Dickensians! discussion
This topic is about
Pears' centenary edition of Charles Dickens' Christmas books
Novellas and Collaborative Works
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The Battle of Life (hosted by Petra)
Sam, that is a wonderful insight on the battle scene. As Lee says, it includes all who have ever fallen in battle and their memories live with us, in one way or another. The Doctor having found the anti-Philosopher's stone (the commoner stone that turns gold to dross) means that he doesn't know how good he has it. That certainly does seem to me to be how he views the world. So much negativity that he's missing the positives all around him, in many ways. He does, though, seem to enjoy and realize the enjoyment of his daughters in his life.
Connie, I'm glad you brought up the shared birthdays. I was hoping someone would.There's Albert, Marion and a gruesome battle. Two lovers and a death scene. That doesn't bode well, does it?
These three are bound together through Fate. Their birthdays bind them together.
I am so glad that the illustrations are enjoyed. I am enjoying them as well.
Sam wrote: "the name of the three men, Craggs, Snitchey, and Doctor Jeddler are likened to members of the three kindoms (Cragg=flint= mineral) (Snitchey=magpie=animal) (Jeddler=winter-pippin=vegetable)..."Sam, I've been pondering this. The names of Snitchey and Craggs are strong objects (magpie and flint). The magpie is resourceful and smart; the flint is somewhat brittle but a steady, reliable help for fires (warmth, security).
I had to look up a vegetable called pippin. I found Pippin apples and Golden Pippin Squash.
The squash is a long-lasting, durable vegetable that can keep through the winter. The Pippin squash is a more flavorable type than other squashes and is smaller in size. It is deep in colour, is nice to look at.
Perhaps, Dickens is saying that the Doctor is tough and durable, while handsome (LOL). Something like "good things come in small packages" because of the smallness of pippins, in general?
I'll have to go back and check.....was the Doctor described as being short?
Part the First Summary 7:Mr. Snitchey states that the world has gone a bit to Law since then and that the legal side is a serious matter, which is a purpose and an intention. Mr. Snitchey contends that Life with purpose and intent is no joke. He continues and says that the battle was fought by trespassers on the land, each & every one of them. To expose oneself to death was a wasteful & stupid. The law gave rules to property and title. He ends by saying that Life is a serious game to play. All play against one. That’s nothing to laugh about.
Alfred suggests forgetting the battlefield of Life and enjoying the sunshine each day. He continues that Life has quiet victories, sacrifices and heroism that occur each day. Any of these acts could soften the heart of a stern man and give him hope and belief, even if at war or at law.
The doctor says he’s too old to change his views, even by the opinions of his sister, the spinster Martha Jeddler. He was born on the battlefield and his thoughts directed by the history of the battlefield.
I'm catching up a bit now too. Like others, I loved the description of Clemency. Quintessential Dickens!Thank you to Erich C. for that busk photo. Oh my, am I grateful for progress!
Petra, I'm enjoying all of the illustrations--thank you. Think I’m partial to the John Leech ones.
I loved Sam’s idea of the battle opening as a literary device that gives the story a feeling of timelessness. It gives it relatability, but also depth. We feel we’re in for a story.
This latest section seems to pit these philosophies against each other, and also age against youth. I was thinking about Alfred, and he reminds me a bit of Fred in Christmas Carol. I think Dickens gives us many of these characters, ones who see the evil and trouble in the world, but defy it by letting their view of the good take precedence, as Alfred, when looking at sweet Grace, says to the three doomsayers: "I defy you all."
