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The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain
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The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (hosted by Petra)
I like the illustration of Mrs. Tetterby shopping. She has a sad, wistful face that matches the story she's just told. Charles Green caught her mood well.
Like Kathleen, I was moved by Mr Tetterby's understanding for his wife's momentary lapse. Rather than focusing on his own hurt or wounded pride, he shows concern for her instead. When Mrs Tetterby describes recalling everything again after her lapse, she says something interesting: "All our struggles . . . and wants . . . seemed to speak to me, and say that they had made us one . . . . Then, the cheap enjoyments . . . got to be so precious to me." Here's another key importance of remembering the bad and hard times; they bind together those who went through them and strengthen their relationships in ways that become immeasurably priceless.
But it's interesting that during Mrs Tetterby's shopping, during that moment, she couldn't "call up anything that seemed to bind us to each other.". It's a lapse of memory, basically, that induced this episode on her part. I wonder if Mr Redlaw's "gift" was already acting on her, back at the market? But either way, now that he's in the house, it can't be good! I feel a little afraid to see what comes next . . . .
Welcome back, Petra. I'm so glad everything worked out well for you.Poor Mrs. Tetterby. I think Dickens has shown us that Mrs. Tetterby is normally a patient, loving, positive person. However, when she encounters Mr. Redlaw on the street, he took away her pleasant memories and replaced them with longings for what might have been. However, I am encouraged that Mr. Redlaw's "gift" is seemingly temporary, and memories can be restored when not in his presence.
In a way, I do think Mr. Redlaw was given a "gift". Mrs. Tetterby did suffer when Mr. Redlaw took away the happy memories she treasured in the midst of poverty; but when Mr. Redlaw's spell was broken, his "gift" was a renewed awareness of the joy of the life she shared with Mr. Tetterby and her children.
Greg and Shirley, you've both made excellent observatons.Greg, you mentioned that one's memories give one strength, commitment and help bind us together as friends and family. As people, we're bound by our experiences with each other to help shape us and help us find out who we are, which binds us together. Families, especially, can be bound together by shared experiences of love.
Shirley, it's interesting that the gift can be seeen as a true gift which helps focus one's attention to the love and joy we have with our friends and family. In its way, the gift is its own Sorrow and Trouble, the very things that Redlaw wants to forget, but it leads to a focus of the Good things in one's Life.
Summary 5 - The Gift DiffusedMr. Tetterby ensures that she’s okay, then turns to the man, who introduces himself as Redlaw.
Redlaw says he's come to see the student, Mr. Denham, who lives there. There was a slight change of atmosphere at the mention of the student, then Mr. Tetterby tells him the student is in a room at the top of the stairs.
Redlaw asks for a light and insists on going up alone and unannounced. In taking the candle quickly from Mr. Tetterby, he touched him on the chest, then turned and went upstairs. At the top of the stairs, he looked down into the room.
He sees Mrs. Tetterby twisting her wedding ring, Mr. Tetterby was looking morosely down at his chest, the children were watching Redlaw and not moving. Then the children were ordered back to bed; Johnny and the baby being last. Mrs. Tetterby contemptuously started to clear the table, then sat morosely down. Mr. Tetterby sat by the chimney corner and stared into the fire. They did not speak.
Redlaw paled, looking down at the scene, afraid to go back or go forward; afraid of what he’d set in motion but a voice reassured him that he was the “benefactor of mankind”. He looked around but saw no one. He continued down the hallway. He feels outside of himself.
Redlaw knocks on the door and enters when bid to. A cheerful but tired voice greeted him as Milly, the nurse.
Redlaw set his attention to a young man who is lying on the couch, with his back to the door. The couch was pulled close to a stove that barely put out any heat. The room was drafty, and the heat dissipated quickly.
The student, thinking his visitor is Milly, talks of getting well and making his riches soon. He’ll marry a girl as kind and loving as Milly. He puts out his hand for her, but being weak doesn’t turn around.
Redlaw looks about the room, seeing the papers and books on the table, which tell of the studious hours the student had spent at his studies before becoming ill; sees the outdoor clothing hanging on the nail; sees the personal effects scattered about the room. Just yesterday these items would have caused Redlaw to see the interests and affections of the person before him but not today. Now these things were just objects.
