Dickens is one tough warden

Prison,  Dickens & Victorian England

It seems as though everything I've read & heard in this class this semester sounds like a type of prison. There is the obvious form as seen in A TALE OF TWO CITIES but there are also multiple other forms. Dickens has many characters in their own types of prison. 

Rokesmith/Harmon: He is imprisoned by his father's will. Upon his father's death, he has a wife & an inheritance. The inheritance may be a great thing but having no say in your partner doesn't suit him. To escape, he chooses to live a life of secrecy & continue his life as if he were the dead man found in the river by Hexam. In the end, he is able to overcome his imprisonment but going to such extremes in the beginning says a lot about his desires for a different life.

Lizzie: Early in the work, she is one of the most lovable, sympathetic characters. She is introduced in her father's boat & that is the first form of prison I see of her. She is at the mercy of her father who doesn't want her to be educated. She secretly learns via her brother Charlie. With her father's death, I have optimistic thoughts of her moving on with the life she chooses. Dickens has other ideas. She is harassed by her brother, Headstone & Wrayburn. She seeks the help of Riah & exiles herself to another town. She lives imprisoned in the distant life away from her home.

Veneerings/Lammles/Podsnaps: They all have one prison in common....societal standing. These families are so focused on their wealth & "keeping up with the Joneses" that lose sight of what's important in life. They have such potential but can't escape the chains of greed.

Jasper: Edwin Drood's uncle is simply imprisoned by his addiction. He is addicted to his opium, his love of Rose, & his envy of Edwin. While I'll never know if he's the reason Edwin disappears, part of me feels sorry for him. He can't escape his thoughts, desires & need for drugs.

Ned: Bless his heart! (As us Southerners would say) He is confined to his past. He wants to be a better person but his past continues to oppress him. He is convicted not on proof but on his past.

Joe Willet: If could just get away from his father, he might make in life. As of right now, he wants to join the service to escape. What he doesn't understand that military is another form of prison. He will be confined to the orders of his superiors. His father controls him now but he will soon be under the control of commanders. I don't know what's going to happen to him but running from one form of prison to another seems like the best choice for him at this point.

Riah: The Jew is a Jew. He is viewed, judged, & mistrusted for his religious belief. His religious choice imprisons him. While I don't think he should convert to Christianity to escape this, it does have a affect on how others view him. He chooses to prove everyone wrong by showing them that all Jews are not the same.

Dickens' works are full of characters in prison. Some are prisons they have chosen while others are placed upon them from outsiders. It seems as though every work the characters are looking to escape. If someone could only rescue them all...


Of course, I don't think it would be wise to rescue them.  We love them because we can relate to their troubles.  This may be Victorian England that Dickens is writing about but there are those struggling with these same issues in 2012.  While I long for some of my favorite characters to be "saved" I think the literature is all the better for these wayward souls.  Dickens shows us that one doesn't have to be behind steel bars to be imprisoned.

Liberty Mutual Commercial

Ok...I've been thinking about Dickens characters in modern commercials.  I would like to put several of them in those touching Liberty Mutual Commercials where people see other people helping people and then pass it on.  I just LOVE those commercials and could see several of Dickens' characters in one of these.  Because the following characters have been so nice and helpful in the works, they should be helping others in a commercial and make some money on it.  There may be more to come but this is what I have thus far.

Lizzie: She's always willing to help (Betty, Charlie, Wrayburn).  

• She will be helping a person in a wheelchair into a building that has no handicap accessible doors.

Riah: He helps Lizzie escape Headstone and sacrifices his job to maintain his friendship with Jenny.  

• He will be stopping a young boy's dog from running out into a busy intersection.  

Rokesmith: He clears Hexam's name and allows the Boffins to keep his fortune.  

• He will be giving his umbrella to a pregnant woman standing in the rain.

Mrs. Boffin: She wants to help people with her money (Bella and Sloppy).  

• She will be paying for a stranger's coffee in a coffee shop.

Mortimer Lightwood because of his dedication and helpfulness to Wrayburn.  

• He will be picking up a heavy bag for someone at an airport baggage claim.

Sydney Carton: He sacrifices his life for Darnay's and in his last few moments of life he helps another woman.  

• He will be helping an older woman across the street.

Mr. Lorry does what he can to help Lucie and her father.  

• He will be helping an elderly person fill out a form in a city hall.

Rev. Crisparkle helps Neville and believes in him when no one else does.

• He will be helping a young girl get a doll from a tall shelf in a toy store.

