The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

It is time to take a new foray into the world of the late eighteenth century England. Mr. Dickens, thank you for a ride into the past.:-) This week we are discussing the next six chapters (chapters 23 - 28).

My general opinion of this section could be summarized in several words: Mr. Chester, Mr. Chester, and even more Mr. Chester, namely his panache, his cultural but nasty attitude, his meanness, his despicable soul, and his desire to control everything and manipulate everybody according to his self-seeking vision of the world according to Mr. Chester.

This section answers the questions we discussed in the previous selection – who sent Hugh and why. Now it is obvious that it was Mr. Chester. His manner to deal with people is absolutely fascinating. Even people who hardly know him (bellboys, servers, waiters, and even Dolly) feel that they are more than happy to defend him sacrificing their lives. The sobriety after his suave charms is a harsh awakening after they notice that their excellent services were hardly ever appreciated.

It is also interesting to notice Hugh’s reaction to Mr. Chester. Hugh’s submission was complete. He dreaded him beyond description; and felt that accident and artifice had spun a web about him, which at a touch from such a master-hand as his, would bind him to the gallows . It could possibly mean that Mr. Chester is a merciless man who will sacrifice his pawns any time he feels appropriate.

Mr. Haredale, who originally was deliberately and misleadingly presented as a brusque bore, gains a positive momentum with every chapter. We learn that he actually helped and supported Mrs. Rudge through most of her widowhood, and he is more than willing to discuss her current plight, but all his attempts are futile.

And yes, Mrs. Rudge’s mystery has the Gothic flavor, and I would say it is even a macabre one. Has it something to do with the feeble mind of her son and the ominous words of Grip or is there just a powerful mystery that moves the plot and keeps us reading. What’s more, it (the mystery) definitely has something to do with the gory murder that took place many years ago in the Haredale’s estate, and this estate, though rich, has that pervasive feeling of fading glory and spooky ambiance.

This week's running titles are:

Ch. 23: Mr. Chester on Lord Chesterfield. Valentine and Orson. Orson tamed.
Ch. 24: A Friend desires a conference. Mr. Tappertit comes to the point.
Ch. 25: The first time and the last. Strange riddles. A Sad spot.
Ch. 26: Quite at home.
Ch. 27: To Clerkenwell! A perfect character. A mere matter of heart.
Ch. 28: Hugh asleep on the stairs. Patron and Client.

Zulfiya wrote: "My general opinion of this section could be summarized in several words: Mr. Chester, Mr. Chester, and even more Mr. Chester, namely his panache, his cultural but nasty attitude, his meanness, his ..."

Zulfiya, I do not know anything else to say about these chapters as you did, but "Mr. Chester all over". What a character he is! And the hypocrisy that seems to flow out of all the pores of his body and soul. I am really shocked. I think he might be the worst/ most evil character we have met so far in Dickens's novels, as he pretends to be so different and after all manipulates everyone.
For me the absolute highlight/ top of his hypocrisy was his conversation with Mrs. Varden whom he flattered with such euphemism pointing constantly out "Let us be sincere", while he is one of the most insincere characters himself.

Interesting is the connection between Mr. Chester and Hugh, which also shows his manipulative talent. I was wondering whether there might be an opposite pole for them in form of Mr. Haredale and Barnaby Rudge.

One thing that surprised me about Mrs. Rudge was that she had not been to the Warren or even to Chigwell for 22 years, but that Barnaby at the same time walks around and about these places as if he had really grown up there. Mr. Haredale definitely showed his good side by his supporting Mrs Rudge since the murders.
We, as the readers, were also a little blinded by the flattering ways of Mr. Chester, when we compared him with Mr. Haredale after their conversation in the Maypole.

And now we learned a little about the reasons of Gabriel Varden's taking care of Mrs. Rudge and Barnaby, as he courted her himself, but she chose Mr. Rudge and he ended up with Mrs. Varden. It feels a little comically sad.

And for me there was again a cliffhanger that makes me anxious to read on, in the form of Mr. Chester's buying Mrs. Rudge and Barnaby off and handing the key of the apartment to Mr. Haredale. What is that all about and what will become of them?
I think we will just have to continue... :-)

Dickens again shows himself to be the Master or the pen. He made us believe that Chester was good and kind, and Haredale was a brusque and sinister character. We judged on appearances and now see ourselves as wrong. As Mrs. V was most angry to be 'made sport of', Dickens has made sport of us!

Christopher, you are right, Dickens made sport of us and fooled us all. I really like this as the novel is definitely not very predictable at this point and bears surprises everywhere.
I am wondering whether he can keep up with this through the whole novel or whether he loses the threads and plots, which might be the reason that this is one of his least famous novels - just something I read or heard somewhere, but which I am not seeing yet.

Hedi, thank you again for posting the titles of the chapters. It is always fascinating to observe how Dickens summarizes the chapters.

Christopher and Hedi, have you noticed how Dickens defeats the expectations of his readers. He portrays Mr. Haredale as a rough and curt character at the time of religious riots when Catholics were despised and even persecuted in England and gradually destroys our expectations not by telling us that Mr. Haredale was nice and caring, but by showing first and foremost that Mr. Chester (ostensibly a cultured Protestant) is despicable.