The student turns to look around and sees Mr. Redlaw, his teacher. Redlaw asks him to stay where he is and not come near and he sits in a chair by the door. He tells the student that he’d recently heard that someone was ill and he’d come to search for him.
Redlaw on the Landing of the Staircase by John Tenniel, 1848
Untitled by John Tenniel, 1848Caption: "When he reached the top, he stopped and looked down. The wife was standing in the same place, twisting her ring round and round upon her finger. The husband, with his head bent forward on his breast, was musing heavily and sullenly. The children, still clustering about the mother, gazed timidly after the visitor, and nestled together when they saw him looking down."
The Haunted Man Visits the Sick Student by Charles Green, 1895 & 1912
"Mr. Redlaw!", he exclaimed by E.A. Abbey, 1848
Petra wrote: ""Mr. Redlaw!", he exclaimed by E.A. Abbey, 1848"
Hi Petra
I’m glad to see you are back posting once again. May all go well with you in the new year.
Your observation that Redlaw, when at the top of the stairs, ‘afraid to go back or forward, afraid of what he had set in motion’ is spot on. One’s decisions in life are often like that. Forward or back, right or wrong. How does one know the future and how can one return to or redeem the past. Redlaw is caught.
The illustrations were very eerie. Redlaw and his shadow self. The Tenniel was my favourite. For some reason I can’t wrap my head around the Green one.
Oh my, the poor Tetterbys! They have enough of a burden to make ends meet, and thinking of them at each other's throats as well is just so sad! It is their love and relationships that make a difficult situation bearable.Later in today's section, I like that we see a kinder portrait of Mr. Redlaw through "Mr Dunham's" eyes. All we saw of him earlier was someone morose, but apparently, he is kind too.
As Greg observes, taking away the memories doesn't change the physical situation. All the difficulties of life still remain; what is gone is the reason to endure and conquer them. I'm relieved to know that the effect is temporary. Being temporary, it might serve some purpose.I feel sure this student is the key to Mr. Redlaw overcoming the sorrows of his past. They keep him from finding the joy in his present life, so they do need to be gone--just not via the memory erasure.
Peter wrote: "The illustrations were very eerie. Redlaw and his shadow self. The Tenniel was my favourite. For some reason I can’t wrap my head around the Green one,..."Thank you, Peter, for the well wishes. I wish us all a happy and good-interesting year ahead. We'll have plenty of wonderful times here, in this group. That's a given.
I find the Tenniel illustrations darker and, as you say, eerie. They foretell darkness, that's for sure.
What I find interesting with the Green illustration is that Redlaw is telling the student to stay back. His one encounter with the Gift and the Tetterbys has made him cautious about this gift already. It hasn't taken him long to realize that something isn't quite what it seems.
Despite not having feelings anymore, there seems to be some concern somewhere inside him.
Greg wrote: "Later in today's section, I like that we see a kinder portrait of Mr. Redlaw through "Mr Dunham's" eyes. All we saw of him earlier was someone morose, but apparently, he is kind too...."
Yes, his kindness and gentleness are hinted at somewhere in the first chapter, too. There was the moment he tried to give Milly the bag of coins for the the unknown sick student and, I think, a comment from Milly about his kindness in the past.
Despite his sorrows and woes, he seemed to be kind and generous to others.
I found a certain passage so fascinating and wondered what it meant. After Redlaw sees the havoc he has created with the Tetterbys, he exclaims confusedly: "What have I done! What am I going to do!" "To be the benefactor of mankind," he thought he heard a voice reply.Who was the voice? His inner voice? Another ghost? This gave me hope that Redlaw will have learned his lesson and turn back to live!
Shirley, that stood out to me, too.At the moment my thinking is that the voice in Redlaw's head might be the ghost or the Voice of the Gift speaking.
The gift is supposed to benefit mankind by making them forget their Sorrows and Troubles. It would follow that the Gift keeps reminding Redlaw (and others affected?) that they are making the World better. The Gift is then guaranteed to continue to live on and prosper.
The Gift is kind of like the Devil on one's shoulder.
