After reading the first three chapters, my observations, thoughts: Charles Dickens is incredibly easy to read. High school students should have no problem reading this novel, and even middle school students would be able to read it and understand it. It's very, very easy reading. I did not know that. It was always my understanding that because of his reputation, Dickens was very, very challenging to read. Not at all.
It's just daunting to see a 1000-page book set before you and being told to read it. If I was a high school teacher I know exactly how I would teach reading.
Reading is definitely stair case. When I first started reading "good"literature I had trouble understanding what I was reading. But the more I read, the better I got.
Cocktail chatter: with reading the staircase goes like this.
Charles Dickens is the easiest.
Then, Jane Austen becomes more challenging.
The Brontës are much more challenging -- exhibit A? Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.
George Eliot is probably easier than Jane Austen, slightly more difficult than Charles Dickens, but really, for the most part, much like Charles Dickens.
After the Brontës, maybe Mary Shelley with Frankenstein.
From there to Virginia Woolf is a huge, huge jump. Very, very difficult.
Gertrude Stein would be even more difficult but for the most part she is unreadable and should probably not even be on this list.
Finally, from Virginia Woolf to James Joyce, and incredibly huge jump and should not even be attempted until one feels very comfortable with Virginia Woolf, and then best to do some preparation of James Joyce / Ulysses before actually reading the latter.
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Bleak House, Charles Dickens, Barnes and Noble Classics, 1852 - 1853.
Setting:
Who is telling the story?
In Bleak House the story is told by two narrators: Esther Summerson, who narrates in first-person, and an omniscient third-person narrator, who provides broader context and insights not accessible to Esther; essentially, the story is split between Esther's perspective and a more detached, overarching viewpoint.
- Esther Summerson:The main character who shares her personal experiences and thoughts in a first-person narrative.
- Omniscient Narrator:A nameless, third-person narrator who can access information about all characters and situations, often providing social commentary
When the narrative is in the present tense: the nameless, third-person narrator.
When the narrative is in the past tense: Esther Summerson - an orphan who is absorbed looking for the identities of her parents.
Things
work out for Esther in the end. There are a few tricky chapters when it
seems that she might marry John Jarndyce, who she loves platonically as
a dear friend and father-figure, and to whom she is totally indebted,
but a 'fairy-tale' ending prevails and she marries Alan.
Chapter 1: In Chancery.
In Chancery: essentially civil cases to determine "fairness." Contracts, divorces, etc. Quora does a good job of explaining this. [Delaware Chancery court for deciding business cases; Delaware where most big corporations are incorporated.]
Sets the stage.
Anonymous narrator lets us know that the court case has been going on for a very, very long time, and involves generations of people who get swallowed up in the case, many having no idea who they ended up in the legal proceedings.
Jarndyce and Jarndyce, or, I suppose, Jarndyce vs Jarndyce.
Chapter 2: In Fashion.
We are introduced to 67 y/o Sir Leicester, a baronet, the lowest rank in hereditary royalty; and his, beautiful 47 y/o Lady Dedlock. The latter is childless and without a family; Sir Leicester has a huge family.
Lady Dedlock has just returned from "her place" in Lincolnshire and is soon to go to Paris.
An attorney, Mr Tulkinghorn, visits Lady Dedlock and Sir Leicester with regard to the court case, Jarndyce and Jarndyce.
At end of chapter, a very white Lady Dedlock has fainted -- tuberculosis?
Comments up to this point:
needs to be read as it was first published; serial installments; perhaps one chapter monthly.
read slowly; no hurry to finish; enjoy the writing
now that I know the background -- internet search -- has made it so much more interesting and already leading to questions
one of the two narrators is Esther, an orphan, looking for the identity of her parents
a romance story
a ward of The Chancery court
how does she get involved with the court
Already the modern-day American reader is learning a lot about US law and English law.
Chapter 3: A Progress
We now switch to the first-person narrator.
In Bleak House the story is told by two narrators: Esther Summerson,
who narrates in first-person, and an omniscient third-person narrator,
who provides broader context and insights not accessible to Esther; essentially, the story is split between Esther's perspective and a more detached, overarching viewpoint.
My Lady Dedlock -- is "My Lady" simply a "way of addressing someone" or is it possible the narrator is somehow in service to Ms Dedlock. Ms Dedlock, herself, is childless; no family, was she also an orphan.
Now being narrated / the story told by a woman. It's interesting how Dickens makes the switch. See p. 30.
Esther was brought up by her godmother.
Mrs Rachel: her (our) only servant.
Hogarth: Dickens' sister-in-law, Georgina Hogarth (1827 - 1917) who was his housekeeper and his confidante. She was also the model for Agnes Wickfield in David Copperfield (1849 - 1850).
Wow.
Godmother dies/buried, p. 34. We learn her name was Ms Barbary.
Kenge returns after godmother dies; Kenge and Carboy Lincoln's Inn.
Esther was 14 years old; had met him once before when she was 12 years old.
We learn that her "godmother" was in fact, her aunt.
And now, we will learn how this fits into Jarndyce and Jarndyce, of which Ms Rachel has heard nothing.
Kenge represents Jarndyce.
Jarndyce arranges for Esther to be removed from Windsor (and Mrs Rachel) and moved to Reading.
Esther leaves her Dolly behind; leaves only with her pet bird in its cage.
There was another gentleman in the carriage with Esther, but paid no attention to here.
That gentleman leaves, never to be heard of again, when they reach Reading.
Esther meets Ms Donny and the maid, and three drive off.
We learn that Esther's guardian is Jarndyce -- p. 38.
Arrive at Greenleaf, Miss Donny's house.
Boarding school for training governesses ... twelve there. Miss Donny was a twin.
Apparently Esther was the best student.
Was at Greenleaf for six years. Arrived when she was 14 to 15 years of age.
Wow, Jarndyce through his lawyer told Esther she was not Jarndyce's governess -- p. 40. Esther was thrilled.
The new home was 10+ miles away.
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