The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion
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The Expedition of Humphry Clinker
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Humphry Clinker: Week 6: Page 298 to the End of Volume 3 and our novel.
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The events certainly came thick and fast in this section—revelation after revelation. It seemed as if Smollett drew on stage tropes to get to his happy endings, the surprise twists and the multiple weddings. I could practically see the characters waiting in the wings to leap out with pat resolutions. The aim seemed to be didactic, illustrating right living (for the gentry) and proper values and mocking folly. I enjoyed the Scotland section the most, but on the whole this was a bit of a chore. It’s enough Smollett for me. The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith, which I read earlier this year, was pretty similar.
Frances wrote: "Did you have a favourite stop on this long expedition, or a favourite anecdote from the travels, or a favourite character-either long-running or only appearing briefly in our tale?..."My favorite section of the 6 was the 3rd section in London where there were numerous amusing events, including Clinker's jailing, highwaymen and Tabby's love triangle. These were vital to keep my interest which was beginning to fade after the relatively boring and crude first two sections.
I also enjoyed the golf and 'cawdies' depictions in the 4th section and the descriptions of Scotland in the 5th, but the events during those sections weren't that interesting.
As to favorite character, no one person stood out so I'll fall back on my usual gouty old man and pick Matthew Bramble.
Frances wrote: "Has your appetite been whetted for more Smollett, or was this a sufficient foray into his works?
Please share your thoughts about this section or the novel as a whole.."
I liked this last section since as Abigail says, there was "revelation after revelation" that came fast and furious. I do agree with her though that Smollett seemed to be stretching the coincidences to reach his happy endings. Yet, as she also points out, these plot devices are pretty standard for novels of the time and are ones that I accept and even enjoy in 18th century novels but would not in a 21st century one.
I found the novel inconsistent and rate it at 2.75 rounded up to 3 stars. While I did not find much of the crude humor that funny, there was also some events that were so. There were also times I was bored. While I would possibly consider trying Roderick Random, the amount of crude humor here does make me more wary of trying Roderick Random now than before I read Humphry Clinker.
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I liked the temperamental ladies - Win Jenkins and even Tabitha Bramble.
What I found most amusing in this section is that Tabitha's conduct toward Baynard while being engaged to Lismahago. She agreed to the union with Lismahago simply for the fear that she won't find anyone better. But Baynard was a better prospect in terms of wealth and connection. Poor Tabby! :)What I liked most out of the 6 sections is the one with the London setting, where Clinker was jailed, they meet a highwayman, and Liddy, Tabitha, and Mr. Barton entangling them in a love triangle :) That part interested me as a story since there was a lot happening. Then it is closely followed by the Scottish part which was more of a travelogue.
As to reading more of Smollet's work, it is a no for me. I'm not inclined to read him more.
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Thank you for taking us on the expedition, Frances.
Yes, Frances, I am grateful to you for laying to rest my guilt for having blown off reading this book when I was in college!
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There was certainly a lot of nudity used to comical effect, which is something we don't see in Victorian novels, and I enjoyed the epistolary form which on occasion allowed us to view the same or parts of the same episode through different eyes.
Thank you, Frances for chosing this book and leading us on through the expedition! I wouldn't ever have read Smollett otherwise. :)
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This epistolary novel has some interesting scenes and insights. But, as many of you, I would not want to read more of Smollett any time soon. The last section was hard to digest. It is like a Deus ex machine solves all the problems. Not very believable. I was especially incensed by the fact that Jeremy wanted to kill Wilson, but completely changed his mind, once it was clear that Wilson was from the gentry class. How charming! And the rest of it was pretty unbelievable as well. This novel might have given us insights into eighteenth century Britain lifestyles, but it could have been done in much better ways.
Sorry, spell checks again: Deus ex machina was not liked by it.And my thanks to Frances as well!
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Well Winifred neatly wrapped up the the novel in her own inimitable style when she said……‘We were yesterday three kiple chined, by the grease of God, in the holy bands of mattermoney, and I now subscrive myself Loyd at your sarvice.’
She ’matthew-murphy’d’ into my favourite character, at least regarding the women, not just for her hilarious foreshadowing of Mrs. Malaprop but the fact that she seemed to have the most energy and awareness of the world around her. I even applaud the fact that she had Jery’s manservant lined up just in case Clinker was unable to take her down the aisle.
It was interesting that Smollett ended his tale with a letter from Winifred. He obviously wanted her to take some of the limelight.
My favourite male character was probably Lismahago, mainly because he was so larger than life. Not only what he said seemed unbelievable, but almost everything he did seemed unbelievable.
Considering his age. I would have loved to have seen this……
‘ In order to shew how little his vigour was impaired by the fatigues of the preceding day, he this morning danced a Highland sarabrand over a naked back-sword, and leaped so high, that I believe he would make no contemptible figure as a vaulter at Sadler’s Wells.—‘
One image of Lismahago and Tabby will stay with me….
‘ She was supported by the captain, distilling drops from his uncurled periwig, so lank and so dank, that he looked like Father Thames without his sedges, embracing Isis, while she cascaded in his urn.’
My biggest disappointment was the story of Liddy and young Dennison who, after an initial burst of excitement in the opening letters, deteriorated into a damp squib of a mystery which, when revealed, had all the exhilaration of a wet weekend.
Jery and Matthew were the mainstay of the novel in terms of letter writing. Some of their letters were too long-winded, but contained an enormous amount of information about eighteenth century life at that time. Like Abigail, I also enjoyed the Scotland section and the description of Bath was an interesting addition to my previous knowledge of the place, mainly gained through Jane Austen’s novels.
I have been reading The Old Curiosity Shop at the same time as Smollett and could identify in particular the extremes of character description that both authors employed, as if they were both pushing the boundaries somewhat. I don’t think I will turn my back on Smollett totally because his humour typifies Georgian society, particularly in London at that time. I will also take Winifred’s advice and sew a slice of witch (wych) elm into the gathers of my underwear in order to defy the devil and all his works.
This section, and in retrospect much of this novel, is a celebration of the simple life of a Country Squire above all others. London, Bath, and the other English towns have shown themselves to be full of knaves, bad food, bad air, and foolish folk squandering their money on false pleasures and society. Scotland has been celebrated, and lessons have been learnt through travel, but I suspect Matthew Bramble will not be leaving his estate much in the future, other than to visit his friends Baynard and Dennison and Wilson.
What did you think of our various couples, and what are their chances of marital happiness?
Did you have a favourite stop on this long expedition, or a favourite anecdote from the travels, or a favourite character-either long-running or only appearing briefly in our tale?
Has your appetite been whetted for more Smollett, or was this a sufficient foray into his works?
Please share your thoughts about this section or the novel as a whole.