Chapter 54
For the first time, I find myself at odds with almost all my fellow readers on this
chapter. I agree that Bucket has handled the affair brilliantly, but as a
detective novel, this chapter does not measure up. We are presented
with a host of evidence that Bucket has collected but Dickens has shared
almost none of it with his readers. e.g. Bucket has managed to get
Hortense into his household as a tenant and set his wife to spy on her.
And how he manages to magically get Smallweeds, the Chadbands and Mrs.
Snagsby to show up right on cue to say their piece is never made clear.
And how has he learned about Guppy's schemes? This is working out far
too conveniently to be the least bit credible.
A disappointing chapter.
Chapter 55
Guppy, that puny pest, has proven to be just as self-absorbed and dangerous as
we anticipated. Despite how inept and inconsequential he is, he has, time and
again, found ways to mess up the lives of other people. All of the efforts of
Bucket, Mrs. Bagnet and Mrs. Rouncewell to set things right may well be negated
by Guppy’s meddling.
Chapter 56
Once again, Bucket really shows his mettle here. Not only is he keenly
observant, but he is remarkably adept at making sense of what he observes. He
is able to connect seemingly unrelated fragments of information, thereby
visualizing a scenario or a sequence of events. He instantly decodes Sir
Leicester's gestures and understands his intentions. He surveys lady Dedlock's
room and quickly seizes upon the one object that may help in his search.
Meanwhile, we must be very concerned for the future of the Dedlock dynasty; Sir
Leicester has no heir and his wife has fled. The collection of idle cousins
that congregate at his household like bundles of thistles driven by the wind
certainly do not inspire confidence. Will the House of Dedlock be one of the
"great houses" that are swept away by the coming changes ....?
Chapter 57
By breaking this chapter up into a seemingly endless series of stops, starts,
inquiries, asides, unanswered questions — along with delays due to the reluctance
of witnesses — Dickens impresses upon us the passage of time and lack of
progress; we become as impatient as do Esther and Bucket. The chapter seems
even longer than it is — and we are made to fear the worst, that their
inability to find Lady Dedlock reduces her chances of survival, hour by hour.
One nagging question arises: Lady D is supposedly traveling on foot, without money, across difficult terrain and in bad weather, while Bucket, having at his disposal a series of fresh horses, does not seem to be gaining ground. Is he perhaps on the wrong track altogether?
Chapter 58
Although this chapter takes place overnight and concludes in the
morning, the prevailing mood is that of twilight, a darkening-down of
lives. The Dedlocks' days of fashionable glitter are over; Sir Leicester
is old and ill. Matters cannot be restored to the way they were,
regardless of what has become of Lady Dedlock. It's a time for setting
aside old pretenses and old animosities. The return of George to the
family estate, welcomed by Sir Leicester, is also symbolic of a settling
of affairs within the family as a whole.
Chapter 59
Bleak House has, right from the beginning, been a tragedy in the making.
There has never been "a way out" for Lady Dedlock. She has always been
haunted by her secret, and as the story has played out, far too many
people have come to know of it. Furthermore, Esther's reputation, her
welfare and her future are inescapably bound up with the story of her
origin. Lady Dedlock has to die to complete the narrative, and in so
doing, she closes the circle, back at the grave site of her lover.
With
each succeeding chapter, we are seeing a "closing down" of the story as
we lose each character — first Jo, then Tulkinghorn and Richard, now
Lady Dedlock: will Sir Leicester survive — or will he want to?
Chapter 60
Here, we seem to be marking time, as if awaiting some forthcoming event.
Richard’s decline continues as Ada, unable to change the course of events,
stays loyally by his side, while we learn of the future birth of their child —
a child Richard may not live to see. Mrs. Woodcourt is hanging around, for
reasons that remain unclear. Vholes continues to play out his crafty hand. Miss
Flite, symbolic of the futility of the case in chancery, adds more birds to her
dreary collection. The only bright spot seems to be that Mr. Woodcourt’s
prospects, aided by John Jarndyce are improving.