In sickness & in health

2 very different ceremonies:


Rokesmith & Bella
I must admit that I was extremely shocked & excited when there was mention of their marriage.  What pleased me even more was the way Bella's mother took the news.  She is the most outspoken and ornery individual but I find myself wanting to spend time with her.  The person I would hate to be is Rokesmith...to have such a mother-in-law would not be my requests.  I guess that's why they include "for better or worse" in the nuptuals  I am so impressed with Bella's change in character.  She tells her mother like it is in a polite manner and has given up her love of money for her love Rokesmith.  When I read her pouring over housework and newspaper articles I had a smile on my face.  She has grown up and taken responsibility of her life.  As much as I've read about them all, I feel like a proud mother in her progress.  


Wrayburn & Lizzie
How sweet and sad their ceremony was.  I have been pulling for Lizzie from the beginning and it seems as though, up until now, she has come out on top.  She escaped crazy with the help of Riah, came to Betty in her hour of need, saved Wrayburn from immediate death, and getting married.  She has had a hard life but continues to remain so positive.  Wrayburn's desire to protect Lizzie is proof that the good in life is seen.  She has never asked for anything but yet gains so much more.  Dickens has issues with women but thus far, she is the one woman who is so pure.  While I don't see their marriage being a long one, I do feel it's a true love. 


Nuptials with new meaning:
In sickness: Wrayburn
In health: Bella & Rokesmith...so far


Till death do us part: Wrayburn & Lizzie will see this sooner than Rokesmith & Bella


For better: Wrayburn marries to protect Lizzie & also because he loves her
Or worse: Rokesmith got one heck of a mother-in-law & Bella has some hard work to do


For richer: Lizzie has wealth in love (cheesy I know but true)
Or poorer: Bella gave up her riches for Rokesmith

The men are continuing to take the lead

I am simply going to start with my thoughts...

Headstone: I didn't like him to begin with but my dislike has only grown.  He is such a despicable person and doesn't deserve to work with children.  Charlie is correct in changing his opinion of the man and should be glad his sister didn't not get involved.  I had originally thought Alfred would be the devil but Dickens proved me wrong.

Wrayburn: He is truly an admirable man.  He doesn't make a good first impression, in my opinion, but he doesn't deserve to be beaten in the night.  Although I think about him torturing poor crazy Headstone by wandering the streets at all hours of the night which drove him mad, there is no excuse for the violence.  What I find most redeeming is his request not to punish Headstone.  He does it for Lizzie's reputation which made me tear up a little.  I also think about the guilt that Headstone has to live with which is also a punishment in itself.  There is something so sweet in his love and in his last few hours this loyalty and dedication to Lizzie grew.

Rokesmith: After being attacked by Boffin, he continues to better himself in life without telling his secret.  He kept his calm and didn't fight back...what a man!  While I feel it will come out at some point, I admire him for keeping it up to this point.  I believe I would be jealous of Bella if I were in their circle of friends.

Riah: Such an admirable Jew.  He threatens his friendship with Jenny when he does what Fledgeby tells him to only to search his soul for his true self.  He quits his job to become the "exception" to the Jewish stereotype and to regain Jenny's trust.  In this encounter with Jenny, he transforms from the "wolf" back into the "godmother".  He knows what society thinks of Jews and he doesn't want to be part of that stereotype.  Love him for that!!

Mr. Doll: Ok...is it just me or is it creepy that Jenny continually refers to her father as her child?  It took me quite some time to figure out who she was talking about until he died.  I always thought she was too young to have had a child of that age.  I would love to know what Freud has to say about this.

Lightwood: I just want so say how wonderful it is to see his dedication to his friend on his deathbed.  I am touched by his granting Wrayburn's every final request. 

OMF...gettin' good!

I am loving OMF!! It was so amazing to read about what Mr. Rokesmith is doing. As is was confirmed that he was Harmon his next steps were selfless. Clearing Hexam & remaining a secretary for the Boffins' sake (allowing them to keep the money). I do hope he & Bella end up together but I wouldn't put it past Dickens to pair him with Lizzie. I admire Rokesmith for his choices which cannot be easy.  To know that you are someone else but must play the part of a secretary...I cannot imagine.


I must also make some comments about the Wilfers. They are absolutely cracking me up. laughed so hard at the anniversary dinner. I think it's because I've been in those family situations before. It's that tense moment & RW is the only one who continually reminds everyone that mother isn't happy.  He does it so subtly, "My dear, you don't seem to be enjoying yourself." I just LOVE it! The whole family would be so much fun to watch in a sitcom. I also think it's funny that Lavenia is making George pay for choosing Bella first but continues to keep him on the line.


