tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post7558463204416922295..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Dickens Takes Aim at the World's Impostors in Bleak HouseBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-65415718951113953372014-02-03T23:00:29.763-05:002014-02-03T23:00:29.763-05:00Hi Tom - You are correct indeed. At laeast early i...Hi Tom - You are correct indeed. At laeast early in the game Jarndyce is so much taken in by Skimpole. Later he does see through him.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1412327024687376552014-02-03T22:53:46.978-05:002014-02-03T22:53:46.978-05:00Skimpole is also used to undermine the benevolence...Skimpole is also used to undermine the benevolence of Jarndyce, to make Jarndyce into a fool, since he 100% falls for the Skimpole act, unlike Esther who is on to him early.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77664560590399193592014-02-03T22:45:13.186-05:002014-02-03T22:45:13.186-05:00Hi Himadri - I really want to get to Nicholas Nick...Hi Himadri - I really want to get to Nicholas Nickleby sooner rather then later. I agree with Dickens despising Skimpole. I is not apparent at first, but as the narrative progresses Skimpoles acts cause more and more harm and Skimpole is so unfazed by it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-75875109378965467602014-02-03T13:58:22.429-05:002014-02-03T13:58:22.429-05:00In "Nicholas Nickleby", there's a ma...In "Nicholas Nickleby", there's a marvellous comic character called Mr Mantalini - a very flamboyant character, but who did no work, and was happy to live on the money earned by his hard-working wife. Dickens was quiet kind to Mantalini: he was simply a delightful comic figure, but nothing really more. Skimpole seems to be a sort of Mantalini-like figure, but Dickens is an older writer now, and is far more censorious. In a novel full of brutalised children, of children forced by cruel circumstance to take on adult responsibilities, here we have afully grown adult pretending to be a child. I think Dickens really hated Skimpole.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77885934210723136032014-02-02T21:30:50.442-05:002014-02-02T21:30:50.442-05:00With this latest commentary, you have underscored,...With this latest commentary, you have underscored, once again, the importance of this great English writer. I totally agree with your point that, although he might be perceived as being rather simplistic in his portrayal of good and evil characters, this is an erroneous perception.<br /><br />Dickens's novels are indeed full of his sardonic, biting wit, as is clearly evident in his character, Skimpole. That character's name, by the way, is not only hilarious, but also hints at the true nature of his financial dealings....lol.<br /><br />I also like the depiction of the woefully inadequate English legal system! It reminds me of criticisms leveled at our own legal system, although hopefully ours is not as bad.....<br /><br />Thanks for more great commentary on this novel!! : )Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-23947524507556429622014-01-29T22:56:06.206-05:002014-01-29T22:56:06.206-05:00Hi Rachel - I think that you hit something on the ...Hi Rachel - I think that you hit something on the head. That is, Dickens is something of an enigma. Though on the surface these characters are simplistic, when one puts one of his novels all together they seem to form something complex. I think that this is true in addition to the sarcasm.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-87333565199493412222014-01-29T18:49:26.931-05:002014-01-29T18:49:26.931-05:00Sometimes, I think that readers often see Dickens ...<i>Sometimes, I think that readers often see Dickens in a kind of innocent light, as he often portrays good and evil in a straightforward and clear way. Such an assessment misses this mocking and sarcastic tendency that is present throughout this work.</i><br /><br />It's interesting that you say this. I have mixed feelings about Dickens characters. I had always thought of them as particularly deep and meaningful, until a friend told me that they were "flat." FLAT?! Dickens? <br /><br />Then I thought about it - yes I suppose many of the characters ARE actually caricatures...they're either totally good (like that obnoxious Little Nell in Old Curiosity Shop) or totally slimy and gross (like Uriah Heep in David Copperfield). But, somehow, I think Dickens can say more with a caricature than most authors can say with a complex, thoughtful character. I believe part of that is his sharp sarcasm. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974988315420539840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15101738216594001972014-01-25T12:40:37.987-05:002014-01-25T12:40:37.987-05:00Hi Andrew - Thanks for the good word. This one had...Hi Andrew - Thanks for the good word. This one had a few nuanced characters. The thing about Dickens one dimensional characters is that Dickens seems to get away with such more portrayals more then other writers. Perhaps it is the "memorable" thing. I also that when it comes to such personas, Dickens set the mold that has been imitated by many who have come after him.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-1042345764203293892014-01-25T12:34:42.663-05:002014-01-25T12:34:42.663-05:00Nice post, Brian! I haven't read this, or any ...Nice post, Brian! I haven't read this, or any other Dickens, for years now, and you've made me want to go back to him. I think he uses characters in a number of different ways, and you've done a good job here of showing that. Some characters, particularly minor characters, exist purely to represent a particular trait that Dickens wants to satirise, and he does that very well. Those characters can be a little one-dimensional sometimes, but it doesn't seem to matter because they are portrayed so well and so memorably. The more primary characters tend to be more nuanced and capable of evolution. Nice post!Andrew Blackmanhttp://andrewblackman.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-44665040968063440992014-01-24T19:42:31.925-05:002014-01-24T19:42:31.925-05:00Hi james - Thanks!