I do think that there is hope for Redlaw because of his doubt after seeing the Tetterby's in such a sad state after he witnessed their closeness when he came in. But the Voice might be stronger. Redlaw just got his gift. It's still too new to tell how it will change him.
Summary 6 - The Gift DiffusedThe student says that he had been ill but was getting better. He hadn’t been alone because Milly had attended him well.
Redlaw felt a cold apathy and glanced towards the student, then down to the floor, then up to the air. His mind was blinded. He tells the student that he recognized his name when spoken downstairs and knew his face, but they hadn’t had much interaction at the school. He had seen to it that Redlaw did not hear that he was remaining in the town over Christmas, when all others have gone home, or of his being ill. Redlaw asks him why this was, but without any real interest; just a curiosity.
The student looks at him in agitation and, clasping his hands together, exclaims that Redlaw has discovered him and knows his secret. Redlaw is perplexed.
The student continues that Redlaws cold manner and his restraint, so much different than the usual warmth and sympathy he displayed, showed that the student’s secret was known to him. That Redlaw continues to conceal the secret shows his natural kindness that the distance between them.
The student continues by saying that he is innocent, except in name, of having inflicted any wrong or sorrow upon Redlaw.
Redlaw laughs at him, saying that Wrong and Sorrow are nothing to him.
The student shrinks away, imploring Redlaw not to let a few words from him change Redlaw so drastically. He implores Redlaw to go back to when he didn’t know him; when he was known only by his alias (Mr. Denham), not his real name of Longford.
Redlaw clasps his head with both hands and looks at the young man with a thoughtful face. But quickly the thoughtful look clouds over.
Longford is his mothers name, although she may have taken another more honorable one. He comes from an unhappy home. From a young age, he’s heard of Mr. Redlaw, who has always been mentioned with honour and respect and, almost, reverence. He grew up hearing that Mr. Redlaw was a man of devotion, tenderness and fortitude. Then he came to school to find that he was being taught by Mr. Redlaw himself. He found Mr. Redlaw to have the same attributes as told by his mother. He was content to be in Mr. Redlaw’s presence and not known to him. He kept distance between them but he felt affection for Mr. Redlaw because of the past between his mother and him. He kept aloof from Redlaw, even though a word of encouragement would have meant so much. But he had been content to know him and yet be unknown to him. Therefore, he hadn’t told him about being ill. He begs his forgiveness for this deception, then asks him to forget him again.
Longford moves closer to Redlaw and reaches out to touch him but Redlaw stops him from doing so. Longford is shocked by the sternness of this request.
Redlaw says that the past is the past. It has left no marks on him. He tosses a purse of money to Longford, then grasps his head in his hands. There can be no other reason for coming except the money…..and yet….something niggles at him.
Longford refuses the money and wishes that the words had never been spoken.
Redlaw, with a wild light in his eyes, goes close to him, picks up the purse and looks him in the face. He states that there is sorrow and trouble in sickness, which would best be forgotten if it could be. Would Longford not agree?
Longford looks confused. Redlaw still held him by the arm when Milly’s voice is heard in the hallway.
Redlaw lets go of Longford. He is afraid of meeting with Milly. Her goodness is an influence that he dreads. He doesn’t want to destroy that. He’s unsure whether to listen to his feelings or ignore them.
I feel empathy for Redlaw because he is so confused about the effect of his gift of forgetting on other people. Ideally we want to remember sorrowful events since it influences our behavior in the future and helps us relate to other people's misfortunes. But we don't want to be so overwhelmed with sorrow that we become depressed.This gift may leave Redlaw more isolated and friendless since he is avoiding people who might be harmed. He is a gentle man whose path is unclear.
The student is the son of Redlaw's former love, and expresses deep regard for Redlaw. I'm wondering what Redlaw will do with this new revelation.
Oops, I had gotten mixed up and read to the end of today's section yesterday. If Redlaw had his memories now, he might have gotten some real comfort from knowing how tenderly he had been remembered by his former love and how she had brought her son up to admire him.
I think the confusion that Mr. Redlaw has from time to time about what he is doing & concern about his impact on others give me hope that there is a way to reverse this Gift. As most have stated, we need our ability to connect with others through understanding someone's sorrows and troubles and if those memories are gone, how can we do that? Sorrow makes us more fully appreciate and be grateful for the good things in life.
