Chapter 33
I recently posted a list of the varieties of people Dickens found
objectionable; perhaps I need to add journalists — at least those associated
with tabloids and scandal sheets. And we might add pompous and ineffectual
local officials, gossips and the intrusive mobs of rubbernecking idlers who
turn up at any sort of disaster. All of them come in for some sharply pointed ridicule
as they gather at the scene of Krook’s bodily conflagration. The same crowd
that materialized at Nemo’s demise.
Who else should appear on the scene but old Smallweed, declaring himself to be sole heir and custodian of the late Krook’s property; no opportunity escapes the old buzzard’s grasp. Mr. Smallweed is at once permitted so far to assert his supremacy as to be carried on a visit of sentiment into the next house, and upstairs into Miss Flite’s deserted room, where he looks like a hieous bird of prey newly added to her aviary. How perfectly apt!
Guppy’s schemes have all come to naught; he is reduced to eating humble pie before Lady Dedlock. The question hovering in my mind is: Was Krook’s strange death on the very night he was scheduled to hand over the letters a coincidence or was some other agent at work? And Lady Dedlock seems to have anticipated that the letters were destroyed; is she relieved, puzzled or gratified? And can this be the end of her troubles? Doubtful; Tulkinghorn is still very much on the prowl ….
Chapter 34
Once again, we see the evidence of Tulkinghorn’s far-reaching influence and
proof of his ability to get his own way. As I noted earlier, Mr. George, in first
defying the lawyer had gained a powerful enemy. And those who are allied with Georgr
could easily become ‘collateral damage’ when Tulkinghorn attacks. The lawyer
now has gotten what he wanted; but what will be the outcome of that?
Smallweed is an ideal agent to serve Tulkinghorn’s needs: he is ruthless and all he cares about is money. He cares not a whit how greatly he is despised by his victims. He will happily do Tulkinghorn’s dirty work for him, no questions asked. I suspect that scenarios of this kind created by Dickens might well have inspired many a modern day crime film or TV drama about crooked politicians, businessmen or lawyers who “keep their hands clean” by seeking out small-time gangsters to handle the seamier side of their endeavors.
Chapter 35
It seems to me that in having Esther reveal her secret about Mr. Woodcourt, Dickens is subtly beginning
to shift her character development forward another step. At the beginning, she
was the timid, scorned child with a disgraceful past and no clear future; then
the wise, competent mistress of the household, keeper of the keys and go-to
person that everyone counted on. But her severe illness has awakened in her
another degree of self-awareness, a sense that she might have become more than
a spinster governess or housekeeper; that she has harbored secret dreams of
another life, where perhaps she might have found love and marriage, leading to
a different future. Now, faced with her disfigurement, she feels ready to acknowledge
those dreams, believing them to be lost. And despite all of that, she refuses
to fall into despair or feeling sorry for her misfortune; she is thankful for
the return of her eyesight, poor as it is and she is preparing to accept her
lot in life, with dignity and grace. A noble character in all respects.
But Dickens has surely not invested so much in Esther to allow her story to end
here. This is a hopeful chapter.
Chapter 36
As in all of his mature works, Dickens employs a good deal of multi-layered symbolism here. Those readers fortunate to have an illustrated edition in hand may also appreciate how cunningly several illustrators have picked up on that symbolism and amplified it.
In this chapter, we reach the first major climax in the novel; much of what has transpired thus far seems to have been leading up to this moment. But is it really a turning point? Esther has learned part of the truth about her origin, although her father’s identity has not been revealed to her; and she is unlikely to be able to have further contact with her mother. Revealing the secret to others would destroy Lady Dedlock and devastate her husband. Even if Tulkinghorn acquires the proof he seeks about the entire affair, what might he gain by revealing what he knows? He gathers information so as to gain power over others; but his client is Sir Leicester, who would be the person most harmed by any such revelation. It would appear to be an impasse.
Esther plans to share the secret with Mr. Jarndyce, although it’s hard to see
what he would be able to do about it. Meanwhile that poor fellow already has
more than enough problems on his plate.
So as dramatic as this chapter has been, it doesn’t appear to have changed
anything much in Esther’s daily life or her future prospects. From a narrative point of view, where do we go from here? And how will this all
be affected by that infernal Jarndyce and Jarndyce case? Many questions, few
answers, Mr. Dickens!
Chapter 37
“And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death,
and Hell followed with him.” – Revelation 6:8
There can be little doubt now that Richard’s fate is sealed; the vortex that is Jarndyce and Jarndyce has begun to suck him in. How appropriate that his agent is a darkly dour chap named Vholes, a hollow man made up of holes into which his client’s money shall disappear.
