Victorians! discussion

We have come to the final week of our discussion. Most of you may have finished reading by now. So, please feel free to comment on this segment as well as your overall view on the book.

This segment is a bit long, so I have spread the summary through three messages.

Thank you all for reading along with me and participating in the discussion.

(Chapter 48) Tom and Ruth breakfast at home. They are now well settled and quite content with life. Ruth has taken on a few students and is also painting screens and card racks to earn extra money. A knock on the door is heard, and when bid to enter, Martin and Mark walk in. Tom was delighted to see them. Martin relates the whole American tale and what happened between him and his grandfather. Martin asks Tom for help to find a job. Tom advises Martin they meet John Westlock. They all go to meet him. John has a visitor whom he doesn't reveal. To Martin's surprise, John asks for his help with the visitor, saying that his tale had some connection to Martin. Martin agrees. Tom departs with Mark. Before separating, Martin asks what Tom's job but Tom doesn't disclose it. When Tom and Mark were gone, John took Martin to meet the visitor. He is our mysterious stranger who was ill and cared for by John. His name is Mr. Lewsome, a surgeon's assistant. Lewsome asks Martin h8s relationship to Anthony Chuzzlewit. Martin replies that Anthony Chuzzlewit is his grandfather's brother. Then Lewsome tells his story. He has given two different drugs to Jonas on request and fears that they may have had a hand in Anthony Chuzzlewit's death. Though Jonas has promised not to use them for ill purposes, Lewsome is doubtful of his honesty. Martin is much disturbed by this information. Meanwhile, on their walk, Tom asks Mark about his future plans. Mark says he intends to get married to Mrs. Lupin. Tom is surprised but is happy for Mark. On returning to the lodgings of John Westlock, Mark also learns the story of Lewsome. They discuss how best to proceed with this information and decide the best person to inquire is Mr. Chuffy. To get to Chuffy, they decide first to approach Mrs. Gamp.

(Chapter 49) Mrs. Gamp has invited her friend, Mrs. Prig, to discuss the matter of Jonas's proposal to look after Mr. Chuffy. While waiting, she hears the doorbell and goes to open the door. It's only Mr. Sweedlepipe. He looks crestfallen. On inquiry, Sweedlepipe says that Bailey is dead and nobody can find Tigg Montague. The insurance business was a scam, and Mr. Crimple ran away with the money. Jonas has complained to the city officials that he was swindled. All is reported in the paper. Mrs. Prig arrives at that moment, and they retire to Mrs. Gamp's quarters to have tea. Soon after, they have a fallout, and after a fiery argument, Mrs. Prig leaves. John and Martin have arrived at the meeting. They observe Mrs. Gamp is upset. They, however, learn from her that it's thought that Chuffy needs looking after.

(Chapter 50) Tom and Ruth are having tea when Martin arrives. They notice that he is not his usual self. Martin then accuses Tom of having betrayed his confidence. Tom is confused. He asks Martin what the accusation against him but Martin doesn't give a direct answer, hinting that he, Martin, knows Tom's secret. Martin then leaves. Tom is upset. Ruth interprets Tom's secret to be his love for Mary. Ruth tells Tom that she knows he loves Mary. Tom wonders how Ruth found that out. After the ice is broken between brother and sister, Tom says that Mary will open Martin's eyes to the truth. The next day, Tom goes to work. After working some hours, he hears footsteps coming all the way up. The door to Tom's office is open, and there stands old Martin Chuzzlewit, all strong and so unlike the last time Tom saw him at Pecksniffs. Mr. Chuzzlewit says that he was putting on an act to keep close observance of Mr. Pecksniff.

