"Thquire, shake handth, firtht and latht! Don't be croth with uth poor vagabondth. People mutht be amuthed. They can't be alwayth a learning, nor yet they can't be alwayth a working, they an't made for it. You muth have uth, Thquire. Do the withe thing and the kind thing too, and make the betht of uth; not the wurtht!"
Hard Times, Book the Third, Chapter 8, "Philosophical"
I have not yet read "Hard Times," though it's probably next on my list. Presently working on "Dombey and Son," and after "Hard Times" will come "David Copperfield," and I think that's the end. Sigh.
Posted by: Christy | November 01, 2009 at 01:37 AM
"Hard Times" is quite good -- one of my favorites, in fact, though I haven't yet talked about it much. It takes some attention and concentration, though. Mr. Sleary (the character I quoted above) isn't the only one whose speech patterns are difficult to read!
Posted by: Gina | November 01, 2009 at 07:12 AM
I'm looking forward to when you do a read-through of "Our Mutual Friend" as you did "Little Dorrit." Or was that the miniseries? Anyway, a discussion at least.
Posted by: Christy | November 01, 2009 at 07:26 PM
That was the miniseries. But I haven't yet seen the "Our Mutual Friend" miniseries, which everyone says is very good. So I may jot down some of my thoughts here when I do.
Posted by: Gina | November 01, 2009 at 08:59 PM
I was in bed the other night, three of my four children, my wife, and several of our animals were my company. I was reading from chapter 5 of Pickwick Papers, in which Mr. Pickwick undertakes to drive and Mr. Winkle to ride to Mr. Wardle's, and I found Mr. Dickens' account of their driving and riding so amusing that I laughed out loud, deep and long. And went to sleep with a smile on my face...
Posted by: David Paul | November 02, 2009 at 11:02 AM
The concept of "amusement" and the writing of Charles Dickens are entwined in much the same way as the concept of "forgiveness" is entwined with the teachings of Jesus Christ. As you know, I am currently engrossed in Pickwick's adventures, and with each turned page there is more "amusement" to enjoy, to marvel at, and to reflect upon. One small but not insignificant example:
"There are very few moments in a man's existence when he experiences so much ludicrous distress, or meets with so little charitable commiseration, as when he is in pursuit of his own hat. A vast deal of coolness, and a peculiar degree of judgment, are requisite in catching a
hat. A man must not be precipitate, or he runs over it; he must not rush into the opposite extreme, or he loses it altogether. The best way is to keep gently up with the object of pursuit, to be wary and cautious, to watch your opportunity well, get gradually before it, then make a rapid dive, seize it by the crown, and stick it firmly on your head; smiling
pleasantly all the time, as if you thought it as good a joke as anybody else." Pickwick Papers, Chapter 4
Posted by: David Paul | November 04, 2009 at 11:59 AM
You selected my favourite section, with my all time favourite line from the novel, "People mutht be amuthed." While Coketown and its inhabitants are bleak and dreary, this spark of hope, this philosophy of the arts: 'people must be amused' is an affirmation of life and all its beauty. It reminds me of my favourite novel, Herman Hesse's 'Steppenwolf', where after an angst driven narrative, the main character learns the importance of finding amusement(I'm oversimplifying though).
Posted by: Steppenwolf | May 31, 2010 at 07:18 PM