I saw the lawyer's names as hard as well where the pippin is soft, bruises easily and is a food source for the magpies. More associations: (Flint=sharp and can cut) (Magpies are associated with thieving) Despite the fun I am having with these associations, I agree with Kathleen's post that the three men's different philosophies may be of far more value in relation to the story. We shall see.I wanted to comment on Gem's remark. I understand your reluctance to post when you feel you have nothing of value to add, but I do wish you try to overcome that reluctance. I have come to appreciate more and more of the remarks posted in discussions. It is not only the so-called important thoughts. Each post gives the rest of us an idea of the other member's situation with regard to what we are reading as well as that person's situation in life and I find these posts quite motivating in my read. Many times a thought posted by another reader is one that has not occurred to me and often it has been prompted by different cultural and geographical exposures that are unique to the individual. Occasionally, one of us may be misreading the piece and I excel at that, but feel it is worth the tradeoff because there will often be helpful responses to get me back on track. All this blather is just my way of saying, "Don't feel to shy to comment!"
Sam wrote: "Each post gives the rest of us an idea of the other member's situation with regard to what we are reading as well as that person's situation in life and I find these posts quite motivating in my read. "This was so helpful to me, Sam. I am one of the "older" ones posting here, and because of a traumatic brain injury in the recent past I have memory issues. When I get overwhelmed, I panic - which is what I am doing now.
Like everyone else, I am concurrently trying to clear out all the "outstanding" books I have hanging on from 2023 before January 1, 2024. But there is NOTHING as rewarding as following a group discussion, especially one led by Petra. This reading she is leading is worth every bit of our attention, and if we just let it be our place to sit back, relax and enjoy a short story by Charles Dickens, all will come out right in the end.
I am going to begin The Battle of Life ILLUSTRATED: The Struggle for Happiness in Hard Times all over again, and take written notes of the different characters as Charles Dickens has drawn them, each of them: Doctor Jeddler, Grace, Marion, Alfred, Clemency Newcome, Messrs Snitchey and Craggs, Benjamin Britain (Young England).
Everyone is at a different place right now. I hope my remarks serve to encourage Gem and anyone else suffering from post-holiday anxiety like myself!
What Lee and Sam have said, is so true!! I second all of it!I've been thinking about Mr. Snitchey's little speech glorifying the law with all its logic, and its ability to pass titles peacefully. On the one hand that is true. I'm very grateful to live in a law-abiding country, and to feel that my property is secure. But I couldn't help also thinking about Bleak House while reading Mr. Snitchey's views. There is a downside to law, which Dickens was keenly aware of, and which he illustrates quite well in Bleak House. The incompetence of the Chancery leads to so much misery in so many lives. I feel certain Dickens would have had that in mind as he wrote this.
Petra wrote: "Sam wrote: "the name of the three men, Craggs, Snitchey, and Doctor Jeddler are likened to members of the three kindoms (Cragg=flint= mineral) (Snitchey=magpie=animal) (Jeddler=winter-pippin=vegeta..."This section seemed so strange and unfamiliar. Here is an explanation showing how our knowledge of the "natural kingdoms" in biology has changed over time!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom...
Linnaeus used this taxonomy which became more remembered as a popular phrase than of value in science. Think of the lyrics to this song from Pirates of Penzance:"I am the very model of a modern Major-Gineral,
I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral,`
or the 20 questions game, "Is it animal, vegetable or mineral?"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linnaea...
Sam wrote: "I saw the lawyer's names as hard as well where the pippin is soft, bruises easily and is a food source for the magpies. More associations: (Flint=sharp and can cut) (Magpies are associated with thi..."Hmm.....food for thought, that's for sure.
Lawyers are (in general) seen as a sharp group that look out for themselves. A pippin, despite having a tough rind, can be vulnerable inside. Perhaps Dickens means this. I hope not, though, because it seems that the Doctor considers the lawyers in a more friendly manner.....which could also mean you may be right, Sam, as it makes the Doctor rather vulnerable to trust them.
Kathleen wrote: "This latest section seems to pit these philosophies against each other, and also age against youth. ..."Nice point, Kathleen.
One's philosophy dictates, in many ways, how one sees the world.
I like Alfred's outlook of "let's enjoy today" the best. It's probably the outlook that would bring the most daily happiness.
