The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

This is the thread to discuss the adventures of the Pecksniffs and Chuzzlewits as well as their friends in chapters 23 - 26. Please share your thoughts.

Despite his arrogant nature, I am admittedly feeling sorry for Martin on his American venture. He certainly hasn’t met many wholesome characters, save for Mr. Bevan, and if it weren’t for Mark, he would likely have given up already. Dickens portrays the Americans as exceedingly shallow and superficial; when Martin is coerced into receiving the Watertoasters, they focus on his physical traits rather than his character or his views, and he is supposedly popular because he is considered unusual and, moreover, because no one who has gone to Eden has ever come out alive—more foreshadowing. Indeed, when Martin and Mark arrive in Eden, it is, as expected, a pestilential cesspool. Of course, Mark is in his prime, and it will be very interesting to see how the two entrepreneurs fare!

Then there is Mrs. Hominy, another figure of the “aristocratic” class. She seems to be Southern, as her speech and her name indicate, hominy being a southern food. She is so annoying that even Mark is glad to be rid of her, and “Martin quite settled it between himself and his conscience, that in any new settlement it would be absolutely necessary to have such a person knocked on the head for the general peace of society.” I found this statement so funny, particularly because we all probably know or have encountered someone like this!

When the scene transitions back overseas, I noticed immediately that the first description of Jonas refers to him as an “orphan,” emphasizing and bringing our attention back to Anthony’s death. It seems that there will be some future revelation concerning this, as it is repeatedly mentioned. All of the imagery used to describe Jonas is dark, and his name is associated with death. When he squeezes Mercy after her conversation with the elder Martin Chuzzlewit, she tells him to leave her alone, at which “Mr. Jonas withdrew his arm, and for a moment looked at her more like a murderer than a lover.” He also threatens her behind her back after she has taken control of when their wedding will take place. Also, regarding Mrs. Gamp’s mysterious new night patient, she remarks that he would make a good corpse, and her vigil is poetically and eerily described in terms of death: “Ghostly and dark the room became, and full of lowering shadows. The distant noises in the streets were gradually hushed; the house was quiet as a sepulcher; the dead of night was coffined in the silent city.” The man also shouts Jonas’ name, along with the word “No!” Later, when Mercy (now Mrs. Chuzzlewit) enters her new home, it says that “The death that had gone before the bridal seemed to have left its shade upon the house,” and feels a “strange chill creep upon her.” Chuffey curses the house, which reminded me of Hawthorne’s “The House of the Seven Gables.” Obviously there is more to Anthony’s death than a natural passing due to old age.

Another growing theme that I have noticed stems from the book of Genesis. Besides the obvious reference to Eden, when old Martin visits Pecksniff, the latter lies and says that he was gardening, citing that as Adam’s occupation, although he is without his Eve, and Mrs. Gamp’s patient’s mind is likened to the wandering of Cain. That of course calls to mind Cain’s fratricide. I wonder what Dickens’ intent is, and whether it harkens back to new beginnings—for young Martin in America, for Mercy in her marriage to Jonas, for Pecksniff in his new relationship with old Martin, etc.

Lastly, I must say that I was glad to finally see Tom stand up for himself when accosted by Jonas. For once he did not allow himself to be demeaned, and although he was naturally sorry at accidentally injuring Jonas, I hope that his sense of pride and self-confidence is developing, and that it will auger well for what may be a relationship with Mary. Old Martin seems to be aware of this attraction (and there are hints that it might even be mutual), as he tells Mary to take Tom’s hand. I hope that, at the very least, Tom eventually frees himself from the Pecksniffs.

Dickens again combines two major plot lines in this section. For the first time in his description of the adventures of Martin and Mark, Mark is shown as the one who could have doubts, hesitations, and apprehensions that actually show his human side. Theretofore one might suspect that he was always cheery and optimistic and could be invulnerable to the worries that plague young Martin.
The description of Eden is both something that we expect and is unexpected. It was obvious as soon as this business venture with the proverbial name was mentioned that it could be different form its initial descriptions. Eden is obviously used to criticize the life of American pioneers and the financial machinations of American dealers. Conversely, the place is so miserable that its bleak description as a place with the shacks on the bog surpasses our expectations.

In other chapters Dickens relies on the move he used several times in his previous novels. Most of his books contain an element of mystery and a family secret that is eventually revealed, usually with the help of some so-called strangers or people who are named elusively, for example, a young man, this gentleman, this young lady, etc. This novel is not an exception. The young gentleman is in a critical state, and he is being taken care by Mrs. Gamp. During her night vigilance, she is disturbed and harshly awakened by the words that confirm our expectations that Jonas might have something to do with the murder of his own father. The same situation allows Dickens to re-introduce John Westlock and sheds more light on the character of Mrs. Gamp.

Mrs. Gamp is one of those gems that we come across in Dickens's literary heritage. They are bigger than life and hardly protagonists, but their personalities are so buoyant and vibrant, their lifestyle is bizarre and preposterous, and they are usually the most memorable ones in his books. Mrs. Gamp is a sybarite who is enjoying her life, and is not intimidated by death, at least by death of her patients. She actually finds a certain beauty of a well-arranged corpse in a coffin. Her inborn feeling of proportion, form, and beauty provokes replies that any other person would have found repulsive, but the meditative nature of Mrs. Gamp hates interruptions even if they are caused by her professional duties and dreams of well-arranged corpses in coffins. She is indeed a piece of cake.

Dear Dickens Project Participants!

I will post the post containing notes as soon as I shake off the nasty cold. Watery eyes do not help either!

