Bleak House: Chapters 1 - 10

[Luffy Sempai]

I thought the writing style to be particularly modern. I once discussed this with the late Everyman, when I had tried to read BH while lasting only the course of a few chapters. Everyman admitted to the modernity of the language and the style, but said he preferred the Dickensian hook of chapter 1.

[Sam]

Luffy wrote: "I thought the writing style to be particularly modern. I once discussed this with the late Everyman, when I had tried to read BH while lasting only the course of a few chapters. Everyman admitted t..."

I agree Luffy! There are elements we'll see in Virginia Woolf's being used. It is also quite readable today for its age which makes it feel modern. BTW, ebullient is my new favorite word.

[Jenny]

I'm a littke confused as to why a 19 year old needs a guardian? Was the age of majority different?

[Luffy Sempai]

Sam wrote: "I agree Luffy! There are elements we'll see in Virginia Woolf's being used. It is also quite readable today for its age which makes it feel modern. BTW, ebullient is my new favorite word."

Thanks for the nod, Sam! Glad to share ideas with you. I have read only Mrs Dalloway by Woolf. She was a groundbreaking author, admittedly.

[Luffy Sempai]

Jenny wrote: "I'm a littke confused as to why a 19 year old needs a guardian? Was the age of majority different?"

Facepalm I actually tried to google your question. Nearly ended with spoilers. Shudder.

[Jenny]

Oh no! I'm glad it was only nearly Luffy!

[Paul]

Bionic Jean wrote: " Esther is so shy she does not even look at herself in a mirror, but only at her bonnet." When I read that, I took it as a metaphor for Esther's understanding that she was ignored, unimportant, and had no value or importance in the world around her. That she was, in effect, invisible even to herself. That when she looked in the mirror, she didn't see herself, she saw only her bonnet!

[Luffy Sempai]

Jenny wrote: "Oh no! I'm glad it was only nearly Luffy!"

Appreciate your solicitude. Phew.

[Paul]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Why didn’t her aunt accept Mr. Kenge’s offer to take Esther, when he first visited, if she disliked her so much? (Esther referred to “the renewal of an offer” from Mr. Kenge, after her aunt died.) What is the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce about?"

I could be miles off the mark but when I read this I guessed that Esther was perhaps the potential legatee or a potential beneficiary of the outcome of Jarndyce v Jarndyce to the tune of a large sum of money or valuable property that would revert at least in trust to Esther's guardian. My thought was that Kenge knew it and offered to take Esther off the Godmother's hands but the Godmother also knew it and, despite her obvious dislike of Esther, refused Kenge's offer.

[Bridget]

Adding onto the mystery of Esther's origin, I took the line "Aunt in fact, though not in law" as complete confirmation of Esther's illegitimate birth. From that line, I concluded that Miss Barbary (the godmother) was the sister of Esther's father, but since there was no marriage between Esther's parents, she is only a blood relation to Esther and not a legal one. It's a distinction we don't care about (thankfully) anymore, so it is perhaps hard to recognize in Victorian writing.

[Bridget]

Esther's pet bird in a cage caught my attention right away. It is a fitting metaphor for a young girl trapped in the circumstances of her birth. Also, I've seen birds show up in Charles Dickens before and they have always been significant.
So this time I'm paying attention!

Also, I loved Luffy's comment about waiting to see if Esther will "bury her new friends Ada and Richard". I hadn't thought of that connection, but I quite like it. The burying of the doll was a bit jarring in that it was so unexpected. that must mean it is significant.

[Sara]

I think that might be off the mark, Paul, based on just the facts Dickens has given us. I think the godmother was the kind of woman who felt herself the correct person for determining and punishing sin. She seems to be punishing Esther and reminding her that she must pay for the error of her birth. I think she would not give up her control nor would she wish Esther to be given to someone who would make her happy (as the transfer to Greenleaf did). I get the impression that Jarndyce's (and by proxy Kenge's) motives are not about money or possessing Esther for any ulterior motive.

I also think the man in the carriage is going to figure into our story again. Dickens never plants any random character that does not have a meaning. He is the master at giving life to even the most seemingly insignificant people and events.

I also thought of Jane Eyre when reading this chapter, so I was excited when Jean also mentioned her. It may not have been intentional, but the parallels are there. Of course, I think Esther is obviously going to be a very different woman than Jane became, even though they share some childhood similarities.