Chris wrote: " As most have stated, we need our ability to connect with others through understanding someone's sorrows and troubles and if those memories are gone, how can we do that? Sorrow makes us more fully appreciate and be grateful for the good things in life..."Exactly, Chris. And this story is making me re-examine my sorrows. Where they were once thoughts, I wished to avoid, I feel I'm beginning to cherish them
Connie wrote: "The student is the son of Redlaw's former love, and expresses deep regard for Redlaw. I'm wondering what Redlaw will do with this new revelation. ..."Imagine seeing the student and knowing that, had things been different, this could have been his son! What a shock that must have been for Redlaw.
Greg wrote: "Oops, I had gotten mixed up and read to the end of today's section yesterday. If Redlaw had his memories now, he might have gotten some real comfort from knowing how tenderly he had been remembered by his former love and how she had brought her son up to admire him..."
LOL.....we've all done that once or twice. It freed up some time for you today with not having to do any reading. LOL.....
Yes, I thought that was really sweet, too, and also sad. The poor woman had her regrets (Trouble and Sorrows), too. She, though, found compassion and joy in her memories and taught them to her son.
Chris wrote: "I think the confusion that Mr. Redlaw has from time to time about what he is doing & concern about his impact on others give me hope that there is a way to reverse this Gift. ..."I'm still trying to figure out what his confusion is. I hope you're right, Chris.
I wonder whether his confusion is a sense that he's missing something but he doesn't know what that is or maybe a sense that the gift is not the Answer but he doesn't know what the Answer is to Sorrow and Trouble.
It's like having a word at the tip of one's tongue.....one knows something but one can't remember it.
Bridget wrote: "Exactly, Chris. And this story is making me re-examine my sorrows. Where they were once thoughts, I wished to avoid, I feel I'm beginning to cherish them..."
Bridget, this is a beautiful thing that is happening. Our troubles help make us who & what we are. Troubles have value to us.
Summary 7 - The Gift DiffusedMilly knocks on the door. Redlaw wants to avoid seeing her and asks Longford to hide him. Longford opens the door to the next room and Redlaw enters it. Longford returns to his couch.
Milly enters and looks around. She’d been told that there was a man visiting. Longford says there is no man but himself. There had been someone visiting, though.
Milly approaches the couch, expecting an extended hand, but found none. Surprised, she looks at him closely and asks if he’s feeling better. He feels warmer. He gives her a petulant reply.
Surprised again, she goes to the table and takes out her needlework. But she puts it down again and goes about the room, neatening it. Then she sat at the table and began her sewing. She’s making new curtains for Edmund’s windows (Edmund Longford). The muslim will keep the light low and help his eyes. William says that low light is good for his recovery from his illness.
While he said nothing, his fretfulness and impatience showed and she laid her work down again.
She goes to make him more comfortable, but he coldly asks her to leave things alone. She pauses, then returns to her seat and picks up her sewing.
In conversation, she contemplates that Health will now be dearer to Edmund and that in future as he remembers his illness during this time and being alone, he’ll appreciate his home and dear ones even more. Is that not a good thing?
She was working so diligently on her sewing that she didn’t see the ungrateful look he cast her way.
She continues, saying that she, too, sees things differently since his illness. She’s seen him touched by the caring shown him by the Tetterbys. That this show of affection is a sort of repayment for the loss of health he was going through. That some trouble and sorrow can show us the good that surrounds us, a good that we wouldn’t otherwise get to see.
He gets up from the couch, stopping her from continuing. He coldly states that the Tetterbys will be paid for any small services they gave him and that they, perhaps, even expect it. He was obliged to her, too.
She stops sewing and looks at him.
He continues to say that he can’t be made to feel obliged to her just because she was kind to him and helped him.
Her sewing drops to her lap, as she watched him pace the room with an intolerant air.
He continues by stating that her claims on him are larger than the obligation he owes her. One would supposes that he’d died a dozen deaths!
Milly is shocked at his words.
He continues that he’s been ill but that she’s making the illness seem worse than it was. Now the illness is over. They cannot continue with it.