(Chapter 51) Jonas still fears Chuffy and is determined to shut him up. He thinks that he might even have to dispose of him if it comes to that. Jonas finds that Mercy has gone to Mrs. Todgers and sends a servant to collect her. But Mercy had left the place some three hours ago. Hearing this, Chuffy asks Jonas what he did to her. Mrs. Gamp arrives and is asked by Jonas to take Chuffy to his room upstairs. Jonas notices that Mrs. Gamp is uneasy. She comes after settling Chuffy in his room. Jonas wants to see the other nurse who'd watch Chuffy. Mrs.Gamp moves to the door, and Old Martin Chuzzlewit, Mark, and John Westlock come in. They bring Mr. Lewsome with them and accuse Jonas of killing his father. Jonas denies and says Lewsome is a liar. But Chuffy (who has come down) intervenes and clears Jonas. Chuffy says that Jonas did mix the drugs with Anthony's cough syrup, but that they knew about it and destroyed it. Jonas is relieved. We learn that this is the secret Tigg used to blackmail Jonas. Jonas orders the visitors out, but before they could leave, Nadgett came with the police and arrested Jonas for the murder of Mr. Montague. One of the officers turns out to be Chevy Slyme. Jonas bribes Slyme with 100 pounds to allow him five minutes alone in the next room. Slyme allows this, but after five minutes, goes to the room and fetches Jonas. Slyme returns the money. Jonas complains that he didn't have enough time. They put him into a coach and take him away, little realizing that Jonas has poisoned himself. He dies on the coach floor.

(Chapter 52) Old Martin Chuzzlewit has arranged a meeting at the Temple. Mark has taken a letter from him to young Martin, asking him to come at 10 in the morning. Mark arrives at 7 at the appointed place and finds Old Mr. Chuzzlewit alone. He asks Mark to help him dress and bring him some breakfast from a nearby hotel. Once that's done, they wait for the visitor's arrival. Tom, Ruth, John Westlock, and young Martin arrive first. Mary and Mrs. Lupin come next. Then comes Mr. Pecksniff, who slanders all the visitors. As if to rescue old Chuzzlewit from them, he goes to him, hands stretched out. Old Mr. Chuzzlewit deals a blow to Pecksniff, who falls to the floor. Then Mr. Chuzzlewit accuses Pecksniff of deceit. It's revealed that Pecksniff has sought Martin out with a view to matrimony to get at the Chuzzlewit fortune. He also accuses Pecksniff of trying to part Martin from him when he arrived, penitent. Old Chuzzlewit says that he was only testing Pecksniff when he asked to throw out Martin from his house, and that he lived at Pecksniff to find if he had any redeeming quality. But Pecksniff has none. He also informs his audience that he always wanted Martin to wed Mary, but was angry because he couldn't bring it about since they fell in love. Old Chuzzlewit and Martin reconcile. Young Martin finally learns that Tom didn't know who his employer was. He has seen Tom coming to the Temple and guessed correctly that he was employed by his grandfather. So, he had thought Tom was double-dealing. Martin apologizes to Tom. Finally, after playing the victim, Pecksniff departs. Old Chuzzlewit goes with Tom to see his lodgings, leaving Martin, Mary, and Mark, and Mrs. Lupin (whom the old man refers to as Mr. and Mrs. Tapley).

(Chapter 53) John and Ruth wander off towards the fountain near the Temple, where she used to wait for Tom. They talk about all that's happened with Mr. Chuzzlewit. Then return to Tom and Ruth's lodgings, but Tom and Mr. Chuzzlewit have not arrived. Sitting on the sofa, John and Ruth confess their feelings for each other and get engaged. Ruth tells John that she cannot leave Tom, and John says that he must live with them. They decide to build a library and buy an organ for him. Then, Ruth tells John of Tom's attachment to Mary. Mr. Chuzzlewit arrives, and they share the happy news with them. Mr. Chuzzlewit presents Mary with jewelry. They all go back to the Temple for dinner. Mr. Fips arrives as well. Later that evening, back at the lodgings, Tom quietly withdraws to his room. After a while, John comes to Tom and says that all three must set house together. Tom agrees.

(Chapter 54) Todgers's is preparing for Charity's wedding. Most of the Chuzzlewit family relatives are invited, but not the father. Mr. Chuzzlewit arrives and meets Mrs. Todgers. She leads him to a small room where Mercy (in mourning clothes) waits with Chuffy. It's revealed that Mercy has sent a message through Tom to Mr. Chuzzlewit. Chuzzlewit takes Mercy under her protection and offers to keep her at a quiet place until she's recovered. Charity enters the room, and Mr. Chuzzlewit encourages the sisters to part as friends. But Charity has none of it. Mr. Chuzzlewit leaves with Mary. In the carriage, Mark is unusually excited. He has met his neighbours at the Eden. The couple who helped Mark and Martin with their illness and who lost all their children have returned to England. Mark invites them to the Dragon, which will soon be named Jolly Tapley. They all leave. The guests arrive for the wedding, and Charity becomes impatient for the arrival of Mr. Moddle. There is a long wait, and the guests become restless. Finally, a message arrives for Charity from Moddle, informing her that he cannot marry her as he loves another and that he is leaving. Charity faints.
We are taken forward in time. Tom is living a quiet life with his family. He watches the child of Martin and Mary play and thinks of old Mr. Chuzzlewit, who has passed away. Mr. Pecksniff sometimes reaches out to Tom for money, and Tom lends him, which he wastes on alcohol.

