So Much Darkness // Emma Dalgety

 After this reading, I really just have Star Wars echoing in my mind: "You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy." This is possibly the darkest, bleakest moment in this entire book; Harold Skimpole and Mr. Vhole attach themselves to Richard, who is sinking deeper and deeper into the complete trap that is the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case (Prodigal son figure gone horribly wrong?), and Lady Dedlock is now in a horrific blackmail-type arrangement with Mr. Tulkinghorn. Though Mr. Vhole is EXTREMELY ominous and possibly the most morally suspicious - he bribes Skimpole, lies to Richard, and seems to bring warnings of death with him wherever he goes - Tulkinghorn is the most unnerving because he lacks a motive. Most of the other lawyers are motivated by greed, but Tulkinghorn isn't, and this is best highlighted by Lady Dedlock's conversation with him in Chapter 41. All he wants currently is to hold power over Lady Dedlock (but WHY?), and claims it is all in Sir Leicester's interests. 

Since the beginning of this book, there has been fog (do I even need to reiterate this?). However, in Chapter 41, the sky is crystal clear. Lady Dedlock focuses on the stars and the crisp air in order to occasionally distract herself from Mr. Tulkinghorn. This is a point in the book where the main secret has been laid bare, and almost everyone has revealed their own foibles and vices EXCEPT for Mr. Tulkinghorn. I am extremely concerned by this, as it's not only unsettling that he doesn't have a motive, but also that there is a possibility of Tulkinghorn hiding something much more sinister than the basic greed of the other characters in the Jarndyce case. I can't help but respect Dickens' incredible ability to keep the mystery growing and unfolding as this (lengthy) story progresses. 

I commented on Elijah Mahn's and Emma Kate Patterson's posts.

Comments

  1. The Mahn-sterNovember 8, 2021 at 11:28 PM

    I greatly appreciate the Star War's reference. The clear sky reminds me of this...
    ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX8iN6T_M_A ) I hope you enjoy it. It makes me think of everything going on DESPITE the clear sky, and to make it even better, it's star wars themed. Charles Dickens somehow managed to make THAT ominous, depressing, and a distraction from danger. Also, Mr. Tulkinghorn's apparent lack of a motive is strange, and you do point out that it isn't greed, something my brain had lost in the fog somewhere... but it does seem that he has one, who knows what it is...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Song WhittingtonNovember 9, 2021 at 12:18 AM

    The Star Wars reference is 10/10, I must say, and you bring about a goo point with Mr. Tulkinghorn. Everyone else's stories seem to be clearing of fog, but his is just as dense as before. As a reader this is unsettling, but as a writer? Oh boy, I'm anticipating something with him. There's a reason he hasn't been show off clearly, right? There has to be!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Justin JNovember 9, 2021 at 9:35 AM

    Skimpole and Vholes are also very concerning to me. They're dragging Richard down a horrible path that he won't be able to escape from

    ReplyDelete
  4. Emma Kate PattersonNovember 9, 2021 at 9:36 AM

    I like how you related the book to a common movie that many people know about. It is important to be able to relate something harder to something that is more known and possibly easier to understand.

    ReplyDelete

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