Then he coldly picked up a book and sat at the table. Her smile left her face. She goes back to her basket and asks him if he’d prefer to be alone. He says there’s no reason for her to stay. She indicates the curtains and he dismisses them, saying they aren’t worth her staying for.
She packs up her things and stands before him with such entreaty that he must look at her. She tells him that she nursed him without expecting a merit from it. She feels that as he’s getting better that he’s concerned that she would be troublesome to him. She emphasized that she was only there to help him until he was strong enough to be alone again. He owes her nothing. If he believed that she deliberately exaggerated his illness or her help for her own merit, he does himself a bigger discredit than he could ever do to her. She is sorry for this. She leaves the room.
Molly and The Student by Frank Stone, 1848
Mrs. William and the Sick Student by Charles Green, 1895
We can definitely see now how harmful this "gift" is. This boy took great comfort and felt an overwhelming love for Milly and now he is petulant and disrespectful of her. Evidently the gift robs the recipient of both love and any ability to give or receive comfort. Dear Milly is both confused and hurt by this turn, but her kind heart, without exposure to the gift, still wishes to do only that which helps this boy. I am wondering how this is affecting Redlaw, who is listening in the closet.
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And did Charles Green's "The Haunted Man Visits the Sick Student" remind anyone else of the theatre? The lighting, and the poses of the characters.
Great summaries, thanks Petra! Like everyone, I feel a bit ambivalent about the "gift". As Bridget says, there is another side to remembering the sad times ... but Redlaw himself seems conflicted.
And the "voice" is intriguing, as Shirley says, especially given what we know about Charles Dickens's beliefs in the (view spoiler).
Petra wrote: "Summary 7 - The Gift DiffusedMilly knocks on the door. Redlaw wants to avoid seeing her and asks Longford to hide him. Longford opens the door to the next room and Redlaw enters it. Longford retu..."
There are many forms and styles of gifts. Milly offers kindness and her attention. Neither offering has much - if any - monetary value but in a world too consumed by self-centred interests or ambivalence towards others her actions are invaluable. With Redlaw in the background one wonders what, if anything, he is wondering or discovering about himself.
I agree with Sara and Peter. This gift takes away from people and adds nothing to them. The benefits that may come from forgetting are cancelled and magnified by the loss of kindness and compassion. I hope that Redlaw is understanding what he sees and hears in terms of this gift he's gotten and is now giving.
Jean, now that you mention it, I see it. The shadows and setting is just like a stage set. I find Charles Green's illustrations a bit too detailed, somehow. I'm not sure how to explain it but I prefer the more pencil stroke drawings than these detailed ones.
Petra wrote: "Jean, now that you mention it, I see it. The shadows and setting is just like a stage set. I find Charles Green's illustrations a bit too detailed, somehow. I'm not sure how to explain it but I p..."
How interesting, Petra. I also prefer the other illustrations and I think you have put your finger on why. There is a kind of mystery or nebulousness to the others that catches the atmosphere of the story.
Petra wrote: "Summary 6 - The Gift DiffusedRedlaw lets go of Longford. He is afraid of meeting with Milly. Her goodness is an influence that he dreads. He doesn’t want to destroy that. He’s unsure whether to listen to his feelings or ignore them..."
I find it fascinating that the "gift" has closed off all sympathetic emotions from Redlaw, yet it didn't close off his recognition, awe and fear of Milly's goodness. Is the secret to his redemption exposure to absolute goodness? I hope so. Because I hate to see him like this but even more, I hate what he is doing to others.
Sara wrote: "I also prefer the other illustrations and I think you have put your finger on why. There is a kind of mystery or nebulousness to the others that catches the atmosphere of the story...."Sara, I think you pinpointed why Green's illustrations are wonderful but not emotional.
His illustrations lack atmosphere. They are clinically perfect but somehow distant.
However, despite that, I do like them. He's a wonderful artist. The detail he puts into his illustrations is phenomenal. They just aren't favorites of mine.
Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "I find it fascinating that the "gift" has closed off all sympathetic emotions from Redlaw, yet it didn't close off his recognition, awe and fear of Milly's goodness. ..."It is interesting that Redlaw is avoiding Milly.