Bella has also impressed me. She is still greedy but is aware of the sin in it. She sees herself as a "monster" and often a "beast" for having such monetary thoughts.  And her talks with herself make me chuckle but also make me proud to "be her friend".  She does understand. Then she becomes aware of the changes in Mr. Boffin. He is disappointing to many people; Bella, Rokesmith, Mrs. Boffin, & myself. He has decided that to have money, he must abide by the social constraints that come with it. He could be the exception to the rule but so far is becoming the norm. I was hoping he would stay the care free, loving man he originally was but it appears he will turn into a terrible man. The optimist in me sees him reverting to himself but the cynic in me believes he will remain a "tyrant".

A golden thread was recalled

There have been two themes we have been looking at in ATOTC:

Recalled to Life:

• Darnay:  He is put on trial as a traitor but is found innocent.  Considering that he had one foot in the grave as this process began and was not convicted in the end, I would say he is most definitely recalled to life.  Even the action of him taking a meal after the process is a symbol of life.  Food is a sustenance for all living.
• Dr. Manette:  His current demeanor is much more lively than when we first met him.  He is no longer attached to his shoe making table and tools but rather lives a more active life.  He has a business and is interacting with the living and not with shoes.
• Wilfer: (OK...I know he's not in ATOTC but...) His interaction with Bella put him in this category for me.  His personality totally changed when she took him out for the day.  I just had to mention this.

Golden Thread:

• A golden thread in law is to prove the prisoner's guilt without a doubt.  This works perfectly in Darnay's case.  At this time in England, if you were questioned, you were pretty much dead.  Darnay, however, got lucky.  They did not find him guilty so he was able to "keep" his head, which proves to be quite valuable for his future endeavors. His love for Lucie also seems to brighten his spirits.  His enthusiasm for life shows through when he is speaking to Dr. Manette.
• Lucie is described as the golden thread by her father.  She is the one that holds everything together and gives her father a reason to live.  This particular thread has nothing to do with law but rather a literal thread which can bind or unite.  Also, I cannot remember exactly which one of the lawyers, Stryver or Carton, says this but he describes her on numerous occasions to have golden hair.  While this is an obvious statement of gold, I think it's worth mentioning on the topic.

OMF! Still

Wait…who was that again?

• It is extremely frustrating to be reading this novel in parts.  I find myself spending the first few pages everytime I sit down with it having to remind myself of the various characters and plots.  Then by the time I’ve gotten my memory back, I have to go back to re-read the pages I just started reading.  As a Victorian, I am sure this would not be such a problem.  They didn’t have internet and tv shows to distract them with other plots and characters.  They were also not trying to keep Edwin Drood, OMF, and A Tale of Two Cities separate from one another.  It’s also hard to focus since ED and OMF have some similar characters (not exact but some similarities).  If I were focusing on OMF and discussing with friends during the Victorian era, I would be overwhelmingly intrigued.  I still enjoy the book but am frustrated with the back and forth of my brain function.  I’ve never been good at reading multiple books from the same author/genre.  And I’ve definitely never read several Dickens works with all of his characters and descriptions. 
• My main complaint with Mr. Dickens is that he doesn’t stick with one name.  Somehow, the character starts as Hexam and then becomes Gaffer and then somewhere along the way gets a nickname.  Love the descriptions and plotlines but am frustrated with my own lack of memory.

I’m noticing…

• I find myself admiring the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Boffin.  They are an interesting pair.  His love for her is true and loyal. 
• I continually want some of my favorite characters to reappear after several chapters of nothing.  When they do, they don’t react/do what I want them to.  
• After discussing dust in ED, I continually look for it in the other works.  Sometimes found and sometimes not.  I just find myself focusing on some of our discusses themes/images and I miss other important topics.

Ramblings:

• I would love to see the following in their own spin off:  the Veneerings, the Lammles, Lizzie & Charley.  I envision the Veneering/Lammle show to be very much like the current hit Revenge (More on IMDB).  Lizzie & Charley’s show would be a heart-warming yet turbulent one.  I would DVR any of those shows. 

10 minute ramblings

As I've read OMF and ED I didn't really focus much on the religious aspects of the works.  After reading a classmate's blog and discussing it in class, it came to me that I actually make a note in OMF about the names of the Reverends for the Lammle wedding.  Reverend Blank Blank and Reverend Dash Dash were both there to officiate the wedding of Alfred and Sophronia.  Thinking back, this seems appropriate seeing as they both are phony.  The Reverends have no name and the couple have no clue.  The blatant poking of the religious figures are quite amusing.  Don't tell my mama cause I'm a southern girl and am not supposed to make fun of the church but let's face it...it's funny.