And I also like that the characters have started inter-playing in the novel; I would call it a descriptive action and interaction.

Zulifiya, I agree about Mr Chester as you say

His manner to deal with people is absolutely fascinating. Even people who hardly know him (bellboys, servers, waiters, and even Dolly) feel that they are more than happy to defend him sacrificing their lives.

But it seems Dolly was the one person who wasn't impressed by him. When Mr Chester claims the mother looks as young as her daughter, etc and wants to kiss them both, Dickens says

"Dolly showed some reluctance to perform this ceremony, but was sharply reproved by Mrs. Varden . ..Thus admonished, Dolly complied, though by no means willingly" and "stood with downcast eyes"

This makes me think better of Dolly, that she knows he is false and also she knows he is interfering in the happiness of Dolly's friend Emma. We saw that Dolly could be superficial but here she shows some loyalty and integrity.

Between Chester and Miggs, Mrs. Varden finally gets the admiration she thinks she deserves! Poor Gabriel is much too good for her. Of course she is only being manipulated for Chester's aims.

You know, Robin, I was in two minds whether to include Dolly into this list of people who are mesmerized and enthralled by Mr. Chester, Sr. As you correctly noticed, she was the only one in the Varden household who refused to comply with the opinion of Mrs. Varden and Miggs and had to be chastised by her mother. But earlier it was mentioned that even Dolly, who, between his keen regards and her eyeing over by Mr. Tappertit, was put quite out of countenance, could not help owning within herself that he was the sweetest-spoken gentleman she had ever seen . I am sorry for my two-cent observation in the discussion, but Dolly is turning into a very interesting character. She is definitely frolicsome and flippant, and she might seem cursory, but she has a kind heart and a decent nature, and she will hopefully evolve into a more focused, tenacious young lady. You would expect that she was under her mother's influence because she witnessed her parents' relationship on a daily basis, but actually difficulties are forging her into a better person.

At the end of chapter XXVII...

'For my part,' said Dolly in a thoughtful manner, 'I half belief Mr. Chester is something like Miggs in that respect. For all his politeness and pleasant speaking, I am pretty sure he was making game of us, more than once.'

My sense was that, though initially taken in by his smooth talk, Dolly soon realized he was not sincere at all. (And pointing out Miggs' insincerity as well!) Mrs Varden does not respond well at all to Dolly's comments, highlighting the difference between mother and daughter. I think Dickens is again tricking us-Dolly appeared to be rather silly and vain young woman, then turns out to be less gullible than her elders. I foresee a household split-Dolly and her father ranged against Mrs Varden, Miggs and Tappertit.

Miggs is such a brown-noser! Oops, sorry for the slang!

Zulfiya wrote: "Hedi, thank you again for posting the titles of the chapters. It is always fascinating to observe how Dickens summarizes the chapters.

Christopher and Hedi, have you noticed how Dickens defeats t..."

You are right, he builds on the expectations, and in the end criticizes them, too. Not everything is the way it appears to be at first, you should not judge based on first impressions...

I agree that we see more of Mr Chester's untrustworthy side in these chapters.

However what stood out for me more was the departure of Mrs Rudge and Barnaby from their home. What strong feelings of fear she must be subject to. Where will they go? How will they be able to earn a living? We know that it cannot be too far as we know them to be major characters in this novel.

Granuaille wrote: "I agree that we see more of Mr Chester's untrustworthy side in these chapters.

However what stood out for me more was the departure of Mrs Rudge and Barnaby from their home. What strong feelings o..."

I think her fear 'outpowered' all the other potential threats. Another question is why she was so scared and demoralized?

Sorry for the lateness in posting, but with the holiday weekend, I got behind. But caught up today.

You've all hit on everything that I was going to say. Mainly, that Dickens is toying with his readers, making them think one way at first about certain characters, and then revealing the reality of those characters.

Especially Mr. Chester and Mr. Haredale. I like Mr. Haredale now - he's rough around the edges, but he's got a good heart. Don't like what he is doing to his niece and Ned, but he's merely trying to protect her, and I can't criticize him for that.

As for Dolly, except for her treatment of Joe, I really like her. She's able to read people well, and while she did succomb slightly to Mr. Chester's act, bottom line, overall she was able to see him for who he really is.

The last chapter that we read ends with, the plot thickens. And indeed, it does.

The thing that struck me at the end was the way Mr. Chester was looking at Hugh's face. If I remember correctly from the beginning, no one knows who Hugh's parents are, true? Might Mr. Chester recognize someone from Hugh's features?

Lynnm wrote: "...The thing that struck me at the end was the way Mr. Chester was looking at Hugh's face. If I remember correctly from the beginning, no one knows who Hugh's parents are, true? Might Mr. Chester recognize someone from Hugh's features?
..."

That is an interesting point, which slipped my attention. However, after the Marchioness in OCS and Smike in NN, it seems to be very possible. Maybe there is also a possible link to the Haredale murders...