Bleak World, not Bleak House // Emma Dalgety

 The depth of this novel is downright overwhelming and breathtaking in its complexity. I never know whether or not each chapter will bring another clue to the Jarndyce case, another installment to Esther's story, or a character portrait that will be important later. However, the way that Dickens describes interiors, especially houses, remains constant over all of these chapters. Each of these houses particularly have a dark secret or injustice in some form or another. The Jellyby home is characterized by neglect, the Dedlock estate carries the curse of a bitter ancestor (and ghost, if the story proves true...), Mrs. Pardiggle is cruelly insensitive towards her own children, and - in the most severe case - Mr. Krook loses a tenant to opium overdose. The overwhelming theme lies in the injustice that goes on behind closed doors; this injustice is doubly shocking, as everyone seems to visit the other houses without saying a word when they observe the wrongs. Mrs. Pardiggle, for example, is "on fire" for her sensationalist causes abroad, but will not speak up against the abusive man she visits (the subscriptions are apparently too important). The crowning glory, of course, has to be the Chancey and how they manage the Jarndyce case, purposefully stretching it out and squandering the money left in the fund (at least that's what Mr. Jarndyce observes on page 88).

I think it is particularly telling that Bleak House's secrets have not yet been fully revealed. It adds another level of mystery since the secret is probably tied to the court case, but it also adds a level of negative suspense, as each house and establishment in London has a bleaker side to it, and there isn't much else to do but wait for it to show. There have been innumerable suspense clues, usually coming up whenever the name of Jarndyce is mentioned in conversation or in letters. Krook's bizarre interaction with Esther, in which he draws out the name of Jarndyce and Bleak House, is probably the most puzzling. There is a general feeling of uneasiness surrounding the house, but it is not as of yet perceived by Esther, our unreliable narrator. Not to be too suspicious, but I am certain that Bleak House will show a darker side based on the trends of every other establishment in London demonstrating their own; the worst, however, will be watching the effect this may have on Esther, who mentions that everyone was "enchanted" by Bleak House (67). This current "enchantment" may tempt Esther and others to not recognize the household's problems, but it may also have worse implications. It is too early to tell...

I commented on Ian Blair and Taylor Vice's posts.