Of all the characters, she and William are the ones who have not talked about Sorrows and Troubles. They are happy with the life they have.
Interesting surprise about the connection between Longford & Redlaw, but how very Dickens! It's awful how the gift is affecting others. Changing the grateful student to a surly ingrate when it comes to all that Milly has done for him. Redlaw's actions such as wanting to provide some money to someone in need & not wanting to come in physical contact initially with the student and then with Milly, again gives me hope that there is still some spark alive in him that can overcome the terrible burden of the "gift".
Summary 8 - The Gift Diffused Had she been loud, angry, indignant, she would have left no mark on Longford, but her quiet words fell heavily on the young student and he stared drearily around the room.
Redlaw comes back into the room. He angrily tells Longford that if sickness returns, he should die and rot there in that room.
Longford cries out, asking Redlaw what he’d done to him. He wants his old self back. Redlaw should remove the curse he bestowed upon him.
Redlaw exclaims that he, too, was poisoned and is infected. He is a poison to all mankind. Where once he felt interest and passion, he now feels nothing. He feels only ingratitude and selfishness, as well as hatred towards those he transforms.
He pushes Longford away and runs from the room. As he runs through the cold, snowy night, he hears the words of the phantom in his ears, “The gift that I have given, you shall give again, go where you will”.
The change within him isolated him from the crowds around him. The traces of himself left in his breast, those traces that the phantom said would “soon leave him”, were still with him enough for him to realize what he was and to want to be alone.
This brought to mind the boy who had rushed into his room and he realized that this boy had not been changed by him. He went looking for the boy to prove to himself that this observation was true, and for another intention that came to his mind at the same time.
He returned to the college and headed to the Keeper’s House, where he crept towards the window to see who was inside. At first he saw no one, but then he saw the boy sleeping on the floor, by the fire. He quickly went inside.
The boy was so close to the fire that Redlaw scorched his head as he bent down to wake him. As soon as he woke, the boy clutches his rags about him and half rolled-half ran into the corner and stuck his foot out to protect himself.
He tells the boy to stand up and with his steady gaze compels the boy to stand. He looks him over. The boy’s feet are bandaged and his face is cleaner. Milly has nursed him. Redlaw held the boy by the chin, much as he loathed touching him, and watched him intently. He could see that no change came over the boy. He offers the boy money to come with him.
The boy wants to know how much and where they would be going.
He offers the boy many shillings and will bring him back. He wants to go to where the boy came from, but the boy doesn’t want to go there.
Redlaw felt a cold terror upon seeing the boy defy him and his gift.
He tells the boy to take him to where people are wicked and wretched. He wants to help these people, not hurt them. He reassures the boy that he will give him money and return him to the Keeper’s House.
The Waif by Charles Green, 1895
Poor Redlaw, and yet he should stay away from others. He calls it an infection and at this point he is spreading it willfully if he continues. It is interesting that the boy is unaffected and that Redlaw has the beginnings of some idea regarding who is and isn't. As usual, Dickens has me anxious to see where his story goes.
Yes, Dickens is writing so well here, I want to know what's going to happen as well. I think the Tetterby children are also not affected by the "gift", so I wonder if the innocence of children makes them immune to the gift, or if Redlaw has to touch someone to pass the gift on.We can really see Dickens' beliefs in mesmerism in this story. Like when the narrator says "The Chemist's steady eye controlled him [the boy in rags] somewhat, or inspired him . . . to be raised upon his feet"
Fascinating how this is playing out. Some other possibilities: does the gift impact people differently based on the amount of their suffering? Or is it their attitude?After the previous day's reading, I felt the cold chill of a world without empathy. I am admittedly an overly sentimental person, and imagining trying to navigate the world without my own full scope of good and bad memories is terrifying.
Sara wrote: "Poor Redlaw, and yet he should stay away from others. He calls it an infection and at this point he is spreading it willfully if he continues. It is interesting that the boy is unaffected and that Redlaw has the beginnings of some idea regarding who is and isn't. ..."Yes....I'm curious about the idea that is forming in Redlaw's head, too. I wonder what he is seeing.
