Victorians! discussion

Overture and Act One

In this section, we meet some of the main characters and are introduced to the main plot device... There were two foundling children with the same name: Walter Wilding

1) How effective have the authors been at setting a tone and drawing you into the story?

2) What part does coincidence play in revealing key plot points?

3) What are your impressions of Walter Wilding, the Wine Merchant?

4) What part is played by Sarah Goldenstraw? How is she made trustworthy?

5) What part do George Vendale and Herr Obenreizer play in the story so far?

6) What are your impressions of Marguerite and her situation?

7) What do you think of the omens presented in Act 1?

Towards the beginning of Act I we are introduced to the character of Joey Ladle. Joey is likable but a bit of a melancholy “Eeyore” type who works in the wine cellars. In speaking with “Young Master Wilding” he keeps referring to something called “pecking”. At one point he says, “A pecking-machine, sir, is all that I am capable of proving myself, out of my cellars; but that you’re welcome to, if you think it is worth your while to keep such a thing on your premises.”

I think by pecking he is referring to eating, but I'm not sure. Did anyone else get the same impression?

I love the description of Joey as an Eeyore! He is definitely a gloomy chap. :)

I'm unsure about the pecking reference. I could be eating as you've suggested. But also perhaps the way he moves. Or the way he works... with small steady movements??

The language is yummy. I've been mulling over the scene with Marguerite. There's so much tension packed into it.

This plot development goes fast in this short little novel. I like it because some of the bigger books take a longer time to set the tone and charters in place. It seems that most of the characters have been set and their relation to each other established.

What a coincidence that there that the housekeeper he hired is Mrs. Goldstraw, used to be a nurse at the foundling. What another coincidence that Obenreizer does business with Mr. Vendale after previous acquaintance. Mr. Vendale is in love with Obenreizer's "niece". What could this mean for Mr. Vendale and the business? Marguerite might not be in love with Vendale because. The story doesn't reveal her feelings and she makes such a fuss over Joey in the later part of Act 1.

Walter Wilding already had previous health conditions, the shock of the news from his housekeeper was detrimental to his health. Perhaps there are a 3rd party involved in his decline in health. It seems that he was rather too young to die already. There was that short part where Mr. Vendale was in the warehouse and there was talk about the mold growing on the ceiling. I think they said whoever got mold on them would be murdered.

Sarah Goldenstraw is the housekeeper. Wilding did investigate into the information given by Goldstraw. Why would she want to take up a job as housekeeper and why would she bother to reveal the truth about what really happened. She must have been the one to tell Wilding's mother before her death. We are led to assume that Goldstraw is the only one who knew about it at the foundling. Wilding's mother already knew about the other son before her death. "My late dear mother, Mr. Bintrey,....had been deeply deceived, and had cruelly suffered. But on that subject my late dear mother's lips were forever sealed. By whom deceived, or under what circumstances, Heaven only knows. My mother never betrayed her betrayer." However, perhaps there were others at the foundling that knew about Wilding's mother.

Good points, JJ. Th novel definitely sets up a lot of plates spinning. Lots of questions. Lots of foreshadowing.

I’m totally drawn into the story by all the hints at mystery. It’s not clear to me what the mother, whose portrait hangs on the wall and is known to Mrs Goldstraw, was up to in the overture. Is she the same mother who later took away Wilding ? A confusion of two boys with one name, or is there a “confusion “ of mothers?

Wilding himself is weak, so pleased to let the new housekeeper take charge. He is no a good business man as his new partner points out. Changing the name of a successfully brand?

It is interesting to me that names are important in the overture and in chapter one, the foundling ‘s name AND the company name because I assume this is a kind of chain mystery story where Dickens starts it and Collins continues it.

It's my understanding that it's the same mother in both incidents in the overture. But the boy in the second incident was the new "Walter Wilding".
I don't think the mother knew about the second son. I think the betrayal he talked about was to do with her getting pregnant and who Walter's father is.
Now that Walter's dead, things are wide open for some kind of scam to happen.

That's what I got from it, too, Connie.

Thanks. Must go back.

Connie, Renee,

Thanks for the catch. Here is what I must have missed on my first listen: Goldstraw was not present when the infant belonging to the veiled lady was adopted by a stranger who took a fancy to him. It helped to look at the text.

Glad you cleared it up. :)

I'm a bit behind but hope to post the Week 2 thread by Sunday night.

I did a google translate of Obenreizer from German to English and got “top stimulator.” But “reizen” also means “to charm” as in Erlkönig where Erlkönig says to the Child „Ich liebe dich. Ich lieb deine reizendes Gestalt. Und kommst du nicht willig,so brauch ich Gewalt.“ „I love you. I love your charming form. And if you don’t come with me willingly, I will use force.” And at that point the Child is doomed and dies in his father’s arms. So I think that here Obenreizer should be taken as meaning Superior Charmer.

Some thoughts on Madam Dor:

Madam Dor is always engaged in cleaning Obenreizer‘s innumerable gloves. His spotless gloves must keep his hands spotless, unlike Lady Macbeth‘s. She sits with her back turned and face away from the others like a ventriloquist or puppet master who wants to conceal her actions and preserve the illusion. She signals and seems to echo or even conduct the affairs in the room by her subtle movements like a conductor whose back is turned away from the audience. Is she even a woman or is she a man in disguise?

Great questions and discussion. The story is intriguing in and of itself, but also because of joint authorship. You asked how Goldenstraw becomes trustworthy. First, her name - Rumpelstiltskin? Goldenstraw suggests something ordinary and beautiful, not a name for a criminal. Also, her strong references. And her reticense in telling the story and her guilt and sadness at the error. They all make us believe her.

Great observations, Martin and Kathy. I find the gloves a creepy bit of physical/psychological detail. Very telling. And I just love the name Goldstraw. Dickens was a master at creating names that created a canvas with sound and association.

Supposedly in Disney movies a character wearing gloves has something to hide. I think there's a secret here too.

I really love the writing of this work; collin's mysterious touch couple with Dickens's satire!
A big thanks to Renee for selecting this interesting work by two classical giants.

I do find the coupling of these two literary giants completely delightful! :D