I still love Esther // Samantha Tedder

From the beginning, I have loved Esther's character. Her detailed observations and intentional choice of details she shares with us have kept me engaged throughout the story. She is loyal and dutiful to Mr.Jarndyce and Ada throughout the story. Though she extends her overflowing compassion onto many characters.

Her failed attempt with Mr.Bucket to save Lady Deadlock was heart-wrenching even though Esther chooses not to dwell on her own grief in her own narration. So close to having all the years lost with her mother only to be the one to find her dead. Only recently, even knowing it was possible to have such a reunion. Then soon after choosing to stay faithful to Mr. Jarndyce's proposal regardless of her feelings for Mr.Woodcourt. This loyalty is rewarded when Mr. Jarndyce realizes Esther was willing to be loyal over pursuing her own feelings, and Jarndyce allows her to marry Woodcourt. Jarndyce even went through the trouble of fixing up a house to be Esther's own Bleak House. The book ends by describing the happy happenings of this second Bleak house, which has its own trio within it made up of Ada and Richard's son and Esther and Allen's two daughters. This directly reflects the trio of Ada, Esther, and Richard we follow through the events of the first Bleak House. 

I cannot leave this book without acknowledging Mr. Bucket. He seemed to be the idealized detective. The role was still new to society at the time of Bleak House's publishing. With how widely influential  Dicken's writing was, one can only wonder if he was trying to set the standard before society could make up its own. Mr. Bucket never desires to make a scene or add any trauma to those involved in his case. He also takes great care when revealing his findings throughout the story. Though it cannot be ignored that his wife was also a detective and maybe even a better one, he refused to acknowledge it, which doesn't mesh well with him being an ideal detective in my eyes. 


P.S. I commented on Emma Landry and Emily Otts' blogs.

Comments

  1. Bug OlsenNovember 15, 2021 at 11:01 PM

    I really enjoyed your post and I saw things that I had not even considered. I really liked how you pointed out this new trio formed by their children, as well as the idealized version of Mr. Bucket. I had not even thought about these points, but I really enjoyed them and entirely agree with your thoughts towards Esther as an individual.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lily CaswellNovember 16, 2021 at 9:26 AM

    Great post, Samantha! You brought up some things that I had not thought of but found really interesting. I also like how your pointed out a new trio formed by their children.

    ReplyDelete

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