Lee G wrote: "But there is NOTHING as rewarding as following a group discussion, especially one led by Petra...."Lee, thank you. You are making me blush. I couldn't do it without everyone who joins in the read. I get so many new insights and outlooks from everyone. It makes the story deeper and richer for me. I thank everyone who reads along with me.
Thank you.
I completely agree that there is nothing as rewarding as a group read. All of our reads have been amazing. I've learnt so much from everyone and gotten so much enjoyment from the comments and insights.
Bridget wrote: "I've been thinking about Mr. Snitchey's little speech glorifying the law with all its logic, and its ability to pass titles peacefully. On the one hand that is true. I'm very grateful to live in a law-abiding country, and to feel that my property is secure. But I couldn't help also thinking about Bleak House while reading Mr. Snitchey's views. There is a downside to law, which Dickens was keenly aware of, and which he illustrates quite well in Bleak House. The incompetence of the Chancery leads to so much misery in so many lives. I feel certain Dickens would have had that in mind as he wrote this....."I, too, thought of Bleak House while reading Snitchey's speech.
I also get what he's saying. The Law keeps us in order and keeps anarchy away. It makes us civilized (in a way) by giving us logical, orderly rules to follow in order to live in harmony and peace. However, there is the other side of the coin, which we saw in Bleak House, where the Law is detrimental.
Lee G wrote: "Here is an explanation showing how our knowledge of the "natural kingdoms" in biology has changed over time!..."Oh my! Eight Kingdoms! My head is reeling! It's hard enough keeping the three Kingdoms in order. LOL.
As we learn more about the Natural World and how it's organized, the more catagories (Kingdoms) we understand we have in the world. It's a complex place, this Orb we live on. The more we learn, the more we realize this.
Thank you, Lee for this information. Very interesting. I'm going to go read it again.
I just wanted to add that, like Sam, Lee & Bridget have said, it's always wonderful to hear everyone's thoughts and ideas. We each have different thoughts and outlooks that when put together give us all the whole picture, more understanding and insight into the deep story that Dickens is giving us.
I know that I get so much enjoyment from each new idea and point of view.
Part the First Summary 8:Britian chuckled at what he was hearing but his face doesn’t show any opinion and no one knew where the laugh had come from, except Clemency, who elbowed him and asked what he laughed at. The joke, he says, was Humanity.
Clemency warns him to recall his station and not be fired. He replies that he doesn’t want or know or believe in anything, meaning that by having listened to the Doctor & his friends’ contradictory opinions over the years has left him with confused thoughts of his own.
The doctor changes the subject and gets back to the business on hand: Alfred is no longer his ward, as of today, his (Alfred’s) birthday. Today, Alfred leaves to go to London to continue his studies in medicine for the next three years.
I've enjoyed the discussion about names. A winter pippin is a kind apple. It's difficult now to find many of the varieties, but the Cox's Pippin is still popular and easily available in Britain in the autumn - one the few available only seasonally. Pippins have a streaked, soft red skin and, when stored traditionally, are noted for becoming sweeter as they age. Since they also become softly wrinkled, I imagine Dr Jeddler to be similarly ruddy and softly wrinkled; and as mentioned above, vulnerable to being pecked, and so fed on, by Snitchey. I'm not sure whether this adds anything, but a distinctive characteristic of a Cox's Pippin is that when ripe, it rattles when shaken.I wondered how much, if at all, this is connected in with the fact that we meet the Jeddlers in their orchard; and when the apples are being harvested, and presumably put into storage for the winter; and also saved from the birds.
MN, it will be interesting to see if the names connect with the characters in this story.I find the information of the Pippin apple fascinating when considering the Doctor. A softly wrinkled man would be a gentle and kind man.
I have not been able to log on to Goodreads all day. It looks like more people may have had that issue. I hope you can all log on tomorrow.
Part the First Summary 9:The lawyers are to show the ledgers and transfer the trust fund to Alfred.
Britain and Clemency were to be witnesses to the transfer.