I found the burying of the doll unexpected and wondered if it wasn't symbolic of Esther burying her old life and moving forward into this new world that is opened to her. She certainly did not need dolly to be her companion any longer, for she found human beings who could fill that void in a much finer way.

[Luffy Sempai]

Bridget wrote: "Esther's pet bird in a cage caught my attention right away. It is a fitting metaphor for a young girl trapped in the circumstances of her birth. Also, I've seen birds show up in [author:Charles Dic..."

Thank you.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Jenny wrote: "I'm a littke confused as to why a 19 year old needs a guardian? Was the age of majority different?"

Yes, it was 21 years of age until the late 20th century.

Eeek I'm glad you didn't have anything spoiled Luffy!

[Jenny]

Quite interesting Jean that when life expectancy was so much shorter age of majority was higher but now we live longer it's younger.
Luffy, you're welcome! I know how annoying spoilers are! ( dont read the blurb of domby and son before the book!)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Paul wrote: "When I read that, I took it as a metaphor for Esther's understanding that she was ignored, unimportant, and had no value or importance in the world around her ..."

Yes, exactly! Actually it is both - literally and metaphorically. And "Phiz" (Hablot Knight Browne) never shows Esther's face, to reflect this perception about herself (I'll post them all as the read progresses, so you can see). It is always a side or back view, and when she is at her most unsure, all you can see is the poke bonnet! Here for instance, we see her back view in Phiz's illustration for this chapter 3.

The other two illustrations of Esther for chapter 3 are by Fred Barnard and Harry Furniss i.e. both from slightly later, so Charles Dickens was not around to give them detailed instructions, and they missed this nuanced point, which you have picked up straightaway! Well done :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Jenny wrote: "I'm a littke confused as to why a 19 year old needs a guardian? Was the age of majority different?"

Yes, it was 21 years of age until the late 20th century.

Eeek I'm glad you didn't..."

No worries. Google is my friend, but sometimes it can get too friendly.

[Kathleen]

Bionic Jean wrote: "In fact Charles Dickens found Jane Eyre’s rebellious attitudes objectionable. And Charlotte Brontë considered Charles Dickens’s handling of Esther’s narrative to be “weak and twaddling”!"

Oh, I love this detail, Jean! My mind went to Jane as well, whose anger and spite felt very justified given her circumstances, rather than objectionable. I wondered which was more realistic, but settled on different personalities handling this type of deprivation differently. Given that, Esther's focus on and need for love from others, and her expressions of affection for Ada seem in line with her self-deprecating personality. Jane lashed out; Esther turned it on herself.

The burial of the doll does feel (like the brief encounter with the plum cake man in the coach) like something that we'll learn more about later. For now, I was willing to believe she was growing up and didn't want this symbol of childishness to travel with her to her new and unknown home.

[Kathleen]

My favorite figurative language of today's reading:

“When she gave me one cold parting kiss upon my forehead, like a thaw-drop from the stone porch …”

Shudder!

[Luffy Sempai]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Paul wrote: "When I read that, I took it as a metaphor for Esther's understanding that she was ignored, unimportant, and had no value or importance in the world around her ..."

Yes, exactly! Actua..."

It must be something to be able to draw like these artists. Victorian sketches have a characteristic in themselves. Jean, do you know how the original pictures are kept? I shouldn't go off the topic, but I'm curious.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Kathleen wrote: "I wondered which was more realistic, but settled on different personalities handling this type of deprivation differently ... Jane lashed out; Esther turned it on herself."

Yes, exactly! Completely coincidentally, we are watching a film of Jane Eyre, and I just shared the two authors' views of each other's characters (Jane and Esther), and said just that.

"Weak and twaddling" will stay with me forever though!

Sam - "Is Dickens paying homage to Bronte and Jane Eyre?" From their different treatments by the authors, I'm not sure about "homage", but certainly the circumstances are similar. Not surprisingly, each author preferred their own character :)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Paul - your post 262 is, as you say, a guess. There's nothing in the text to indicate this.

(No harm in sharing guesses though, as long as it's clear :) )

[Anne]

Sam: "Anyone care to venture on the significance of Esther's name? "

In Hebrew Esther means to hide or conceal. Very apt for this story so far and for Esther, in particular. The truth of her birth and lineage is concealed from her and probably most others. Is Esther hiding anything? Did she bury her doll along with any secrets?

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Bridget wrote: "I took the line "Aunt in fact, though not in law" as complete confirmation of Esther's illegitimate birth ..."