This is certainly the most ominous chapter we’ve encountered thus far. The question arises: Will Richard drag Ada into debt and destruction along with him.
Chapter 38 provides a welcome bit of light relief after the ominous conclusion of Chapter 37.
It’s gratifying to see how well Caddy has matured into an entirely new existence, where her hard work is appreciated, unlike the way she was exploited by her addled mother. And even poor Mr. Jellyby has found an ally and a peaceful refuge with Turveydrop — an unlikely pair, to be sure!
Better still, we see Esther, now fully recovered, taking definitive action to put Guppy in his place and close off at least one potential security leak.
Chapter 39
Once again, Dickens embarks upon a pointed rant against the legal profession — and
the laws that are written so as to ensure that there will always be business
for lawyers. Vholes is a prime example of a class of lawyers who benefit
thereby; he offers his client just enough encouragement to keep him on the case
while pledging only to keep his “shoulder to the wheel” — and making sure to
collect his fees.
As for Guppy, he seems to be determined to keep his pledge to Esther and to leave Lady Dedlock in peace. But his disappointment at his failure still rankles and he is still keeping contact with Bart Smallweeds, which suggests that he hasn’t given up altogether. A fellow not to be trusted.
Meanwhile, Tulkinghorn has certainly not abandoned his search for evidence, he’s still on the prowl to see what old Smallweeds can dig up at the rag-and-bottle shop.
This entire lot — Guppy, Jobling, the Smallweeds and especially Tulkinghorn continue to hover as a menace to the interests of Lady Dedlock and Esther.
And what about that leech Skimpole? Is really as feckless as he pretends to be?? Are we to believe that he did not receive a "finder's fee" for steering Richard into the grip of Vholes? Some consider him amusing, but for my money, he’s a despicable little jerk!
Chapter 40
All the chatter about the election, pointing to massive losses by the Dedlocks’
traditional party and the rise of the Rouncewell faction may foretell ominous
changes ahead, a new political and social era dawning. The comfortable
existence of the “fashionable” set is drawing to a close.
And then Tulkinghorn chooses this turn of events as an opportunity to confront Lady Dedlock, showing her what he knows about her secret. In his manner of doing so, he demonstrates once again his consummate skill in managing information to his advantage, forcing her to deal with him alone, while still keeping others present from understanding what has transpired. A master manipulator!
Dickens leaves readers who may not yet have access to the next chapter hanging in suspense: what will Tulkinghorn’s next move be?
I wonder how many of us reading this together refrained from reading the next chapter Right away?!
Chapter 41
Confrontation time! Tulinghorn lays his cards before Lady Dedlock, and as
always, he is very sure of himself. As this tension-filled chapter comes to a
close, the question still remains: What are Tulkinghorn’s intentions? At the
moment, he seems determined to protect his client; but for how long — and what
price may he extract from Lady Dedlock for his silence?
He suspects that Guppy has been up to mischief; what might he do about that? And can he really control what old Smallweeds might do with any information he acquires? Secrets and more secrets ….
Meanwhile, with the Rouncewells’ faction gaining power, what effect may that have on events? Esther is at risk of becoming a major embarrassment to both the Dedlocks and the Rouncewell faction — and even to Tulkinghorn. None of them can afford to have Esther’s background become public knowledge. Tulkinghorn might save himself a lot of trouble by finding ways to make her disappear from the scene.
Chapter 42
Dickens reaches to all corners with his symbolism of keys and cobwebs
and shadows and dusty old wine bottles. All metaphors for secrets and hidden
agendas and the passage of time — individual lives are often in turmoil but
meanwhile the ancient lawsuit, initiated by some now-forgotten wrong, remains
locked in procedural limbo.
Dickens’ description of Tulkinghorn at the opening of Chapter 42 is quite masterful. Characterizing him as the “high-priest of noble mysteries” Dickens writes:
”Like a dingy London bird among the birds at roost in those pleasant fields, where the sheep are all made into parchment, the goats into wigs, and the pasture into chaff, the lawyer, smoke-dried and faded, dwelling among mankind but not consorting with them, aged without experience of genial youth, and so long used to make his cramped nest in holes and corners of human nature that he has forgotten its broader and better range, comes sauntering home.”
Dickens covers a lot of ground in that one sentence, defining not just Tulkinghorn as he appears, but also his history, his inclinations and the environment in which he lives and works.
As if there were not already a surfeit of issues hanging in the air, into this mess pops up that harridan Mlle. Hortense, itching to cause trouble. But in doing so, she may have made a serious mistake; Tulkinghorn is not a man to be trifled with.
No comments:
Post a Comment