Mr. Snitchey asks Clemency whether she can read. She says she can read her thimble and nutmeg grater, which are engraved with the mottos, “Forget and Forgive” and “Do as you would be done by”.
Much as I liked the discussion on philosophies, I'm glad to be back to the story.
Mod
Like Connie said, l'm really appreciating all the extra illustrations too, as I only knew Charles Green's! (My favourite for realism is usually Fred Barnard, but Charles Green's are very atmospheric.)
As MN said there are various English traditions to do with harvest. Corn dollies are the most familiar to me https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corn_dolly (google "corn dollies" for some lovely images) and yes, they must have pagan roots. They come into Thomas Hardy too, as you would expect.
Thanks for this lovely read 😊
(And yes Petra, GR keeps falling over for me too, and will do tomorrow as well, from past experience 🙄! Ah well ...)
Just a note on the last section, I stumbled at Britain's "serving as a sort of man Miles to the Doctor’s Friar Bacon." I wasn't familiar with that reference, and had to look it up. I wonder if anyone else shares my experience. When reading the novels, I run across fewer allusions to things I'm unfamiliar with and when I do, they don't make me stumble. (I just get more out of the story when Jean or Petra or any of you explain them!) But when reading Dickens' shorter works, I hit more unknowns and I struggle more, both with meaning of references and also sometimes following his intent.
I wonder if he consciously tried to make the novels more accessible to a wider audience? Or maybe it just has to do with the shorter form. Anyway, I'm very grateful to experience these as a group read so we can discuss them!
Kathleen wrote: "Just a note on the last section, I stumbled at Britain's "serving as a sort of man Miles to the Doctor’s Friar Bacon." I wasn't familiar with that reference, and had to look it up. ..."Kathleen, thank you for bringing up this quote. It struck me, too. It seems so specific....yet I couldn't place either Miles or Friar Bacon.
The full quote, from our story is:
"For serving as a sort of man Miles to the Doctor's Friar Bacon, and listening day afer day to innumerable orations addressed by the Doctor to various people, all tending to show that his very existence was at best a mistake and an absurdity, this unfortunate servitor ahd fallen, by degrees, into such an abyss of confused and contradictory suggestions from within and without, that Truth at the bottom of her well, was on the level surface as comparted with Britain in the depths fo his mystification."
The story behind "Miles and Friar Bacon" was an Elizabethan stage play titled "Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay" by Robert Greene.
Part of the plot centers around Friar Bacon and his magic tricks.
In collaboration with another magician, Friar Bungay, Bacon labours toward his greatest achievement: the creation of a talking artificial head made of brass, animated by demonic influence, that can surround England with a protective wall of the same metal.
Yet Bacon's inability to remain awake and the incompetence of his servant Miles spoil the opportunity. The brazen head speaks three times, saying "Time is", "Time was", and "Time is past", then falls to the floor and shatters.
Miles does not have the wit to wake his master in time.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Just popping in to say how much I'm enjoying this thread! Like others have said, I love how deeply you are going into the story Petra, (and everyone) and finding the references. ,..."Thank you, Jean!
A group read with Dickensians! is always a delight. I'm always astonished and amazed at the lively discussions, vast amounts of knowledge and the genuine interest shown by everyone in every one of our stories.
This group is a pleasure, all through the year.
Re: Miles and Friar Bacon.....Dickens must have loved that stage play. He loved the stage and he loved magic. It must have been a fun play for him to watch.
The brazen head spoke the words "Time is", "Time was", "Time is past". The references to the great Battle of "long ago" makes me wonder whether the brazen head's words of warning about Time passing is significant.
Could Britain, had he spoken up over the years, "woken" the Doctor to the errors of his philosophy? Or would he have always been mystified by the Doctor's words?
Dickens suggests that Britain fell into the mystification, implying that it could have been otherwise for both of them.
