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Dombey and Son
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Dombey and Son - Week 3: Ch. XI - XIV
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Perch - the obsequious messenger, who prostrates himself figuratively at Dombey’s feet.
Mr. Carker, the Manager - a fortyish gentleman with distressingly white and regular teeth. His smile is likened to the snarl of a cat, so take from that what you will.
Mr. Carker, the Junior - older brother of Mr. Carker, the Manager. This reversal of roles is the source of drama, with Mr. Carker the elder being ashamed of his older brother’s lower status. He is described as being at the very bottom of the corporate ladder, and destined to remain there.
Mr. Morfin - an elderly bachelor who is secretly happy to have a position that doesn’t require him to have many one-on-one dealings with Mr. Dombey.
Walter enters Mr. Dombey’s office to deliver letters and makes the mistake of mentioning Mr. Carker the Juionr to Mr. Carker the Manager and is reprimanded for this breach of etiquette. We see what small actions our fates can rest on when Walter picks up a letter that dropped to the ground and places it on top of the pile before Mr. Dombey. It so happens that it is from Florence, and this causes Mr. Dombey to wonder if Walter was making a silent statement. It also reminds him of Walter’s involvement in their lives and the affections of Florence. This results in Dombey’s sudden decision to send Walter to live and work in the West Indies for the company. Shellshocked by this announcement, Walter fetches Mr. Carker the Junior at his brother’s request and is privy to a very personal conversation between them. The younger brother bitterly accuses the elder of injuring him by his very presence and expresses his wish that their relationship could cease to be. Walter apologizes for his role in this drama (daring to mention the Junior to the Manager) and the Manager hopes that Walter will now remember not to commit this egregious sin again.
Walter leaves, but stays by the open door, having heard his name spoken after his exit. The Junior remarks that Walter reminds him of himself when he was young. His brother reacts with sarcasm and disdain. There is some mystery here, as the Junior says he saw in Walter, “when he first came here, almost [his] other self.” He describes his past self “lightly walking on the edge of an unseen gulf where so many others walk with equal gaiety, and from which . . . ONE traveller fell . . . who set forward, on his way, a boy like him, and missed his footing more and more, and slipped a little and a little lower, and went on stumbling still, until he fell headlong and found himself below a shattered man. Think what I suffered, when I watched that boy” (178). What do you think of this passage? How would you interpret this rendition of his past?
When confronted by a Walter eager to comfort him afterward, the Junior tells him that his position was a result of having, before his twenty-first birthday, robbed them. When it came out before he was twenty-two, he “died” from all men’s society. Mr. Dombey shows mercy to him and allows him to stay, but he is unable to advance and serves as an example. The chapter closes with Walter pondering his promotion with a heavy heart.
Paul Dombey is about to be released for a vacation. Miss Blimber reviews his report card with him, where his scores are commendable in everything except his character and conduct, in which he is singular and old-fashioned. She tells him that they regret his singularity, as well, since it means they can’t like him as much as they would wish. This cuts little Paul to the heart. He feels much affection for those he resides with and wants only the same in return. Though they do like him very much indeed, they find themselves unable to acquit him of being old-fashioned.
Paul and the other students are invited to a Quadrille party to mark the end of the term, and he is overjoyed to find that Florence is also invited. Unfortunately, after this revelation, Paul’s health takes a downturn and he becomes very ill. This is relayed to us through his own consciousness, where he drifts in and out and misses segments of time. He overhears the Apothecary pronouncing that there “was a want of vital power . . . and a great constitutional weakness” (190). He gradually becomes better and is allowed to get up, but is excused from any further studies. He spends his time roving the house, exploring his surroundings and finding ways to make himself useful to the other inhabitants. The chapter is riddled with references to little Paul’s old-fashionedness, and his speculations on what this means.
We catch a glimpse of the seriousness of Paul’s illness when his reunion with his sister draws tears and a promise to nurse him from her. Paul’s happiness in the evening is complete when Florence performs a song and everyone in the company is overwhelmed by her beauty and talent. There is a reference to the sentiment of sympathy that seems “borne in upon the air of the summer night” that was for both Paul and his sister. The next paragraph is one of imagery, tying the party and Florence’s singing to images of the sea and the swelling waves. From this dreamy passage and his leave-taking, which involves everyone in the house bidding him a heartfelt goodbye, (all of which he experiences in flashes), we ascertain that he is still unwell and probably feverish. They also stay at Mrs. Pipchin’s for several days after leaving the school. Paul doesn’t understand this, but it is probably because he is not well enough to travel any further. His disjointed recollections continue after he does arrive home, with him questioning his sister about Mr. Dombey, and asking her to confirm that he must have imagined his father crying and going into his room when Paul arrives. She does so, to content Paul, and he is relieved.