The OMF portion was amusing but then I thought about the Cathedral in ED.  This element seems to be a focal point for Cloisterham.  The church seems to be a means of employment for this enclosed town.  I don't see much value in the actual religious aspects of the Nun's House and the Cathedral.  It's all dark and dirty and reminds me of several trips to Cathedrals on my travels.  In fact, I have been into 2 catacombs in Vienna.  1 with thousands and thousands of bones from the plague (http://www.stephansdom.at/) and 1 with mummies (http://www.augustinerkirche.at/).  Coolest thing ever!!  After taking tours of both of these and now reading the role of Drudles, I can understand his fascination of it.  It's actually kind of addictive.  I'm actually looking forward to going back to Vienna for another tour.


So I think I got a little off topic but I'm now focused on the religious thing and I'm taking a trip down memory lane.  I am now ready to continue reading focus a little more on religion...and not just on Easter and Christmas.  Can't wait what for Dickens has to say about the church now.

Human qualities transcend time

It is refreshing to see Dickens’ characters with such human qualities; qualities which apply to both past and present. 

Jealousy 

• As Twemlow is sitting with the Veneerings, he is listening to the ramblings of the wedding to take place.  What is the most interesting part of the entire event are his thoughts on the matter of their dear, family friends.  He thinks to himself, as they are talking about those important enough to participate in the ceremony, there are only three close…no wait, four close…no wait, six total close friends.  Even after the wedding he claims the two Reverends are now to be the Veneerings dear friends.  While I read this particular statement to be rather sarcastic regarding the Reverends, I found his thoughts during the discussion to ring true in many humans.  There are times when I evaluate close friends and I often find myself somewhat jealous of those who are considered close to friends without merit.  I don’t consider myself a possessive person or even an overly jealous person; there are simply times when a close friend of a friend crosses my mind in a negative way.  It makes me think of my place in the group.  While I don’t feel Twemlow is genuine in his friendship, I can understand his thinking process of counting the Veneerings’ circle.  There is something human in his thoughts; almost emotional that I related to as I read.

Revenge

• And now to the juicy stuff!  I was immediately awake when Alfred arrived on scene and was described as looking like Mephistopheles, also known as Mephisto.  I must note, way to go Dickens!  Only one word needed for a description which gets the mind gears turning.  As a lover of German literature, my mind automatically went to Goethe’s Faust. (More on Faust)  Since Mephisto is a demon in both the Marlowe and the Goethe renditions, I sensed some foreshadowing which made my mouth water.  And I was pleasantly surprised when the “demon” presented itself on the beach with his new wife.  Since I’m not overly fond of the Veneerings, I am dying to know what revenge is taken upon them by Sophronia and Alfred.  They were scammed by the Veneerings and are now legally bound to one another.  Revenge is another human trait that presents itself in various forms.  While I may not always act on my thoughts of pay back, I do have them.  As I left the beach, there was one quote that stuck out in my mind, “Don’t be betrayed into doing so again, because I have a Devil of a temper myself.”  I understand he was speaking about Sophronia’s outburst of emotion; I can’t help but put this quote to the Veneerings.  Here we go Mephisto.  Show us whatcha got! 

Random thoughts

• I enjoyed the reference to the Rocky Mountains in the past few chapters.  Am I seeing the influence of the US tour?

OMF Predictions Ch 1-7

• Bella desires wealth more than anything in the world but her sister is going to be the one wealthier than her.  This is going to cause more tension within the family.  Bella is going to do something to cause her sister grief...ie. affair with husband, murder, etc.
• Charley is going to have a hard life on his own.  He tries to get an education but ends up in his father's line of work to make some money.  Later in life, after his father's death, he and Lizzie will reunite in a tragic way.
• The Veneerings have skeletons in their closet which make an appearance later.  This causes them to lose their social standings and their dinner parties become even MORE uncomfortable.  Twemlow quits coming to dinner...that's how bad it is.

Our Mutual Friend (OMF) 1-7

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

I would like to apologize for my organization of thoughts.  I have made several random notes on the reading and in blogging I want to simply journal them as I write them.  Of course, this doesn’t present the material in an organized fashion.  My apologies!

PART I:

Confusion presented itself as I read through Part I.  The characters came at me and fast.  While there are often characters with ties to others, I find myself confusing myself with how they are connected.  My hope is that in continuing the reading this confusion will begin to subside.

Family and connections:

• One overlapping theme I noticed in the first part is that of family and connections.  Connection is a vague term but it doesn’t limit itself to only family ties.  I meet a variety of characters and am given an introduction to their place in London and its surrounding area.