Happy New Year!!!!Part the First Summary 10:
Britain, meanwhile, continued to be confused, adding to the mix of opinions the mottos from the thimble and nutmeg grinder. He was brought back to his senses by an administration of Clemency’s elbows and signed the deeds, followed by Clemency’s signature.
Dr. Jeddler was freed of his duties as guardian and Alfred was an independent man.
The coach was called for.
Clemency Signing Her Name by Charles Green, 1912
Happy New Year to all with a double wish to Petra for maintaining her level of dedication through the time demanding holidays!I had to catch up from my last post an once again it almost seems I am reading a different story. So far we started with a battle scene that evolved into a pastoral with potential romance and even a romantic triangle which was interrupted with some ominous acting and sounding lawyers which then devolved into a philosophical discussion on life view which has since devolved into some witty comical banter and further into almost farce. And meanwhile, I have the sense of a story developing and underlining these false starts.
I wonder if Dickens intended these to be false leads either to be playful or to grab and sustain reader interest? Anyhow, I absolutely love what Dickens is doing and it further supports my comment on how often I misread and comment because in almost every situation Dickens has offered so far, I have jumped at the bait and commented on where I think the story might be going only to have Dickens change the type of the bait he is using, prompting me to bite again.
Kathleen " I wonder if he consciously tried to make the novels more accessible to a wider audience? Or maybe it just has to do with the shorter form...."
I absolutely agree with you that Dickens controls the density and complexity of his prose but I haven't able to discern why. He also uses a simpler direct prose in some shorter pieces though I agree usually it is more dense, but some novels can be pretty dense as well, Hard Times for example.
Last, I am very much enjoying the characters in this piece especially Clemency and Britain and the writing involving them. The bit about whether she could read that invokes the thimble and nutmeg-grater and then leads to where Dickens can insert some Xmas content with "Forgive and Forget," followed by the golden rule was great writing.
Thank you, Sam. It is a bit hectic at this time of year but this group gives me moments of calm. I am also enjoying Dickens' descriptions and these different tangents & aspects he's giving us. There is more going on that this idealic scene in the orchard, built on a graveyard of bones from a horrible battle. The contrast is stark between these two settings on one piece of land.
I am most enjoying the character of Britain right now. He's sort of in the background, yet Dickens is giving a lot of time to let us know how befuddled he is by the opinions and ideas he hears from his "uppers". Also, in today's section, he is leery about what he is signing. He checks it, he feels uncomfortable about maybe giving something away of importance with his signature. He thinks people are out to rob him somehow. That's an interersting and strong view to have. I wonder if he's been taken advantage of in the past.
Part the First Summary 11:Alfred goes to Grace and entrusts Marion to her until his return. Grace swears that she will look after Marion.
Seeing the coach coming near, he goes to Marion and brings her to Grace. He tells her that he entrusts her to Grace until his return, when they will marry and discuss how to make Grace happy and show her their gratitude.
Marion held Alfred’s hand and held her other hand to Grace’s neck while looking into her eyes and searching them deeply. Alfred continues to speak of their future lives together, making Grace happy. Marion only looked into Grace’s eyes.
The coach arrives and Alfred must depart. He hugs Marion, who when released clings to her sister and again looks into her eyes.
The doctor says his goodbyes to Alfred, saying that when he returns he would like to have him as a son-in-law.
Alfred and his luggage board the coach and it drives away.
Marion’s look doesn’t change. Grace tells her to look and see Alfred wave his hat at her. Marion looks for a moment, then turns to her sister and begins to cry. She cannot stand to “see it”. It “breaks her heart”.
Alfred's Farewell by Harry Furniss, 1910
Departure of Alfred by Charles Green, 1912
Happy New Year, friends!Like others, I'm interested in the character of Britain. He has been infected by Dr Jeddler's view of life as absurd, and it has led him into nihilism.