Altogether, it’s as if this chapter is holding its breath, waiting to exhale ….
Chapter 61
After the hiatus of Chapter 60, matters begin to move along, although certainly
not in a straight line toward any obvious resolution. Belatedly, Woodcourt has
declared his love to Esther, but that solves nothing. There are hints of future
events, notably the demise of Skimpole, confirming his despicable behavior. Meanwhile,
the overall story remains suspended in limbo.
But, in sharp contrast to that, this chapter does accomplish something of great importance: It’s here, in her frank conversation with Woodcourt, that Dickens completes his delineation of Esther’s character; she has reached true maturity and at the end of the chapter we are left to consider her constancy and her nobility of character.
Chapter 62
Once again, Bucket has proven his diligence and skill in ferreting out
information; he has learned that the Smallweeds have unearthed what appears to
be an extremely valuable document from among the rubble at Krook’s premises. He
has imposed the power of the law upon old Smallweed and coerced him into
surrendering the document to Jardyce, its rightful owner, upon agreement that
Smallweeds will receive a fee commensurate with the document’s worth.
The document is a long-sought. Will. Can it possibly bring the interminable
suit to a conclusion?
Chapter 63
Dickens is here intent on putting all the fragmented pieces of the story back
together. George has now come full circle, re-establishing a cordial
relationship with his brother. And he is determined to return to service of Sir
Leicester, as his mother before him. But most significantly, he takes a further
step toward settling Esther’s affairs by writing her a letter that will clarify
the mystery of her father’s disappearance and Lady Dedlock’s great misfortune.
Chapter 64
And finally, Dickens reveals to us and to Esther the scheme that John Jarndyce
has been working on. Understanding the love that, despite all obstacles,
prevails between Esther and Allan Woodcourt, he has contrived to bring Mrs.
Woodcourt around to accepting Esther as a suitable match for her son. All of
his preparations for marriage have been aimed at passing her hand over to
Woodcourt. Matters are now set to turn out as they ought to.
I’m puzzled as to why Dickens chose to bring Guppy back into the picture at the
end of this chapter. Comic relief, perhaps? However, I find him simply a
nuisance. In the immortal words of the Grand High Executioner “H never would be
missed!”
Chapter 65
At long last, Jarndyce and Jarndyce is concluded. And as one might have
expected, any proceeds remaining at issue have all been absorbed in legal
costs. In fact, Chancery has worked exactly as is was designed to do,
transferring all of the suitors’ assets at issue into the pockets of the
lawyers. A perfectly functioning system.
Nevertheless, there are two positive outcomes: Now that the contest is over,
Rick is reconciled with John Jarndyce. And Jarndyce will never be vexed by the
case again. The wind is forever in the west!
Chapter 66
A somber chapter, drawing-down of blinds. Sir Leicester, aged and ill, keeps
watch over Lady Dedlock’s at final resting place at Chesney Wold. No one is
told anything about her demise and no whisper of gossip will be tolerated. The
days of fashion are long gone. All is quiet; Volumnia modestly holds court,
visitors are few. The Ghost’s Walk is heard of no more.
Chapter 67
I suppose Shakespeare’s phrase has never been surpassed: “All’s well that ends
well.” In our “real world”, seldom do those most deserving of blessing become the
ones who receive it, so I suppose we ought to thank Dickens for settling things
in such a perfect manner for once. All of those whose troubles Esther helped to
alleviate, along with all those who loved her best, have ended up in happy
circumstances. Is this a likely scenario? Probably not; but after all the
difficulties that plagued them — Caddy, Peepy, Ada, Charley and so on — we
should be grateful that in the end they were able to find happiness.
Thinking over how greatly their community benefits from her husband’s care and
how they are both admired and praised, Esther asks “Is this not to be rich?”
And of course, she is right.
