding any information about Charles Green (1840-1898) and his Life's work! This is a mysterious man. LOL!The best information I found is here: http://www.avictorian.com/Green_Charl...
The site won't let me copy & paste a summary but here are some highlights that I found interesting. Please comment on what you find interesting in the Bio. :D
Charles Green drew 27 illustrations for A Christmas Carol and 30 for The Chimes.
His last works were 10 designs for Great Expectations, the Gadshill edition.
"Much remains obscure about Green's career, but his watercolours are clear evidence that he travelled and had a keen eye for a picturesque view or detail. "
This observation was made in our discussion, I believe, in regards to the contrast between Green's illustrations and those of another illustrator (will go back to check who) in Trotty's story:
"The 32 illustrations by Charles Green.....for The Old Curiosity Shop contrast most favourably with those of "Phiz"........These drawings are entirely free from the gross exaggeration and caricature which impart such grotesqueness to the majority of the figure subjects....... "
I'll keep looking but Charles Green is evasive, to say the least. He seems to be quite unknown in his lifetime and left no records behind. That's sad for us. It would be nice to know a little about this man.
Drawing of Charles Green by William Walker Hodgson (1982):
Petra wrote: "I'm having a difficult time finding any information about Charles Green (1840-1898) and his Life's work! This is a mysterious man. LOL!
The best information I found is here: http://www.avictorian...."
Reading the information at the link you provided, Petra, what's interesting to me is the last bit - an observation by a Mr Lockwood that Green's drawings show a "subtle rendering of character". I think that's very evident in the illustration further up the page of "Will Fern carrying Lilian" (message #301). It's a sweet and tender drawing, and I can see Will's love for Lilian and his determination to find his London contact. It's a very human drawing.
The best information I found is here: http://www.avictorian...."
Reading the information at the link you provided, Petra, what's interesting to me is the last bit - an observation by a Mr Lockwood that Green's drawings show a "subtle rendering of character". I think that's very evident in the illustration further up the page of "Will Fern carrying Lilian" (message #301). It's a sweet and tender drawing, and I can see Will's love for Lilian and his determination to find his London contact. It's a very human drawing.
I find a lot of Dickens work hard to understand so it's fascinating reading all the comments here. I'm learning so much.
Paul wrote: "At this point, I believe that Trotty is still uncertain as to how he has wronged the Chimes. Therefore, the Chimes are going to give him a chance to learn the error of his thinking the hard way! ..."I agree. I don't think anything short of a miracle could have convinced Trotty that poor people weren't to blame for their plight. After all, if the rich people said it was their fault, then it must be so. But by showing Trotty how his beloved, good, hard working Meg and dear Lilian descended so far down into abject poverty no matter how hard or long they worked, the Chimes forced Trotty to accept the truth that poor people were not inherently bad.
This chapter was so heartbreaking to me. I couldn't help but get completely choked up when Trotty was made to see the misery of his beloved Meg. It's no wonder that Charles Dickens was drained after writing each installment of his book (thank you, Petra, for that revelation). It was so obvious that Dickens was living and feeling this story as it came out of his heart and onto the paper. Only his life experiences could have affected his writing so deeply.
Teresa wrote: "I find a lot of Dickens work hard to understand so it's fascinating reading all the comments here. I'm learning so much."Yes indeed, Teresa! There are times when, no matter how many times I re-read a passage, I'm still no closer to understanding it than when I first read it -- in Chapter III, it was the first paragraph. I finally gave up and moved on. LOL. So, like you, I benefit so much from these wonderful discussions.
Good to know I'm not alone Shirley! I was thinking maybe I wasn't able for this group.
No, you certainly aren't the only one. Sometimes it's enough for me to get the feeling and mood of a segment and stick with the big picture because I just can't interpret the specifics of what Dickens is saying.
Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: " It was so obvious that Dickens was living and feeling this story as it came out of his heart and onto the paper. Only his life experiences could have affected his writing so deeply...."Shirley, I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter in John Forster's book. It's a gem. It is what made me decide to read this story. Dickens sounded so enthusiastic, so involved and immersed in this story that I just had to read it.
I'm so glad that you are all joining me in this experience.
Teresa and Mary Lou, we're all here to help each other through this. Please ask if there's anything you would specifically like to discuss. We would all learn something from the discussion that would follow.
Thank you Petra for the great summary. I love the illustration of the chimes by Arthur Rackham.
I also think that Dickens is hinting that Lilian is a prostitute. The sentence that makes me think that she's a prostitute is: "He suffered her to sit beside His feet, and dry them with her hair." (end of third quarter) which should be referred to Mary Magdalene, but I'm not sure.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Chimes (other topics)The Chimes (other topics)
The Life of Charles Dickens (other topics)
The Cricket on the Hearth (other topics)
The Chimes (other topics)
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George Alfred Williams (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
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George Alfred Williams (other topics)
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Will Fern and Lilian - Charles Green