‘I don’t know anything,’ said Britain, with a leaden eye and an immovable visage. ‘I don’t care for anything. I don’t make out anything. I don’t believe anything. And I don’t want anything.’This gets to the existentialist dilemma: if life has no purpose, how should one live? While Britain has become dark and despondent, Dr Jeddler seems to be freed by life's absurdity:
'Sixty years have gone over my head, and I have never seen the Christian world, including Heaven knows how many loving mothers and good enough girls like mine here, anything but mad for a battle- field. The same contradictions prevail in everything. One must either laugh or cry at such stupendous inconsistencies; and I prefer to laugh.’
During the goodbyes as the coach was arriving, it was difficult to know Marion's feelings for Alfred since she kept looking at Grace. Something was troubling Marion.Alfred seems to think of Grace as a dear sister who will always have a place in their hearts. I wondered if he was hinting that Grace would also have a place in their home if she was unmarried. Dickens had his sisters-in-laws living with him and Kate, Georgina and Mary Hogarth.
Petra wrote: "Bridget wrote: "I've been thinking about Mr. Snitchey's little speech glorifying the law with all its logic, and its ability to pass titles peacefully. On the one hand that is true. I'm very gratef..."I chuckled at the way Dickens deflates Snitchey's inappropriate description of the the law as 'something tangible'.
Since the British Consitution has never been codified, and legal decisions are grounded in precedent, the only tangible element of the law is the (mountain of) paperwork from previous cases.
Dickens' view that lawyers exploit this, to their own advantage (the basis of Bleak House as others have noted), is neatly7 conveyed when Clemency interrupts Snitchey's declaration that the law 'is something tangible, and with a purpose and intention in it ... that commands respect', by falling over the blue bag containing legal briefs, and castigating it as 'evil inclined' and 'always tripping up somebody'.
Petra wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Just a note on the last section, I stumbled at Britain's "serving as a sort of man Miles to the Doctor’s Friar Bacon." I wasn't familiar with that reference, and had to look it up...."Just to go back for a minute, want to say a huge thank you Petra, for explaining the play and your thoughts on the brazen head and time passing!
With the last part of the first section we are back to the triangle of Alfred, Marion, and Grace. My lasting impression is of Alfred looking at Marion, Marion, looking at Grace, and Grace beatifically smiling out on everyone. But I agree with Connie, Dickens seems to be spending a lot of words trying to show us Marion's emotions but is not telling us directly what she is feeling. The expression on Grace bothers me a bit too. She seems too beatific, almost a symbol of goodness than a character. I hope Dickens does not intend an immaculate conception, but I probably would have heard about it if he did. Alfred troubles me a little too. He is the perfect rendition of the romantic hero, that winds up tragic or forgettable. I hope Dickens doesn't plan on him falling off a horse or getting a gambling habit. The ominous sounding Snitchey and Craggs did not bring paperwork foreclosing on the farm, so I probably should not keep predicting what happens next but I expect it involves the two sisters and with names like Marion and Grace will perhaps incorporate the Christmas theme that has been missing so far. I had kind of hoped we would get a ghost of a soldier from the battlefield jump out of an apple tree looking for his lost head which the family would then restore to him for Christmas but that is another story.
Sam wrote: " I had kind of hoped we would get a ghost of a soldier from the battlefield jump out of an apple tree looking for his lost head which the family would then restore to him for Christmas but that is another story..."Your last thought, Sam, made me smile. What a great imagination you have! I too have stopped trying to predict where this story is going. I thought for the longest time that Marion has no affection for Alfred, and that Grace was trying to push them together as a couple. But since Marion's reaction to Alfred's departure, I see I was wrong. Marion appears to have very strong feelings for Alfred.
Thank you, Erich, for your insight about Britain's character having developed nihilism. I was trying to find a way to describe him, and that's perfect. I wonder if Dickens named him "Britain" because he wants us to extend that characteristic to the country of Britain as well?
Sam wrote: "I saw the lawyer's names as hard as well where the pippin is soft, bruises easily and is a food source for the magpies. More associations: (Flint=sharp and can cut) (Magpies are associated with thi..."Thank you!