As I commented on my other po...Hi james - Thanks!<br /><br /><br />As I commented on my other post, though I certainly have not read all of Dickens's major works, I suspect that indeed, Bleak House was THE highpoint for Dickens.<br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-76217016619286419102014-01-24T17:43:58.751-05:002014-01-24T17:43:58.751-05:00A wonderful analysis of Dickensian "character...A wonderful analysis of Dickensian "characters". Certainly Dickens reached new heights in <i>Bleak House</i>, combining his ability to create characters with a well-plotted story.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00561320676355168336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-47358536724228614852014-01-23T19:58:43.102-05:002014-01-23T19:58:43.102-05:00Hi Jane - He certainly had a cynical streak. Never...Hi Jane - He certainly had a cynical streak. Nevertheless he really seemed to always appreciate virtue. <br /><br />I have heard about that film, and it sounds good. He also seemed to show lots of sympathy for those who ran afoul of social conventions so perhaps that partially reflected his own life choices.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-64539470223229913172014-01-23T11:46:31.214-05:002014-01-23T11:46:31.214-05:00Excellent, thoughtful post. Dickens is certainly ...Excellent, thoughtful post. Dickens is certainly a master of character portraits. He was a cynic, especially as he aged, and was particularly hard on hypocrites. Ironically, I think he was being hard on himself, because he was living a lie for the last twenty years of his life. Looking forward to the movie version of The Invisible Woman, which is about his life with Nelly Ternan.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-37039006360488063682014-01-22T17:34:09.019-05:002014-01-22T17:34:09.019-05:00Hi Caroline - I too do not remember Great Expectat...Hi Caroline - I too do not remember Great Expectations enough to really say much about the sarcastic voice. This emphasizes the need to reread books.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-67028462259483383492014-01-22T17:32:32.207-05:002014-01-22T17:32:32.207-05:00Hi Tracy - Thanks for the good word!Hi Tracy - Thanks for the good word!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55373007710887547762014-01-22T14:29:26.103-05:002014-01-22T14:29:26.103-05:00I can't remember how sarcastic he is Great Exp...I can't remember how sarcastic he is Great Expectatins. <br />You certainly make me want to pick this up. <br />I'm curious about all the charcaters you mentioned so far. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-83108005143151323602014-01-22T12:42:24.171-05:002014-01-22T12:42:24.171-05:00As always beautifully explored, thank you.As always beautifully explored, thank you.Felicity Grace Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17852843882007267665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-14515208795433853472014-01-20T17:40:05.713-05:002014-01-20T17:40:05.713-05:00Hi Suko - Indeed Skimpole is an interesting charac...Hi Suko - Indeed Skimpole is an interesting character. I think that if one were to meet him in real life he would be likable and funny initially. Eventually his irresponsibility that trends toward immorality would become an issue.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10900193654604353022014-01-20T17:37:32.500-05:002014-01-20T17:37:32.500-05:00Hi Lindsay - thanks for the good word.
I think th...Hi Lindsay - thanks for the good word.<br /><br />I think that this book showed multiple sides to the world more so then the other Dickens works that I have read.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-750908371982981782014-01-20T17:36:22.250-05:002014-01-20T17:36:22.250-05:00Hi Shelia - thanks for stopping by. It is indeed a...Hi Shelia - thanks for stopping by. It is indeed a long book. Though fruitful if one sticks with it. I think that one needs to approach it knowing that a lot of patience is required.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-16075310359178821442014-01-20T17:19:55.302-05:002014-01-20T17:19:55.302-05:00Brian, I stopped by this post a couple of days ago...Brian, I stopped by this post a couple of days ago, but ran out of time to leave a comment. Thoughtful post, as usual. I'm learning more about this author each time you post on him. Skimpole sounds like quite a "character"!Sukohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11893742747135555499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49945389611944297692014-01-20T12:07:51.721-05:002014-01-20T12:07:51.721-05:00Love how you've highlighted the different side...Love how you've highlighted the different sides to Dickens' work here Brian, great post. Lindsayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731930823596505781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84383662599753863522014-01-20T08:07:27.273-05:002014-01-20T08:07:27.273-05:00I picked up Bleak House for a read a long last yea...I picked up Bleak House for a read a long last year and didnt complete it. Its one of those I want to and need to try again.Sheila (Bookjourney)https://www.blogger.com/profile/05354184020340930630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-30829836485075704182014-01-20T03:35:36.624-05:002014-01-20T03:35:36.624-05:00Hi Delia - That is interesting about Drawlight.
...Hi Delia - That is interesting about Drawlight.<br /><br /><br />I think that many of Dickens's characters have served as a template for the creations of many writers who have come since. Of course to the extent that these characters reflect traits of real life people of these observe it could juts be that both writers are mirroring the same aspects of real lifeBrian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66826406680903909792014-01-20T01:19:10.190-05:002014-01-20T01:19:10.190-05:00It's funny, but your comment about Skimpole re...It's funny, but your comment about Skimpole reminded me of another character, this one in "Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell", a book I'm reading now. His name is Drawlight and he seems to have a few things in common with Skimpole: careless about money, a chatterbox, and living well above his means.<br />I haven't read Bleak House but I do have Our Mutual Friend and hope to get to it someday.<br />Delia (Postcards from Asia)http://wrongspelling.com/noreply@blogger.com