Yes, but we don't yet know in what way she was her aunt - there are several possibilities. As with Paul, the rest of your post is a guess.

Lovely observation about the pet bird in a cage. Yes, birds, particularly in cages (like Mrs. Merdle's parrot in Little Dorrit) and the different ways of being trapped, feature heavily in Bleak House. Great work in spotting that one!

I have to say, I love how everyone's brain is sparking already!

[Piyangie]

From the characters introduced in chapter 3, I liked Esther the best. Her somewhat unhappy childhood touched me. She certainly seems to be born out of wedlock. But it was unkind of her aunt to chastise her for someone else's sin (if sin it is, for we no nothing of Esther's mother except that she lives).

Both chapters 2 and 3 surround with mysteries. I like the fact that Dickens introduced this mystery element early on in the book. That gives an additional inducement to go on.

[Luffy Sempai]

Anne (On semi-hiatus) wrote: "Sam: "Anyone care to venture on the significance of Esther's name? "

In Hebrew Esther means to hide or conceal. Very apt for this story so far and for Esther, in particular. The truth of her birth..."

So far, Esther is partly shrouded in possibilities, rather than actualities. She can be moulded and serve various purposes at this point in time. One can compare her to Jane Eyre, but one is much more famous a name than the other.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Sam and Sara - "I also think the man in the carriage is going to figure into our story again"

All the clues are already in place for this one :)

Sam - "Diane used the same words I intended in describing Chapter three as a breath of fresh air. I finished the chapter and wanted to do a little dance in celebration of how much I appreciate the writing."

Yes, isn't it a delightful chapter? The next one is fun too :)

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Luffy wrote: "do you know how the original pictures are kept?..."

The originals were etched on steel by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz), so the original steel plates were routinely destroyed. Because the illustrations are from plates, there is not just one original, like an oil painting, say.

But the very first prints were the covers ("wrappers") of the monthly serial parts. I put one of these as our header for this thread. You can still purchase these from antiquarian booksellers, and also the original 1853 book edition, at a colossal price!

Museums such as the one I often post about at his house in Doughty St. London has excellent copies of many of these, without foxing, but the better condition, the rarer they are! Individual plates are also sometimes framed and hung on a wall.

This is not off-topic at all! We could talk for ages about the different illustrators of Bleak House :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Luffy wrote: "do you know how the original pictures are kept?..."

The originals were etched on steel by Hablot Knight Browne (Phiz), so the original steel plates were routinely de..."

Thank you for relaying these facts to me. I feel like my life will be over soon, because time is travelling so fast. I must read some great books before I keel over. Bleak House is one of these books.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Anne (On semi-hiatus) wrote: "Sam: "Anyone care to venture on the significance of Esther's name? "

In Hebrew Esther means to hide or conceal. Very apt for this story so far and for Esther, in particular ..."

Thank you! Perfect :)

And thanks to Sam too, for raising this question.

Piyangie - "She certainly seems to be born out of wedlock. But it was unkind of her aunt to chastise her for someone else's sin"

From our present day perspective, yes, although some religions do believe that the child bears the sins of its parents. It was quite a commonly held belief in Victorian times that conditions such as blindness were God's punishment on a child for their parents' sin. One of Charles Dickens novellas features a young woman who is shunned, and hides herself away just for this reason.

These two aspects are related ... who do you think might have given Esther her name?

[Petra]

I really enjoyed this chapter. After the foggy, wet previous chapters that seemed so dark, this one had moments of light, which was refreshing.

I am reading this story for the first time and not reading ahead, so anything I guess at is just that, a guess.

I found Esther's story touching. Her time with her Godmother/Aunt was strict but she was cared for well and kept safe. I began to wonder whether we are getting a child's view of a situation, with a child's understanding and perspective. That would leave a lot out of the narrative of her life and the motives behind the people in her life. They may (or may not) be as harsh as the child recalls?

There were a few hints that the child is a part of something larger. Why would Jarndyce have such an interest in her? Now she's going to Jarndyce's house to live and be a companion. She's getting closer to finding out something about her mysterious past, perhaps?

I found the incident with the doll surprising and upsetting. Why would a child bury her best friend? The doll has a significance, I'm sure, as mentioned by others already. However, the act of a child burying her best friend because she's starting a new life is kind of disturbing.
I began to wonder whether Esther is writing the whole truth or only a white-washed, good, kind side of her story? Is there more to Esther than she is telling us?
It's interesting that Esther's name means to hide or conceal. Thank you for that, Anne.
Perhaps she isn't telling the whole truth and is hiding facts from us?