So what are your thoughts on this reading? I sprinkled my questions in amongst the commentary, but please comment or ask questions about whatever caught your attention. Do you have any thoughts on the new characters introduced in this section? On the use of motifs or the themes that are building? Did you have any quotes that you particularly liked or found powerful? Do you have any predictions about characters or events? Please share!
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I enjoyed the further development of the relationship between Florence and her brother, as well as Susan Nipper, who is growing on me as the fierce defender of little Florence.
The Carker brothers are quite a pair! I could see Dickens making a meal of their relationship and their past. They strike me as deliciously complicated, and I can’t wait to see how they will play out. The scene with young Walter and the envelope has so much foreshadowing that I am on pins and needles with concern for the lad. I have to admit that I have no idea what direction the novel will take!
I've always been a big fan of Susan Nipper!
I found it interesting how often Dickens has other characters use the word 'old-fashioned' as a description and judgement of Paul. They all seem to know what is meant by it - but I feel that I don't fully understand. Was that a shorthand for saying things like: he is not adapted to the competitiveness, harshness, rudeness etc. of 'modern times'?
sabagrey wrote: "I found it interesting how often Dickens has other characters use the word 'old-fashioned' as a description and judgement of Paul. They all seem to know what is meant by it - but I feel that I don'..."My take on Paul's old fashion ways is he acts like an old man. Wise beyond his years. Perceptive.
I find it interesting that Dickens had (at least) two quirky young male characters Toots in D&S and in Bleak House Mr. Guppy. Both are some of my favorite characters.One thing I've found helpful when planning to read or reading Dickens is to watch a video of the story before reading so I can better grasp some of the characters. Does anyone else do that?
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You sound like you're enjoying the book--I'm so glad! I agree that I think we still have much to discover about the Carker brothers. I will personally be surprised if Walter's uncle and Captain Cutter are not correct about a future match between Walter and Florence, but it is early days yet.
I have to say that although Florence is a sweet, good girl, she doesn't make me want to punch her in the throat like I want to do to Lucie Manette. Okay, maybe I wouldn't cause Lucie any real physical harm, but at least I could fling mud in her face--something to shake the saintliness right out of her! I'd love to see her lose her temper and give someone what-for! :)
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It is interesting because Dickens never does clarify what he means by that, although I think Francis has a good take on it. At the same time, to me, old-fashioned doesn't mean the same as just old. Old-fashioned refers to something that harkens back to a previous time, whereas I think we are looking at Paul and thinking his behavior is mature beyond his years. He acts older, but that is not the same as old-fashioned. He's very polite, but I don't really get the feeling that good manners have been dispensed with by the general populace. Perhaps they all seize on this phrase to describe him, only knowing that his behavior mystifies and unsettles them and they aren't sure why. Poor Paul is as confused by it as we are!
sabagrey wrote: "I found it interesting how often Dickens has other characters use the word 'old-fashioned' as a description and judgement of Paul. They all seem to know what is meant by it - but I feel that I don'..."I can understand the ‘old’ more than the ‘fashioned’ when Dickens describes Paul like this…..
‘ He sat, with folded hands, upon his pedestal, silently listening. But he might have answered ‘weary, weary! very lonely, very sad!’ And there, with an aching void in his young heart, and all outside so cold, and bare, and strange, Paul sat as if he had taken life unfurnished, and the upholsterer were never coming.’
That’s not a description of a wide-eyed youngster, full of the joys of life.
I wonder if ‘tintinnabulation’ is the longest word in the Dickens novels or is there one to beat it?
Am I right in thinking that Dombey is sending Walter abroad to keep him away from Florence or is that just my romantic imagination reading too much into the situation? It is certainly not a reward for finding his lost daughter.
I loved Dickens’ references to the younger Mr. Carker’s teeth.
’ Mr. Carker was a gentleman thirty-eight or forty years old, of a florid complexion, and with two unbroken rows of glistening teeth, whose regularity and whiteness were quite distressing.’
Trev wrote: "Am I right in thinking that Dombey is sending Walter abroad to keep him away from Florence or is that just my romantic imagination reading too much into the situation? It is certainly not a reward for finding his lost daughter.."I thought so, too. But I am not so sure whether the motive is so straightforward. There was this scene where Walter asked for a loan: there was Florence who wanted Walter to be helped - and Paul who did what Florence wished. It could be this whole chain of emotional connections that Dombey hated or feared: as a counterforce to his plans to make 'the Son' a hard businessman.
