The Great Gormenghast Read discussion

Chapters 21-30 discussion

This section has two of my favorite bits of the book: Bellgrove playing marbles with Titus (and the Doctor, though he's peripheral here), and the secret Gormenghast.

I thought the scene of Bellgrove trying to connect with Titus and with his own dim childhood was one of the most moving bits, and one of the most hopeful. For once, Bellgrove succeeds at something useful. I think Peake somewhat overplays his hand in relying on the Bellgrove-Titus connection later on, but here it's touching.

The secret, between-walls Gormenghast is one of the most intriguing parts of the book, and I think Peake doesn't do enough with it. That Gormenghast, itself so huge and uncharted, should have a another, parallel self is a meta-concept that brings back the mystery and symbolism of Titus Groan. But then Peake does very little with it. I found that to be a pretty big letdown.

I hadn't thought of it that way, but I see your point. On the other hand, if Peake had elaborated more, might that have diluted some of the magic and mystery?

It's possible. But I think he could have used the secret paths for more than just keeping Flay warm one winter. You could argue that he introduces some pathos by having the Twins' dying moments overheard, but since I didn't care that much about the Twins, it didn't mean that much. Why not, for example, have Flay spot Steerpike in the paths themselves? Have us wonder just how much of the paths Steerpike new about and used before then.

A favorite quote, re Bellgrove: "...with the tassel of the mortarboard swinging high above them like the tail of a mule, with the trousers loosening at the venerable haunches, with the catcalls and the thousand quirks and oddities that grow like brilliant weeds from the no-man's-land of urchins' brains - all the while there would be this love like a subsoil, showing itself in the very fact that they trusted his lovable weakness, wished to be with him because he was like them irresponsible, magnificent with his locks of hair as white as the first page of a new copybook, and with his neglected teeth, his jaw of pain, his completeness, ripeness, false nobility, childish temper, and childish patience; in a word, that he belonged to them; to tease and adore, to hurt and to worship for his very weakness' sake. For what is more lovable than failure?"

Great quote, Evan. I think the best of the humour revolves around the professors - and Irma.

Steerspike seems getting nastier and nastier.

Yep - but somehow more enticing as well. Or is that just me?

I don't find him enticing at all he is malicious for me.

It may be a gender thing. He's evil... and yet...
;)