One of the things I like about Mr. Dickens is that he always ties everything together at the end of a novel and gives the reader a happy ending. That certainly happened here. Mark has his bride and the newly named inn; Martin and Mary are united, as are John and Ruth; Mr. Chuffy will be well cared for by Merry, and she will be under the protection of old Martin; Pol Sweedlepipe will care for poor, damaged Mr. Bailey; Tom is beloved by all and lives a life of contentment. Best of all, both young and old Martins have learned important life lessons about the damage that selfishness can do in the world (although young Martin did backslide a bit when he made strange accusations against Tom).
The section with Jonas was excellent. I assumed he would be held accountable for his father's death but was shocked to learn that his plan to murder Anthony failed. Just when I thought he was going to get away with everything, Mr. Nadgett and the police arrived to arrest him for the murder of Tig Montague, again raising my hopes that justice would be done. Although I didn't think the re-introduction of Mr. Slyme was necessary, I did like the scene where Jonas wheedled time alone to commit suicide, just the sort of thing a cowardly man like him would do. Good riddance to him!
Equally satisfying was the downfall of Mr. Pecksniff in front of so many of the people he had harmed. I was happy to see his utter ruin. As for Cherry, she showed her true colors once more in her treatment of Merry and in her pretentious wedding preparations. I loved the way Mr. Moddle broke up with her - it was sort of the 19th century version of breaking up with someone by text or on a post it note.
While I certainly not rank this with the very best of Dickens, it was an enjoyable read. I found myself very caught up with the characters, happy at how things ended and sad that the novel was finished.

I have to confess that I am pleased with myself for finally completing Martin Chuzzlewit, a novel I have started a number of times but never got very far with. The support of this group, with their interesting and illuminating comments, have enhanced my experience and helped me get through to the end.

I agree with everything Nancy has said in her insightful summing up of the novel.

My hope that the villains would be the architects of their own downfalls actually happened. Pecksniff ended up enduring a sort of living death because of the lowering of his social status into the gutter. Jonas was a villain until his very last breath and Tigg’s judgement of him was fatally flawed by his lust for money.

As for the happier endings, the revelation of the ‘masquerading’ older Martin made me wonder if the title of the book really referred to him and not the younger one. Or maybe it meant both of them. Older Martin was really much more of a protagonist in this novel than his grandson. Nevertheless, the exploits of both of them leading to their reformation into much kinder characters was a worthy subject and well written by Dickens.

I did have to ask myself if Tom Pinch would really live a happy and fulfilled life watching his sister’s and especially Martin’s families grow up and mature. To be so close to someone you love and yet be denied any reciprocation of feelings can be very disturbing to the emotions.

In mentioning emotions, I have to say that my favourite part of this final section came in Chapter 53 when Ruth and John were walking past the Temple Fountain in Garden Court.


(THE TEMPLE FOUNTAIN, FROM AN OLD PRINT c.18 century)

(The Temple Fountain today)

I do not always appreciate Dickens’ long winded descriptions, but his depiction of the fountain and the feelings of Ruth and John as they walked through the square were exquisite.

’ "Merrily the tiny fountain played, and merrily the dimples sparkled on its sunny face. John Westlock hurried after her. Softly the whispering water broke and fell, and roguishly the dimples twinkled as he stole upon her footsteps.

"Oh, foolish, panting, timid little heart! why did she feign to be unconscious of his coming ? …

"Merrily the fountain leaped and danced, and merrily the smiling dimples twinkled and expanded more and more, until they broke into a laugh against the basin's rim and vanished."

Anyone who is a bit of an old romantic like me might also like this poem by "L. E. L." (Letitia Elizabeth Landon) which I feel certain that Dickens had read before he wrote these paragraphs.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Vo...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letitia...

Overall it was enjoyable read with some sections which had to be endured. Like Nancy, I wouldn’t be putting it near the top of my list of favourite Dickens novels, but definitely worth the effort to read it.