Cindy has already mentioned the ‘dry and sandy’ Miss Blimber. I think the full quote from Dickens, even though it made me laugh, misrepresents her a least a little.’ She was dry and sandy with working in the graves of deceased languages. None of your live languages for Miss Blimber. They must be dead — stone dead — and then Miss Blimber dug them up like a Ghoul.’
There was nothing ghoulish about her genuine feelings when poorly Paul left the school. In fact, although the school was a hot house of cramming, generally the scholars seemed well looked after with good food and plenty of attention to their domestic needs. A far cry from ‘Dotheboys Hall.’
Trev wrote: "Cindy has already mentioned the ‘dry and sandy’ Miss Blimber. I think the full quote from Dickens, even though it made me laugh, misrepresents her a least a little."Sometimes, methinks, his witty ideas, especially when characterising people, run away with Dickens. He can't stop himself from writing them down although they turn out to be misleading.
A bit too much in love with his own sharp pen for my taste, is Mr. Dickens.
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Cindy wrote: "So when you look at my incredibly long posts, just know—it could have been worse! :)"I love them, Cindy! Go on!
I know that Dickens lived in a different society, and suffered emotionally as a child, but I do feel fortunate to live in a world where perhaps 1 in 20 or 1 in 50 people spread evil, rather than in his imagined worlds, in which 1 in 3 do.
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I love them, Cindy! Go on!"
Thank you so much! I'm so glad to know that I'm not boring everybody to death! :)
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Sometimes I agree with you; sometimes I feel like Dickens hit the nail on the head! Dickens' evil seems pretty G-rated compared to the stories I read on my news app.
Just some random thoughts:Cindy, please keep going with those posts. They’re very thought-provoking.
Regarding the dangers of forcing youngsters to absorb classical literature at too young an age, it probably depends on the individual child. If he/she is of a studious bent and not just fulfilling a parent’s ambition, it may work. But at Bimble’s school it’s obvious that most of the boys are drowning. That said, this school for boys was a real place of learning, where the boys were well-fed and well-treated, unlike the schools in other works by Mr. Dickens.
I am fascinated by the use of the sea and the waves in foreshadowing the seriousness Paul’s illness. The eternity of the sea’s motion and tides, the voices that he can almost hear in the murmuring of the sea, his way of looking at the sea and searching for something he can’t quite name - very haunting.
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Cindy, please keep going with those posts. They’re very thought-provoking.
I am fascinated by the use of the sea and the waves in foreshadowing the seriousness Paul’s illness. The eternity of the sea’s motion and tides, the voices that he can almost hear in the murmuring of the sea, his way of looking at the sea and searching for something he can’t quite name - very haunting...."
Thank you, Nancy! I appreciate it!
I do like the motif of the sea and think it is a great representation of Death--inscrutable in its mystery and ruthlessly inexorable.
We start with Florence and Paul still residing at Mrs. Pipchin’s establishment. Mr. Dombey fears that the focus on his son’s health has led to his falling behind in education, so he enrolls him in Dr. Blimber’s school, which neighbors Mrs. Pipchin’s house. After this conversation with Mrs. Pipchin, he takes leave of his children by kissing Paul and shaking hands with Florence. Was anyone else surprised by this? I wasn’t surprised that he shows preference for Paul, but that he does so with such a physical sign of affection. How obvious are his reserve and awkwardness around his own daughter that he is unable to do something as innocuous as kiss her goodbye, even after having done the same for her brother moments before?
The description of Dr. Blimber’s school is an extended metaphor likening it to a hothouse “in which there was a forcing apparatus incessantly at work. All the boys blew before their time” (141). In this context, “blew” means to flower or to blossom (which is clear from context clues but I still looked it up!). The boys are expected to perform at certain levels whether they are ready for it or not. This process creates a very stressful environment for them. As a result of these practices, a student “usually took leave of his spirits in three weeks . . . and at the end of a twelvemonth had arrived at the conclusion from which he never afterwards departed, that all the fancies of the poets, and lessons of the sages, were a mere collection of words and grammar, and had no other meaning in the world” (143). There is a lot of debate today over the efficacy of teaching classic works of literature to students in middle and high school. Some feel that students are not prepared for these complex texts at these young ages (Dickens’ books being a common example) and that forcing them produces this result with the students. Any thoughts on this?
As little Paul is waiting on the doorstep of the Blimber school, he is holding the hands of his father and sister; “how tight the tiny pressure of that one; and how loose and cold the other!” (143). You can understand why Paul’s grasp on his father’s hand is loose and cold when next Mr. Dombey speaks: “This is the way indeed to be Dombey and Son, and have money. You are almost a man already” (144). Almost a man??? He’s 6! It’s clear that what Dombey really loves is the image in his head of his son as an adult, perfect in every way (HIS idea of perfection). The intervening years between his birth and adulthood are just annoying wastes of time that have to be endured until they’re over. His child is “of Son” to him, not Paul. His only value is as the realization of that role in the business.