The plum cake man is interesting. I am curious about his significance and look forward to seeing him appear again.

The caged bird was a strange detail, I found. We didn't hear before that Esther had a pet and it was not mentioned afterwards. Why mention the bird in the carriage when leaving the home? It seems like such an insignificant mention of an object with no purpose to the story. Could it mean that Esther had 2 friends, the dolly and the bird?

So many questions! I'm looking forward to reading onwards. This really is an intriguing start to this book.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Petra - I love the whole of your post and your surmises :)

Luffy - My fingers are crossed that that this time yes, you will read all of Bleak House - and enjoy it a lot too :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Petra wrote: "The doll has a significance, I'm sure, as mentioned by others already."

Perhaps the major cause of this issue is to make grownup Esther live without her doll. But the doll must provide some symbolism because a better and more poignant way could have been for Esther to lose the doll. Or, I don't know, have a bully steal or vandalise it.

[Luffy Sempai]

Bionic Jean wrote: "Petra - I love the whole of your post and your surmises :)

Luffy - My fingers are crossed that that this time yes, you will read all of Bleak House - and enjoy it a lot too :)"

Oh I think I will. For the first time since I have been acquainted with you, I am thinking that Bleak House will dethrone my favorite, which is Martin Chuzzlewit.

[Debra Diggs]

.
.
Paul's guess in message 262, was exactly what I thought.

As much as I instantly loved Esther, I thought burying the doll was a little odd/creepy. Maybe Esther is not quite right in the head.

[Nisa]

Jean like you said I enjoyed reading chapter 3 :))

For me the characters in chapter 1 and 2 were vague. If weren't for your summaries and everyone's comments I wouldn't think much about these chapters. But with chapter 3 I feel closer to Esther but like Petra and Anne said I feel as narrator she isn't honest or she hides some facts from us.
The Man in the carriage was an interesting character. I also think we will meet the man and I would like if that's happen :)

[Luffy Sempai]

Debra Diggs wrote: ".
.
Paul's guess in message 262, was exactly what I thought.

As much as I instantly loved Esther, I thought burying the doll was a little odd/creepy. Maybe Esther is not quite right in the head."

Esther must have a defining moment or two later. She cannot tread the fine line between anonymity and complaisance forever.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Nisa wrote: "Jean like you said I enjoyed reading chapter 3 :))..."

Yes! I think one of Charles Dickens great strengths is that he can appeal to everyone! He can write characters we are fascinated about, and in a straightforward way, but also long paragraphs of description with many hidden implications - or being very black and sardonic.

You never know what you will find when you turn the page: a happy scene to make you laugh, a tragic scene to make you cry, or a complex literary scene to unknot!

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Debra Diggs wrote: ".
.
Paul's guess in message 262, was exactly what I thought"

Ah, but remember that Charles Dickens was a fantastic writer of mysteries, and a good mystery writer throws in a fair few red herrings ;)

The doll is certainly weird. What it makes me think of most, are the dolls psychologists use to get severely traumatised children to act out their troubles. The doll was Esther's friend though.

I hope those who said now she has real people to be friends with, she no longer needs the doll, will turn out to be right.

[Petra]

Luffy wrote: "Perhaps the major cause of this issue is to make grownup Esther live without her doll. But the doll must provide some symbolism because a better and more poignant way could have been for Esther to lose the doll. Or, I don't know, have a bully steal or vandalise it.
..."

Burying the doll leaves it open to a retrieval at some point. Any other way of losing it means it's gone forever. The doll is, I think, a clue of some sort. For good or bad. I'm currently not sure about Esther.

That doesn't explain the creepy behaviour of actually burying one's best friend, though. That is the strangest action.

Jean, Esther doesn't know, at the moment of burying the doll, that she will have friends where she's going. She's going into an unknown. Wouldn't she need her friend more than ever at this particular moment?

Another thought is that perhaps she's leaving her best friend in the only home she's ever known. That would make the burying of the doll less creepy, in a way. She could, possibly, be giving her friend a security, in a strange way.

[Luffy Sempai]

Petra wrote: "Luffy wrote: "Burying the doll leaves it open to a retrieval at some point."

That is a very clever take :o

[Anne]

Petra :"Perhaps she (Esther) isn't telling the whole truth and is hiding facts from us?"