Lee G wrote: "Sam wrote: "Each post gives the rest of us an idea of the other member's situation with regard to what we are reading as well as that person's situation in life and I find these posts quite motivat..."Thank you for the kind words.
Mod
It's lovely to see you joining in! Perhaps you'd like to introduce yourself LINK HERE too, so we can get to know you a bit 😊
The holidays have put me behind commenting, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this story, and everyone's comments are helping me see things I didn't catch before.Petra, thank you for the explanation of Miles and Friar Bacon. Like Kathleen, I had no idea what that was about. It makes sense that Dickens would have known about this play. And thank you for all of your wonderful summaries and added information! I, too, am amazed at how many different artists drew illustrations for this novella. I love the different perspectives.
Erich, how tragic, as you pointed out, that Dr. Jeddler's boiling life down to an absurdity should have driven poor Britain to a state of complete nihilism. But I am glad that Britain has the more positive aspect of Clemency in his life, whom he called his "good Genius." Perhaps she will save him yet from such a despondent outlook on life. I did love how Dickens said "Benjamin Britain -- sometimes called Little Britain, to distinguish him from Great [Britain]". That was just too funny!
MN, thank you so much for your comments about law as it relates to the lack of codification of the British Constitution, and because of that, cases are built on precedent, which requires mountains of paperwork. I don't know how I missed that when reading Bleak House. I'm sure it was brought up in the discussion here; I just missed it. And I loved how you pointed out Clemency was smart enough to point out that the "evil-inclined blue bag" (ie, the law) was always tripping up somebody. She's not as stupid as these arrogant lawyers think she is!
The final scene between Alfred and the two sisters was quite perplexing to me. I went back to earlier in the story, when Grace teases Marion about Alfred. It makes me wonder if Marion suspects that either Grace is secretly (even to herself) in love with Alfred, or if Marion thinks Grace and Alfred would be a better match. Why did Dickens repeat four times that Marion looked into Grace's eyes, which were "so calm, serene, and cheerful"? Was she trying to gauge Grace's feelings toward Alfred? It's another mystery.
Bionic Jean wrote: "Hi Gem,It's lovely to see you joining in! Perhaps you'd like to introduce yourself LINK HERE too, so we can get to know you a bit 😊"
Thank you and intro done.
Erich C wrote: "Happy New Year, friends!This gets to the existentialist dilemma: if life has no purpose, how should one live? While Britain has become dark and despondent, Dr Jeddler seems to be freed by life's absurdity..."
Erich, you make an interesting point in saying that Britain is stuck in deciding how to live Life. He's so unsure of what to think that he can't move.
On the other hand, as a servant in these times, did he have a lot of choice? I am not certain how much servants could move between houses or change their positions in any way.
But, regardless, what we know of Britain is that he seems to be stuck in his thoughts, thereby restricting any options he may have.
Connie wrote: "During the goodbyes as the coach was arriving, it was difficult to know Marion's feelings for Alfred since she kept looking at Grace. Something was troubling Marion...."
Connie, I agree. Something is troubling Marion. I would find it uncomfortable to have someone look at me so intently and so frequently as Marion looks at Grace. It's a bit unsettling.
MN wrote: ".....Clemency interrupts Snitchey's declaration that the law 'is something tangible, ... by falling over the blue bag containing legal briefs, and castigating it as 'evil inclined' and 'always tripping up somebody'.."I laughed at this scene, too. It showed how the Law could work either way. There's no clear avenue when the Law gets involved.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
Bleak House (other topics)Nicholas Nickleby (other topics)
Barnaby Rudge (other topics)
Bleak House (other topics)
A Tale of Two Cities (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
John Leech (other topics)Charles Dickens (other topics)
John Forster (other topics)
Charles Dickens (other topics)
John Leech (other topics)
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Petra, I'm really enjoying all the illustrations that you are posting.