Heather has a close encounter with the OED, some frustrating times getting SAWPed, makes progress on a Clapotis, regresses on a warp, and falls in love (all over again) with Jane Eyre. Thanks to Becky (my Bastille Babe), Tikabelle, Irish Clover, Paper, Knitting2Relax, Teresa (my doppelganger), Heidi, and Julie--don't forget to swing by her Podcast!
Next week--should all go according to plan--another bonus interview for you and (finally) the Knitting Disaster Essays! (There's still room for more! Send 'em in!)
And again, many thanks for your donations and support. Especially now when I'm not-quite-so-gainfully-employed, it's a blessing.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Episode Fifty-eight: Both Over and Underwhelmed
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Hi Heather -- Your evil twin here!!! ROFL I hope I don't portend ill luck in your life. How about I consider myself, not a doppelganger, but a shiny, happy "dappled gal"? Instead of being Doonesbury-ish feather or helmet, I want my talking icon to be a mini keychain sockbloker (from Felt Up Knits, remember?).
ReplyDeleteWonderful podcast -- I'm with Becky. You're a great "facilitator of active listening" which means you're a great teacher.
I am chomping at the bit--torn between inventing all kinds of theories about what comes next and fighting back the urge to go read ahead myself!
ReplyDeleteBecky's comment on allegory is interesting, but there's one problem: Dr. Manette is French, not English. (Do we ever find out why he was imprisoned? Or why Carton and Darnay look so similar? Is Carton English or French? The name could be either... Does Manette have anything to do with the wicked Marquis? I want to know!!)
The relationship between France and England is so interesting--they've hated each other forever, fought at home and abroad, but they're nearby and related, too. It makes me want to go reread the Scarlet Pimpernel.
Re: Evremonde: "Monde" is indeed French for "world;" "evre" doesn't seem to have a neat correlation (though "ivre" means "drunk," which the citizenry seems to be). But in any case Dickens is conscious of the way his characters' names *sound*, so whether or not "Evremond" means Everyman, it's a legitimate interpretation, IMHO.
Or, is Dr. Manette no more French than Darnay is English? eh?
ReplyDeleteBecky - yep, that one.
It seems to me that Darnay (heretofore known as Evremonde) has not been able to entirely throw off his aristocratic traits - both for good and for bad.
ReplyDeleteOn the good side, he is demonstrating the noblesse oblige expected of his class in going to the aid of Gabelle. The feudal relationship includes obligations both ways, Gabelle's letter plucks this string, and Darnay vibrates to it.
On the bad side, the way Darnay heis himself off to France without so much as telling his family has a flavor of the arrogance of the aristocracy. Darnay's needs and obligations are paramount. Even though he is responding to an obligation rather than a desire, there is no discussion, no consideration of others rights or wishes. He wants to go, he goes. It is unattractive.
I have a few (very belated) thoughts not directly related to this episode that seemed to merit sharing.
ReplyDelete1) I think the portrayal of Dr. Manette's episodes are so accurate as far as showing the results of real long-term psychological distress. I couldn't help but wonder if Dickens drew from the experience of seeing his family locked up in debtors' prison making jute ropes or doing other menial tasks all day long. It certainly wouldn't surprise me.
2) I keep imagining this book as a Muppet movie. Don't you think that would be fabulous? I'm also anxiously awaiting the day the Muppets do Pride and Prejudice.
3) I could write an entire essay looking at just the chapter with the broken wine cask and the peasants' thirst for wine/blood and the funeral riot. They seem so similar to me, no doubt part of Dickens' dualism.
Thank you so much for helping me realize what a truly amazing writer Dickens is. I haven't read this book before, but I remembered struggling mightily with Great Expectations in high school. It was torture.