Sketches by Boz

People watching in the local park sparks interest in human variety.

It is amazing what the image of one man walking through the park can elicit.  Dickens takes on simple act of moseying along a path holding an umbrella to a whole new level.  The imagination begins to run wild with the man's daily events.  What does he do for a living?  Why is he holding an umbrella on such a beautiful day?  It is almost as if Dickens turns this man into one of his characters.  Not only does he give a vivid description of the man's daily life, but he also makes a smooth segway into other groups of people.  He may have begun with one man but he now makes the shift into focusing on the characterization of various groups of men in London.  Reading Thoughts about people is very much like reading a blog post.  I have found myself in airports writing on my departure and observing people.  I can picture Dickens with his "laptop" in hand letting his fingers write the lives of these people.  He begins int he park, "follows" these individuals to work, and then back to the back.  It is a wonderfully "blogged" event and an intriguing observation of human beings.

St. James Park

Prisoner's van = Her Majesty's Coach: Irony or social statement?
There is something to be said for Dickens' subtle way of expresses his social concerns.  It is a normal situation that we can all relate to.  We are walking along the street or driving down the road when we notice a crowd has gathered and we, like everyone else, want to know what the "fuss is all about".  It is a common human reaction to the observance of the gathering.  This particular group is waiting for what at first seems to be Her Majesty when it is realized that it is The Prisoners' Van.  Is it a coincidence that Her Majesty's coach is also a name for the prisoners' van?  Does this have some implication on the royal treatment of the common folk?  What then becomes even more interesting are the prisoners themselves.  They are children.  16 year old Bella reacts to the crowd as if she is a seasoned pro and has no shame in her actions while her younger sister is a "newbie" in the justice system.  She attempts to hide her face.  The contrast of these two individuals presents the reader with the ugly truth.  There appears to be no true reform for young criminals.  Of course, we don't exactly know why these young people are going to prison but one can only speculate they were acts of survival.  His keen observation of the social situation of London at the time is written in one easy to read article.  

A prisoner's van

 The door acts as a first impression. 

What does yours say about you?

There is something to be said for the appearance of one's home.  Dickens begins this story with that observation.  The varying doors and knockers that line the streets.  He talks of the owners of the knockers with the various meanings.  The concept of doors and knockers has never occurred to me as a way of knowing who was behind it but after reading this, I think he may have a point.  I see it very much as the Veneerings.  Appearance is everything to these people.  As we move along the street with Dickens, we are introduced to the various tenants with their everyday lives and rituals.  One neighbour in particular is in search of a tenant.  He has little luck with the first two but then takes in a young boy and his mother from the country.  The story then turns to death.  The city, as accused by the boy, has killed him.  It was quite interesting how the theme turned from first impressions to the final criticism of a murderous city.  Our Next-Door Neighbour

Irish Doors

Italian Doors