Not So Great Expectations

[changeling67]

I have come to the end of my study of Great Expectations for the time being. I must admit to skimming it and I think if it is a book I will be studying, then I will revisit and take notes with the exact essay title in mind. No spoilers, but every Gothic novel has its sinister setting and Satis House is no exception.  Throw in a token mad woman and her brainwashed mini me and bingo - Gothic Central.  Some critics would say that both lead females eventually become sympathetic characters in their own way.  Sometimes I wonder what I am missing, because I think they are both monsters.

There's Mrs Joe, the sadistic husband/nephew beater; Havisham as the rotting Rapunzel, with her virago-in-waiting Estella (another automaton - what IS it with this specific Dickens archetypes?) honed to drive men to make masochistic fools of themselves.  Lots of themes here - social class, sexual inequality and Dickens own deep psyche needs exploring.  Or does it? I think he was a product of his time and he reflects the prejudices and presumptions across the scale.

I am preferring Brick Lane, which is quite a thick book to get through - I am chipping away with it night after night before I go to sleep.  A review on that book another time.

Comments

[koshien.livejournal.com]

I can't really sympathise with the Miss H and Estella either. Miss H is nasty, but Estella is aware of what she is doing and is no mindless tool even though some argue she does keep putting Pip off and discourages him.

Been a while since I read the book though. I was always confused with Pip's obsession with gaining rank/wealth, but then again poverty vs wealth is a big theme in Dickens so I guess it is this books manifestation of that.

How many books do you have to read for your fda this year? Is the workload heavy for coursework and write-ups?

[bluegerl.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, sorry you didn't feel sorry for Miss H... (I spelt her wrong - tis years since I read GE..) cos I always thought she went all crabby and nasty cos she was --- hehe like I was - unloved and unwanted and deserted and.... so over the years she just got all bitter and twisted!!!

He's not my favourite author tho. I always got a feeling of dark unhealthiness from Dickens. Everyone was miserable. EVERYONE.

Am having a ball with the Existentialists tho right now... laughing me head off at their 'reasonings' and trying to find the answers to ... some damfool questions they don't really know!

And if you want terrific tense twisting writing for pleasure and excitement...I can recommend Robert Little. Honest. he's brilliant wth his characterisations.