Is Redlaw not deliberately spreading the gift? Perhaps not to Mrs. Tetterby but he deliberately touched the student, I believe.
In a way, this is sort of like Playing God. He decides who "suffers" from their memories and who are "saved" from their Sorrows & Troubles.
Another aspect of the Gift is that it removes memories but it doesn't remove sorrow. The student is dreary, sad and angry at Redlaw after realizing how he'd pushed Milly away. The gift leaves behind remorse and sorrow.....just of a different kind than from memories and past troubles.
Bridget wrote: "Yes, Dickens is writing so well here, I want to know what's going to happen as well. I think the Tetterby children are also not affected by the "gift", so I wonder if the innocence of children makes them immune to the gift, or if Redlaw has to touch someone to pass the gift on...."Bridget, that's an interesting thought. Perhaps children are immune because of their innocense.
Is the Boy at the house innocent? He seems to have lived through a lot of sorrow and pain. Those things remove innocence quickly.
I wonder if he has to touch someone, too. It doesn't seem clear yet how the gift is passed on. Mrs. Tetterby may have experienced an episode of the gift when she passed Redlaw in the street while shopping. However, it was not made clear how close they got to each other, so it's difficult to say if her episode was from the gift.
Count on Dickens to add so many questions and mysteries! I'm really enjoying this story.
Bridget wrote: "We can really see Dickens' beliefs in mesmerism in this story. Like when the narrator says "The Chemist's steady eye controlled him [the boy in rags] somewhat, or inspired him . . . to be raised upon his feet".."
Nice observation! I hadn't connected this behavior with Dickens' love of mesmerism.
Kathleen wrote: "Fascinating how this is playing out. Some other possibilities: does the gift impact people differently based on the amount of their suffering? Or is it their attitude?After the previous day's reading, I felt the cold chill of a world without empathy. I am admittedly an overly sentimental person, and imagining trying to navigate the world without my own full scope of good and bad memories is terrifying...."
We've seen four people affected by the gift: Redlaw, who's turned
cold and uncaring; Mr & Mrs Tetterby who silently turned away from each other; and the student who became petulant and rude. Are these different reactions or different attitudes/outlooks towards Life?
I agree that not having one's memories would be scary and isolating. We learn to feel through our memories, in some instances. That would be a terrible loss.
It is terribly interesting about the boy, because I would say his life has probably been nothing but troubles and sorrows. He is very young and look at the situation he is in. He has experienced very little love in his life. These people are losing good memories and feelings--does he have none to lose?I know that nothing, no promise of happiness or contentment or wealth, would be enough to make me surrender my memories of my life and those in it whom I have loved and who have loved me. It is, in fact, all that is left to us in the end. How bleak it would be. Isn't one of the saddest things about Alzheimer's that we lose the person who shares memories with us and they lose the memories of, not just us, but themselves?
Sara wrote: "It is terribly interesting about the boy, because I would say his life has probably been nothing but troubles and sorrows. He is very young and look at the situation he is in. He has experienced ve..."Sara
I liked your thoughts very much. First, your idea about the boy. It is sad to think that since he has not had much happiness that could mean he has few, if any, memories to lose.
Alzheimer disease is horrid. The lose of memory, the lose of self, and the lose of conscious connection with your surroundings is frightening. I checked on the disease ( via wiki) found it was first ‘recognized and diagnosed’ in 1906. That obviously suggests Alzheimer’s was not a recognized disease in the 19C. This leads to interesting speculation to what extent, if any, Dickens provided insights into the disease prior to its official ‘discovery.
This is, of course, a somewhat wild speculation but I also suspect somewhere in Dickens criticism someone has drawn a possible link between Alzheimer’s and some of Redlaw’s memory issues.
Dickensians!
Books mentioned in this topic
American Notes for General Circulation (other topics)No Thoroughfare (other topics)
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (other topics)
The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (other topics)
The Cricket on the Hearth (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Charles Dickens (other topics)Michael Kitchen (other topics)
Alan Bleasdale (other topics)
Fred Barnard (other topics)
Sol Eytinge Jr (other topics)
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The arrival of Mr. Redlaw is surprising. He had locked himself in his room the last time we saw him. I'm curious about what caused him to leave his house.