As Mr. Dombey bids Paul goodbye, he takes Paul’s “limp and careless little hand” in his, and he notices that his son’s “sorrowful expression” is only for Florence–all for her. His emotions for his son are tangled up in his dreams for him, but even so, they still exist, for Dickens notes that if Dombey had an enemy, “hard to appease and cruelly vindictive in his hate, even such an enemy might have received the pang that wrung his proud heart then, as compensation for his injury” (149). As he kisses his son, his sight blurs with unacknowledged tears.
The Blimber School consists of:
The Doctor - a portly, bald gentleman with a double chin and a majestic attitude.
Mrs. Blimber - the Doctor’s wife, uneducated but pretends to be, having picked up enough lingo from her surroundings to be able to name-drop creditably.
Miss Blimber - slim and graceful, with short hair and glasses. She is “dry and sandy with working in the graves of deceased languages” (143).
Mr. Feeder - the Doctor’s assistant and fellow teacher, drives the students relentlessly with the same texts and assignments.
Young Toots - an older student, reputed to have had his brain broken by the Blimber teaching model. He is a sunny-natured young man, much addicted to fashion and falling in love with random girls on sight.
Briggs and Tozer - Paul’s roommates, both stressed and despondent. On their first night together, Briggs says he “should wish himself dead if it wasn’t for his mother” and Tozer sighs a lot and warns Paul of what he will be facing on the morrow. They both are haunted by their lessons in their dreams.
Chapter XI ends with a haunting image: “with an aching void in his young heart, and all outside so cold, and bare, and strange, Paul sat as if he had taken life unfurnished, and the upholsterer were never coming” (150). What is your take on this? Is it foreshadowing?
In Chapter XII, Paul speedily learns of the inadequacies of his depth of knowledge. He admits to Miss Blimber that his primary source of information has been Glubb, the old man who pulled his cart to the seaside every day at Mrs. Pipchin’s. This is another example of Dickens’ inspired names for characters!
On a personal note, I was very excited to run across the word “tintinnabulation.” I had this as a spelling word in 4th grade! (My spelling group consisted of me and one other child who were not on the same page as the rest of the class). I think this is the first time I’ve seen it since then, but it is an awesome word!
Though unfamiliar with the subjects he is introduced to, Paul acquits himself very well at school. He lives for Saturdays when he can be with Florence for the weekend. Susan Nipper now lives with Florence at Mrs. Pipchin’s, and is more than a match for that redoubtable woman. I love the description of their relationship: “if ever Mrs. Pipchin in all her life had found her match, she had found it now. Miss Nipper threw away the scabbard the first morning she arose in Mrs. Pipchin’s house. She asked and gave no quarter. She said it must be war, and war it was; and Mrs. Pipchin lived from that time in the midst of surprises, harassings, and defiances, and skirmishing attacks that came bouncing in upon her from the passage, even in unguarded moments of chops, and carried desolation to her very toast” (163).
Florence, being the loving sister that she is, is troubled by the heavy load Paul’s studies place on him, and she acquires and begins studying the same books in order to help him. This means that Florence, a mere girl, is receiving the same advanced education that was being limited to boys only.
There continues to be many allusions to time and the sea, as in the reference to the Doctor’s curriculum: “Comforted by the applause of the young gentleman’s nearest relations, and urged on by their blind vanity and ill-considered haste, it would have been strange if Doctor Blimbey had discovered his mistake, or trimmed his swelling sails to any other tack” (166). I love how naturally Dickens works these motifs into his narrative. This information about the pressure brought to bear on these youngsters by their families’ expectations shows that Paul is not alone in being an object of vicarious living by a parent. This is, unfortunately, a continuing issue in education today, with many top students experiencing anxiety as a result.
Florence walks under little Paul’s window every night so that they can exchange waves before bedtime, and this brightens his days. Unbeknownst to both of them, Mr. Dombey also came and walks there in the night, looking up “at the windows where his son was qualifying for a man; and wait[s], and watch[es], and plan[s], and hope[s]” (168). He no longer joins them on Saturdays–”he could not bear it.” One can only presume that this is because watching the two children’s love for each other so clear, and their disregard for him so evident, is too painful for him. It is also interesting that this physical route they follow reflects their relationships with each other. Florence and Paul are connected, while Dombey watches over the one and disregards the other. Neither of the children connects with their father.