• Gaffer and Riderhood have a falling out in the beginning of the book which later has an effect on Lizzie’s life.  It is unclear at this juncture what they do for a living.  It’s clear they work at night and often on the river but it isn’t until later that I am made aware of their partnership.

• Making the connections: I am introduced to the Veneerings who are introduced via a mutual friend to Twemlow.  At this juncture, I am introduced to Lady Tippins and the attorney of Harmon.  It is then that I find out that Harmon was found in the river by Gaffer and was promised to Bella, R.W’s daughter.  R.W. works for Veneering. 

• I am made very aware of the complicated nature of the story line.  In its complication however, I am also left wondering what’s going to happen next and who it’s going to happen to?  At this moment, I see quite a bit of overlap in the characters but am waiting on more. 

PART II:

Education, money, and one’s place in society:

• RW’s family longs for money.  Bella makes her desires for wealth quite clear, “I want money – want it dreadfully.  I hate to be poor.”  Bella’s mother does her financial part for the family by teaching.  RW wants to take care of his daughters by marrying them.  Possessing daughters can be quite stressful at this time.  To take care of them requires a husband who can provide for her since they are not considered a valuable source of family income.  This puts quite a bit of pressure on a father.  RW is the master of the house and his wife reminds him of that on several occasions during this our encounter with the family as she says, “You are master here, R.W”.  This seems quite ironic however.  He is characterized as quite shy at work.  In fact, no one knows his first name unless they are a close friend.  This dynamic proves interesting for a “master” of a household.

• Poor Lizzie.  She loves a father who is kind to her but hits her brother.  She then makes a sacrifice so that her brother can leave for an education.  Of course, Charley, her best friend and tutor, must leave the house and never return.  She is now stuck without someone to help her continue her learning and with an angry dad.  I am the Hollywood optimist and am hoping things work out well for both children.  I can see them reuniting later in the work after a lifetime of struggles.  But here in the work the father disowns the son for choosing an education over the family.  Was an education such a bad thing during this time or was the father simply afraid of losing control of his only son?

• Wegg’s relationship with Boffin is based on education.  While I find it strange that Boffin is so connected to his wooden stick, it’s admirable that he’s searching for someone to educate him on the value of his current inheritance.

RANDOM COMMENTS:

• I am doing my best as I’m reading to make connections with the characters and the “mutual friend”.  I find myself working too hard to do this and begin confusing myself.  It then hit me that maybe the “friend” isn’t a character at all.  What if the “friend” is London or education or fate or greed or money or some other concept?  If this is the case, I am going to be disappointed at myself for trying to tie all these characters to a human “friend”.  Is anyone else having trouble with their connections?  Maybe I am alone in my endeavors.

• Dinner with the Veneerings was extremely awkward.  In my notes I wrote, “awkward, high school drama, all about who you know and not who you like.”  Those were my exact thoughts as I read this interaction.  It reminded me of a time in high school when it was about being in the “cool, popular” group even if you didn’t like any of those people.  It just looked good to be associated with them.  Take, for example, the Veneerings.  They name the Podsnaps to be the Godparents of their baby but Podsnap didn't even know who they were when he first walked in the door.  It seems to be all about playing politics.

• One character I am extremely intrigued, confused by is that of Lady Tippins.  It is somewhat troubling to me that she adores nursery rhymes but has multiple lovers.  I am left wanting more background on her character and am left wondering what her place is?

• RW’s daughters were a breath of fresh air.  As I read this portion, my notes said, “sisterly dispute and cat fight”.  Having a sister myself, I could relate to their interactions with one another.  It was quite comical and a relief to know that there did exist childish family arguments during the Victorian period but more importantly, that Dickens chose to write about them.  This put a smile on my face.

• Wegg’s encounter with the, as I call him, Bone Collector.  I read this section and played an episode of CSI in my head.  Of course, my episode was much more graphic and dramatic than Dickens’.  I think this proves the influence television can have on a reader or the influence literature can have on television.  I’m not sure which but I could at least picture a one legged man sitting in a dark room with a creepy Bone Collector.  I am left wanting to know what happens to Wegg?  Does he end up as one of the “Bone Collector’s” specimens?

CHARACTERS WITH WRITER’S CONNECTIONS:

One thing I noticed as I read was some potential autobiographical connections to our writer.

• Bella’s mother has a school = Dickens’ mother begins a school to help with the family finances

• Charley’s dad disowns him for wanting an education = Dickens’ mother doesn’t disown him but doesn’t want him in school

• Lizzie makes sacrifices for her brother Charley = Dickens makes sacrifices to help and support his siblings and their families