Esther herself is a secret, appropriately named since her name means "conceal" or "hide." Esther tells us that her doll "knew all of (her) secrets." I believe her. She lived in a household full of secrets kept from her so it's natural that she would learn to keep her own secrets and tell them only to her best friend, her doll. What are these secrets? The biggest secrets that we know of now have to do with her mother, (her father), and herself. Who are her parents? Where are they? Why isn't she with either parent? Esther was forbidden to ask any of these or other questions.

Did someone tell her to bury her doll or was it her idea? Since this doll was her best friend why did she leave her behind and bury her? How did she feel about burying her doll? What is the provenance of this doll? Who gave it to her? Did someone tell her to leave it behind? Did someone threaten to take it away from her? Would someone recognize it at the boarding school? What secrets did she bury along with her doll?

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Petra wrote: "Jean, Esther doesn't know, at the moment of burying the doll, that she will have friends where she's going. She's going into an unknown. Wouldn't she need her friend more than ever at this particular moment? ..."

Yes I agree! I said "I hope those who said now she has real people to be friends with, she no longer needs the doll, will turn out to be right."

Yet another interpretation is that she fears "Greenleaf", and thinks by burying her doll/friend she would keep her safe, as some have said, to retrieve later.

We can never be sure of Esther's motives as she is the narrator here.

[Sara]

Petra, I like your thought that burying the doll makes it retrievable. I hadn't thought of that at all. I have read Bleak House before, but I find I remember nothing of these first chapters, so all my guesses are also just guesses. In fact, if you made me write down things I KNOW, I'd have to hand you a blank page. Dickens has my mind whirling right now.

[Petra]

It's Dickens' mysterious ways that have me questioning anything that comes to my attention.

There's a lot of details that never come to my attention, such as the fact that we met the old lady before. Luckily, thanks to Jean's wonderful summaries, I found out where we met her. That detail went right by me.

Dickens is exceptionally mysterious and sneaky in the clues he gives his readers.

Jean, I misread your earlier statement.
I also had the (late) thought that perhaps the dolly was buried to keep her safe and in the only home she's ever known.
Dickens gives us both sides of the coin(s).

[Lee]

Jim wrote: "I often find that reading Dickens while concurrently reading other novels can reduce one's enjoyment of the other works; very few writers have ever been able to match Dickens' scintillating prose. ..."
Jim, I agree. Typically I read 3 or 4 novels at a time. When reading Dickens, I usually just focus on his novel. Otherwise, I find myself rushing and not doing his work justice.

[Jim]

Chapter 2:
Dickens is a master at applying the physical appearance and mannerisms of his characters as metaphor for their personalities Tulkinghorn’s dull black attire that “never shines” denotes his talent for absorbing confidential information which is thereupon buried in his person, never to be divulged. He carries the process even further by also ensuring that he tells his client nothing that would be of any use to them.
He thereby joins the vast ranks of service providers who, while ostensibly catering to the needs of the Dedlocks, are in reality subtly directing every aspect of the lives of their clients. A perfectly balanced social arrangement that suits all the parties concerned.
As a personal observation, a similar regime exists in our world today, whereby the denizens of the world of technology, while ostensibly serving the needs of the public for information, communication, entertainment and gadgetry, are in reality determining the direction and pace of technical changes, rendering us increasingly dependent on their offerings and compelling each of us to adopt the latest versions and adapting our daily routines to the environment they are creating and managing.

[Sue]

My impression of Esther was quite positive after reading this chapter but I realize I must await further developments. I think I was primarily glad to see that there was a living, breathing person inside My Lady, at least at some point during her life. We really have so much more to learn about her background, and about what led to her marriage in spite of her less than proper back story.

[Fiona]

Jean - you have planted a seed of doubt in my mind about Esther. Is she a reliable narrator? Can she be as good and loving - and loved by others - as she says? Is her modesty disingenuous?

I thought the burying of the doll was a metaphor for Esther burying her childhood as she was moving on to the next stage of her life. On reflection, that’s perhaps not very Dickens.

[Bionic Jean, "Dickens Duchess"]

Jim wrote: "Tulkinghorn’s dull black attire that “never shines” denotes his talent for absorbing confidential information which is thereupon buried in his person, never to be divulged ..."

Nice! He has a dark nature indeed; a man of secrets.

Fiona wrote: "Jean - you have planted a seed of doubt in my mind about Esther. Is she a reliable narrator? Can she be as good and loving - and loved by others - as she says? Is her modesty disingenuous?"

Exactly! It's ambiguous, so far at least.