Sarah, it is interesting to observe how Dickens elaborates on his two feminine characters virtually in the same part of the novel - Mrs. Hominy and Mrs. Gamp. Neither of them is a paragon of intelligence, morality, and integrity, but I feel that Mrs. Gamp is a comical character that might have a real prototype while Mrs. Hominy was sorely created to mock and lampoon the Americans. Dickens is just not being just!

Zulfiya, do not worry about the notes! I hope you will get better soon.

In these chapters, which I must admit I quickly read over not being in the best mood, I also felt very sorry for Martin in the hellish place of Eden. It is actually really nice to see how Mark is trying to keep the spirits up even though their situation seems rather on the desperate side.

Also rather devilish is Jonas. As you said, Sarah, there is always a certain gloomy, death-like darkness surrounding him, which also infects his surroundings - the merry one not being merry any more.
I was also glad to see Tom stand up against jonas and wonder whether Charity will really change her attitude towards Tom, as she said after her getting to know the truth about Jonas's injury.
Chuffey's mysterious curse of the wicked house and the mysterious stranger lying in bed with a fever and shouting Jonas's name in his delirium brings some tension and excitement to the novel.
I was wondering whether this was planned from the beginning or whether Dickens realized that his mockery of both English and American society was not received so well so that he tried to put a more exciting element to the story. Jonas starts to remind me a little of the sinister Monk in Oliver Twist, involving himself possibly in crimes in order to get what he wants. It is just a guess at this point, so we will see what is all behind that. I am curious though. Dickens will definitely have some solution, at the latest at the end of the novel.

I read this section a couple weeks ago then set the book aside to wait and read along with the group so my recollection of it is hazy.

I agree with you Zulfiya that Mrs. Gamp is a gem! I seem to recall chuckling when she appropriated one of the patient's pillows for her own comfort and kept the room nice and warm despite the doctor's instructions otherwise. It certainly does seem that our suspicions about Jonas's role in his fathers death were well founded, and I think you're right about the ill gentleman being the key to his exposure. I actually felt a bit sorry for Cherry (is she the younger one. I can't keep them straight) because its obvious Jonas is just waiting until they're married to put her in her place and she just doesn't see it. Yes, she's shallow and superior, etc but I don't feel she's actually evil and I'm not looking forward to seeing her crushed. It is especially frightening now because as Dickens reveals more of his character it seems that he is not merely unpleasant; he is actually capable of violence and possibly (probably) murder.

Eden turned out to be just as lovely as I expected. It seems a true chance for Mark to test his theories about cheerfulness in miserable circumstances, and I suspect that when all is said and done he will have gained an appreciation for a calm, peaceful life with good companions. Maybe he'll even return and marry the lady that runs the inn.

I was also glad that Tom stood up against Jonas and I hope that he will eventually see Pecksniff for what he is. I felt bad for him because old Martin judges his loyalty as false toadying instead of the sincere (although naive) devotion that it is. I'm sure Mary and Tom will become friends but I can't see them ending up together. It just doesn't strike me as something Dickens would do.

It struck me that the theme of these chapters is Deception. Martin is of course deceived in his land purchase. There certainly were instances of Europeans being lured to wonderful settlements that turned out to be a few shacks in mud or nothing but dust and tumbleweeds. Mark is the realist who had a few suspicions, Martin was blinded by his dreams of grandeur, and of course Martin gives way when he finds out the truth. Mark finally is in a bad enough place to make him happy. So how will they get out of this with no money?

Merry thinks she is controlling Jonas but he knows he will have all the rights once they are married. So she is certainly deceived in her plans for the future I'm sure her doting father won't do a thing to help her either.

Mrs Gamp is deceiving her employers by taking on day and night jobs without letting them know. She is so outrageous that she is entertaining. I liked how she and Mrs Prig exchanged notes - nothing on the patient, all about the food and drink and the chair. In the video, Mrs Gamp yanks the pillow from under the head of the unconscious patient with no concern for him except that he is quiet to let her sleep.

And there is some deception about Jonas and his father's death, that we only get a hint of so far.

Zulfiya wrote: "Dear Dickens Project Participants!

I will post the post containing notes as soon as I shake off the nasty cold. Watery eyes do not help either!

So sorry you are not feeling well, Zulfiya! I hope I was not pressuring you to get this thread posted. I so admire your summaries and interpretations, I always look forward to them. And we are all fortunate that you have become our moderator as you are so conscientious in keeping everything going.

Robin and Hedi, thank you so much for your kind words and your concern. It turned out to be a case of nasty influenza, and I had to spend a couple of days at home, but the saddest thing is that with the flu, the condition is so debilitating that I could not even read books. This was the worst part of it.
Well, now when I am on the mend, I will try to be more active with the discussion. I apologize again, but I hope you have missed me:-)

Zulfiya wrote: "Robin and Hedi, thank you so much for your kind words and your concern. It turned out to be a case of nasty influenza, and I had to spend a couple of days at home, but the saddest thing is that wit..."

Of course we did. :-)

By the way, I am on a longer business trip now and could not take my book with me, so I will have to catch up on all the chapters starting with 27 next week. Maybe I should get used to an electronic version. ;-)

Hedi, How is the electronic reading going on? Mine is always due to necessity. I still prefer tree books to ebooks:-)

Zulfiya, unfortunately, I have not read anything yet, got home late last night, and then my car did not want to start this morning. :-) So I am trying to charge the battery now after having bought such a device. Not my lucky day today. I will catch up over the next days then - already looking forward to your comments.