Thank you for your kind comment, Trev. I see your point about Tom’s happiness. I loved the character, especially after his epiphany about Mr. Pecksniff, but I wonder if he is a sort of male version of a Dickens angel. That would explain his ability to be happy in such a circumstance.

Thanks for posting the illustrations, Trev. They always bring new excitement to the discussion thread.
I was also uncertain of Tom's happiness, but he does seems happy and content according to Dickens. And I agree with Nancy. Tom is the male version of Dickens angel.
It's characteristic of Dickens to finally tie up everything nicely. And he does it here too. It was satisfying that both the good and the bad got what they deserve, although I loved to have seen Jonas legally punished.
I also think this is not a best effort at a novel by Dickens. I really struggled through his verbose prose.

Thank you Piyangie for leading the group through this novel, which I thought was challenging at times, particularly at the beginning. Your summaries were very helpful, especially in respect of the chapters that were somewhat dense and overblown.

For those who have planned to watch the 1994 BBC TV series, I would thoroughly recommend it. I have just finished the final episode. The script stays very close to the book, sometimes utilising whole chunks of text lifted from the pages. The characterisation is also very good with an excellent cast.

Thanks, Trev. I'm pleased that my summaries helped you along your read. It wasn't easy to compile them, especially the long chapters. It was a real struggle to get through the long introductory chapters and to get into the story. I wasn't successful in the end because, sadly, I didn't enjoy this Dickens novel. Anyway, I'm glad to have led you all through it and to finally have done with it myself.

I agree with Nancy’s apt summary. Whatever he puts the reader through, Dickens leaves us with a good, happy feeling in the end. That’s always very satisfying. In this case, Ruth's and John’s story alone, with its charming description, was worth reading all (maybe not all) those pages about Pecksniff, Tigg and Jonas. I also do hope that Tom Pinch is genuinely happy. Unrequited love is not easy to bear, probably not even for angels 😉

Jonas’ story was so well told. From the moment he left the house to murder Tigg until his own death, I was hooked and impressed by Dickens’ writing and characterisation. (Not really a surprise, of course.)

However, I do somewhat disagree about Pecksniff. Not that I felt sorry for this selfish, malicious man, but I disapproved of the physical assault, specifically, and had issues with the scene in general. First, I don’t like a staged reveal. Everybody gathering together in one place and all the mysteries solved in one big reveal is not for me. Second, Martin sr played such a little part in the book (presence-wise), but now he single-handedly solves the case, quickly clears everything up, and spreads joy to everybody. Like Trev, I wondered if the older Martin is the titular hero, not his grandson.

But, again, the happy ending was well worth it. Thank you for sharing the pictures of the Temple Fountain. Those chapters were my favourites. I have enjoyed reading this novel with you all, the summaries and comments have been helpful and stimulating as always. I will consider nominating another Dickens’ novels next year. Thanks so much, Piyangie!

When you mentioned about old Martin's big reveal, Lindenblatt, I was reminded of Hercule Poirot's big reveal. In Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels, its formulaic to have the big reveal where the Belgian detective clear up the mystery. 😀 I think some of Dickens novels fall within that formula. Anyway, I'm glad you want to continue with Dickens. For me, I'd like a little break before my next Dickens adventure. 😀

Piyangie wrote: "When you mentioned about old Martin's big reveal, Lindenblatt, I was reminded of Hercule Poirot's big reveal. In Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels, its formulaic to have the big reveal where ..."

Exactly! Coincidently, I am reading Murder on the Orient Express right now, and Poirot's big moment is imminent. 😅

As for Dickens, I agree with you that it's good to leave some time in between novels. I try to read one per year, often in December. The novels have a Christmas-y feel to them that, for me, makes them perfect for the season.

Lindenblatt wrote: "Piyangie wrote: "When you mentioned about old Martin's big reveal, Lindenblatt, I was reminded of Hercule Poirot's big reveal. In Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot novels, its formulaic to have the ..."

😀 I'll be rereading Murder on the Orient Express in January for another group's Year long Agatha Christie (You know what it is 😀). I hope you don't mind Poirot's "big reveal".

That's very interesting what you say about Dickens novels having a Christmas feeling. 😀 I've never thought that before. But now when I reflect on it, I guess there's some truth there. His novels do have kind of a festive vibe. I think it's his writing that does the trick.