Victorians! discussion

Sarah C. remarked on another thread, that we should compare and contrast Little Dorrit and Bleak House. Any similar characters?

I for one, see Esther Summerson, and Little Dorrit in the sympathetic role, being caretakers, both had harsh upbringings, Esther raised by her aunt, a caustic person, and Little Dorrit, motherless, and taking care of her father in prison. There are both intrigues in their separate stories. Esther in finding out who her mother is. Little Dorrit trying the best that she can to live her life. Arthur Clennam plays a huge role in Little Dorrit since he comes home from China, and finds his parent's business dismantled. He also notices Little Dorrit in the house tending to his mother;s needs.

Esther and Amy do have similarities. And they do seem to suffer due to their devotion to others, don't they?

What did you think of the different stories of the upper class in both novels? I think both the stories of the Merdles and the Dedlocks in Bleak House show a kind of prison or cage that the upper class live in. Of course it is a prison they create in ways, but it seems to run away with them. They live in fear of their reputations being lowered or being thought common.

Yes, I did see a comparison as far as the Dorrits and Lady Dedlock, she came from a lower class background as well. She was imprisoned in her house in London and in the country estate. The scandal in the Bleak House was Esther being raised by her aunt, since her aunt didn't want to tell her who her mother was., same as well for Arthur, Mrs. Clennam wasn't maternal in the slightest towards Arthur. And having riches, the Dedlock's wall of fame, all the ancestors portraits hung on the wall, and of course, Mr. Dorrit had his done by Mr. Gowan.

Also the classes of people, the Dorrits obviously were the poor at first, and all of their class of people were consigned in the Marshalsea. And the upper echelons of society were portrayed by the second part of the book, Riches. And in Bleak House, Esther, Richard, and Ada Claire are supported by Mr. Jarndyce, who takes them in as orphans. We could compare all day, since Oliver Twist was an orphan also, and it seemed like all the youngsters in his novels had some need for maternal or paternal guidance, and people were only happy to either steer them in the right direction or not.

So true, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, people died waiting for any kind of outcome to occur. Much like Hawaiian homes housing here. So many generations are still on the the "waiting" list. So some are third or fourth generation who are eventually getting the homes.

Read Bleak house after talking to a cousin I met whilst researching my family tree, he mentioned a will which was much disputed like the case in Bleak house. As in Bleak house a large fortune was spent on lawyers and the family was left with nothing.
Have to read Little Dorrit which is sitting on my bookshelf.
Has anybody been watching Faulks on fiction, very interesting analysis of the types of characters in books. It's on BBC2 so should be shown in the US soon.
4 episodes, lovers, heroes, the snob and villains.

Don't watch television. Usually in the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce most of the people represented died off too probably and noone maybe told the next of kin. A huge part of the profits probably did go to the barristers, or lawyers. You will find similar comparisons in Little Dorrit with another bureaucratic office. I will not say anymore.

yes that is the one.

Deanne, that is interesting that you had a case in your family (family history research is like reading a novel itself!) Dickens includes very realistic incidents in his novels I think. Over a century later, I still think his work speaks to legal, government, and business practices very accurately. When I was first getting into his writing, I was working for a very corporate, rule-oriented, unfeeling company and I could see many, many parallels with the kind of thought he criticized in 19th c. society.

I haven't seen Faulks as I am in the U.S. but thanks for the tip about it.

Hi, Anna!