Skeletons in the Closet// Emily Otts

    Lady Deadlock is a very interesting character in Bleak House. She begins to arouse my interest when she goes to visit Captain Hawdon's grave. Why in the wolrd would she visit a random grave, unless there was a connection? Later on, when Esther sees her in Chapter 18, she is shocked by the appearance of her, since she reminds Esther of her godmother. Lady Deadlock later turns away from Esther when they meet after finding shelter from a storm, which is an unusual gesture when meeting someone. 

    This all begins to make sense in Chapter 36, when Lady Deadlock comes to Esther to reveal that she is Esther's mother. "O my child, my child, I am your wicked and unhappy mother! O try to forgive me!" (Chapter 36, Bleak House). Lady Deadlock is torn over what she has done, and begs Esther for forgiveness. Yet she tells her they can never communicate again, making it a secret she must keep. 

    I cannot help but to think of how awful this situation must be for Lady Deadlock. That the child you thought was lost is alive, yet you can have nothing to do with them is awful. Lady Deadlock rather keep her reputation as a good wife than to have a relationship with her daughter. Part of me also thinks that if Lady Deadlock truly loved her daughter, she would take her in as such. Yet she claims it must be kept secret, which I think shows where her priorities lie.

I commented on Taylor Vice's and Abigale Bell's posts.

     

Comments

  1. Emily ThullesenNovember 8, 2021 at 9:36 PM

    Lady Dedlock’s whole situation was something I was fascinated by. I contemplated her true feelings for her daughter, too. I definitely think her actions were based off of how she knew people would react towards her if the truth was publicized because it would have destroyed her life and her reputation, which in these times had significant standards.

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

    Lady Dedlock’s situation was very interesting, to say the least. I do think that her decision to keep her relationship to Esther secret was based on the social repercussions that would arise from having a child before marriage.

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  3. Justin JNovember 9, 2021 at 9:40 AM

    I definitely feel very torn over Lady Deadlock. When everything was still just in a state of suspicion I really didn't like her, but as we learn more about her I've become more conflicted. The problems of the past have not had their blame fall on her hands like I expected, and it was heartbreaking to learn that she didn't even know Esther had survived. Then again, some of the forgiveness I was starting to feel toward her character is given hesitantly because she still cares enough about her image to avoid connecting with Esther in any meaningful way

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  4. Emory CooperNovember 9, 2021 at 11:57 AM

    This scene between Lady Dedlock and Esther is so sad! It's so sad that Lady Dedlock has to face this decision, and Esther has to bear all these consequences. All of it comes back to my Lady's affair with the Captain. If the two of them would have abstained from mess, the child would not have to carry the suffering.

    In all of the books we've read this semester, sexual sin has caused major issues. There's Edmund in King Lear, Death in Paradise Lost, and now...poor Esther.

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